The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-05

give satisfactory results. When but few ducklings are reared the fireess brooder
 is fine, especially after the warm season has arrived. The writer has experienced more satisfaction with ducklings than with chicks in breeders of this kind.
 The details of the daily care of the youngsters are easily mastered. One very prominent duck grower of wide ex- perience once remarked that success de- pended mostly upon feed and muscle.
 Ducks are, it must be confessed, dirty creatures and their quarters and runs re- uure frequent and thorough cleaning. They are also the most ravenous of feath- 1 cred creatures and consume an astonish- l ing amount of food. Fortunately their l rate of growth corresponds with their 1 enormous food consumption, so there is no loss from heavy feeding. When prop erly fed they are ready for the table in nine to ten weeks. having actually made the greater part of their normal growth in that short space of time. The first feed should be given when the
 ducklings are about 4s hours of age. If
 food is given earlier than that the results are apt to be less satisfactory.
 The ration may be very simple. Some
 feeders use nothing but bran, cornmeal,
 beef scrap and green food; but somewhat better growth may be secured by using a mone varied ration.
 When this simple system is followed
 the usual plan is to make the mixture one-third cornmeal and two-thirds bran at first, increasing the proportion of corn meal gradually until this forms half or
 more of the ration. The beef scrap is added at the rate of per cent for the
 first few weeks, increasing to 15 or even 20 per cent by the eighth or ninth week.
 Green food of some kind is given daily, and. of course, drinking water is kept con- stantly available.
 It might well be stated in this connec-
 ton that all changes in the ration should be made very gradually. Ducks are often thrown out of condition by decided changes in their diet.
 If one can judge by the results secured one of the best rations for growing duck lings is that used on noted duck ranch fir central New York. The owner of this establishment has kindly supplied full details, which are given below: The ducklings are fed at intervals of
 two or three hours during the first week. They then receive four meals daily for five weeks and three thereafter. The food is given in the form of moist mash, in quantity sufficient to appease their ap- petites. Any surplus is removed after each meal. The First Meal For the first three days the ducklings receive bread crumbs three parts, and
 raw or hard-shelled eggs, one part These eggs are usually the ''infertiles," tested
 out during the process of incubation and reserved for this use. They furnish the needed animal food in the very best form. | On the fourth day add to the above d 1 small amount of cornmeal and per cent clean, coarse sand. After two meals con- | taining the sand add a little wheat bran | to the mixture. The sand should be pres ent in the ducklings' gizzards before any 1 nDrOllS food is given. In fact fine grit
 in some form is essential during the entire I growing period Without 1t the birds ! cannot properly digest their food and va | rious disorders will naturally follow. 1 The proportions of bran and meal are l increased, and of the bread and eggs de- l creased during the remainder of the first
 week. Then the growing ration is supsti- tuted. This is made up as follows. the parts being given by measure not by weight:
 Growing ration--Wheat bran, parts; cornmeal, l part; oatmeal or barleymea l.
 l part; green food, parts; beef scrap. 1 7-10 parts; coarse sand, 2-10 parts Salt l slightly.
 The green food is given raw, and is cut fine enough to be readily eaten. It may consist of almost any succulent vegeta bles or clover, grass, rye or oats. 1 Green Feed Necessary This green material increases the bulk | or the ration and also haS beneficial
 effect upon the digestive system. It is a l necessity.
 | When the ducklings reach the age Of
 5 or weeks the ration is again changed
 and they are put on a fattening feed. Up
 to this time the main idea is to build big
 frames. but during the last few weeks
 1t is necessary to add the required flesh 1 and fat.
 Fattening ration-Cornmeal. parts;
 wheat bran, 21a parts; beef scrap. 11a
 parts; green food, 1 part; coarse sand, 7s part.
 This ration is fed exclusively until the ducklings are killed. Of course, if they
 are intended solely for home use, it is not necessary to fatten them all at once A few may be finished at time, the balance
 of the flock being held on a lighter ra- l ton.
 In the management of ducklings a few points should be kept in mind. They are