Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-08

tllity. Some mate as many as Z and
hens to a drake. but I prefer a few
er number. For Matching, use either
hen or the incubator; / use both
with success. Results have been salts.
factory. though the incubator r1s
never given me as clean matches AS
N has the hen.
IL you hatch with hens just try
scooping out nest in the groun
md put little straw in and let Bid
ny do the rest-no moisture problems
20 solve, she'll take care of that. Don't
get excited ii the ducklings don't con G
out in few minutes after pipping.
sometimes they lay and rest as many
as thirty-siX TO fifty hours before COM
iGS out of the shell. Don't try TO neip
them out--you will kill more than yod
viii cTer save. When they are hatcl-
ed. 10 r.ni feed for az least forty-eig!it
hours, but give warm water to drink
as soon as they want it, Don't let
them play in il, if you would avoid
trouble. Confine the hen and don't let
her run all over the farm. as the little
fellows are easily worn outlet the
hen stay with them as long as she will
for one cold night without some heat
might play havoc with nice bunch Of
ducklin5s ! generally let a hen moth
er have from 10 to 25--and they VII
take car of this nuinl er nicely.
Change TO fresh ground frequently
as they ere very mussy little fellows.
The best iced ] have found for duc'l-
lings for Tie Grst folf or five days is
hard boiled eggs CboIled for 80 min
utes) chopped fine and mixed Win
pun e bran sprinkled With a little sdl,i.
We use inlertile eggs 1. m our incuo
ators. t'acd this for times a day, ~
regular hours, all they will clean up.
After they are 10 to 2 days old
feed only times a day-after they
are or days old / gradually work
them on to a damp mash consisting
of parts bran, l part wheat middlings
l part corn meal, with just a sprinkle
of fine meat scraps (not over per
cent of the totaD with some kind of
green stuff chopped fine, either lettuce,
onion tops, clover or alfalfa-we pre-
fer lettuce to all other green stuff If
the mash can be moistened with milk
it is much better than water Keep
plenty of sand. charcoal and fine oy-
ster shell before them at all times and
do not forget to keep plenty of clean
water for drinking before them at all
times. Have drinking vessel deep
enough so they can immense their
heads and bills. Not too cold, mind
you-but better if the chill is taken
off, especially if you are using well
water. Whatever YOU do, never let
Runners have water to play or swim
in until they are full feathered. If you
follow these simple directions it is
a N "A short MT nil
have "a fine lot "a Runners matured
and getting ready to smell out the
beautiful white eggs that give me as
'n.ytar old boy.
l might add that ducks eggs con-
tain forty to fifty per cent more of food
value to an egg than do hens eggs.
This is because they are larger. When
enough are raised so they can be ship
ped in separate crates they bring any
where from five to eighteen cents per
dozen more than hens eggs. They are
used by bakers and for cooking in
large establishments.
With all the varieties, except the
Indian Runner, there is laying sea-
son, usually from the last of February
to the first of August The Indian
Runner. however. lays at all times of
the year the same as hens. George
w. Bentin, Corydon, Ind, sends Farm
Journal these facts
The eggs are a little larger than
good sized hen eggs, are similar in
taste. The young are easily reared, al
though our first attempt met with
sorrowful results. due to failure to un-
derstand feeding properly. Corn-meal
in any large proportion should never
be given; but bread crumbs slightly
moistened preferably with milk,)
should be fed the little fellows every
hour until they are week old.
The first-food is usually given at
the age of twenty-four hours.
Later on the food should be chang
ed to bran and middlings, with a little
corn-meal; always add considerable
grit in the form of fine sharp sand,
even to the adult birds.
We feed very little grain now. and
find the results much more satisfac-
tory than during our early experience
when corn was fed extensively.
The best incubator ever built will
not hatch chilled eggs.
See that the chick food is pure,
fresh, wholesome and not musty.
Have the drinking vessels so arranged
that the chicks can not make bath
tub of il.
Mites stay shy of nests when a hand
full or two of finely pulverized tobacco
is mixed with the nesting material.
Everybody seems willing to give
the beginner suggestions about raising
poultry. Some of the advice is help
full. but it is actual personal exper
fence that does the most good.
The attractive feature of duck rails
ing lies in the small expense with
which a start can be made. The eggs
as a rule, are very fertile. A single
setting, carefully managed. will give
a good start.