Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
CARE AND FEEDING
Of INDIAN RUNNERS
Proper Methods Based Directly on
the Natural Habits Of
Ducks.
Understanding, Care and Common
Sense Feeding Make the Win
ming Combination.
BY G. 8. VALENTINE.
Copyright, 1850

Proper care Of live stock depends d.
rectly on knowledge Of habits. This is
unusually true in the case Of the Indian
runner, not far enough removed from
the wild state to be anything else than
a nervous, high strung bird. =
The first essential to good care of
runners is quiet, even-tempered care
taker. These birds are SO easily tanned
that one type of handler fumes against
them as always under foot" Yet
enough of the wild instinct as to the
necessity for self protection remains
to make them always suspicious when
in confinement.
The ducklings can be grown to the
first feathering stage in close confine-
ment. With the first feathering. at
about seven weeks of age. the instinct
lof self-preservation Invariably develops.
Habits Affect Laying.
The runners have an unusually
strong sense Of locality and become
devoted to their own quarters. whether
first chosen by themselves or made
theirs by long association, though i'm
posed on them at the first. 1t is i'm
possible to mix two lots upon first
placing them together, though they &C
cept new intimateS after becoming
habituated to them. Because they lay
SO much stress upon their favorite sur
Iroundings and take so much solid COM
fort in the places and conditions which
| tfrey love, this has a close bearing on
their laying habits. In small numbers
they can be worked each to her fndi-
vidual trap nest, but they do not like
| to be alone.
These birds show as much Snug salts
faction as kitten with what suits them
and because they are SO set" In their
own ways it behooves the handler to
turn this to his own benefit. taking pains
Ito humor them when possible.
Feeding Based on Everyday Habits.
If a change of ownership be followed
by an increase Of laying 1t is because OF
bettered conditions or a more congenial
caretaker But a change is likely to be
followed by a period of apparent loss OF
appetite, with consequent loss in eggs. due
partly to inconsistencies, but partly to in
difference to unknown foods.
The feed for ducklings and adults alike
is made up of the simplest grains. most
lily in the form Of mash 1t is customary
to add little more meat and less corn
birds. although all are usually fed alike
for the first six weeks or SO.
| Given proper conditions, nearly 95 pei
cent of the well Matched ducklings will
sweet, soft. juicy young duck meat, AND
it pays well to have coops with board
floors, screened with inch-mesh wire net.
Duck raisers, as a rule, do not like tc
have the ducklings get their young down
saturated. When fresh from the mes,
they are sensitive to extremes of either
heat or cold. Later. they scorn cold, ano
at three weeks lose much of their depend
|ence on mother, or shelter, except ir
extreme cold weather. But they never
The one most common trouble is in.
digestion from overlooking. This, if &C
companied with constipation, may develop
into tumbling commissions, ending in death
In general, it may be noted that the
same common sense used in feeding mar
is Of value to duck growers. The feeder
who uses fine flower. white bread, boilet
milk and hard-boiled eggs literally has
only himself to thank for flock troubles.
Sprouted oats is a valuable buffel
Iagainst all sorts Of troubles, and SHOULD
lbe fed literally to birds in confinement
Ducklngs lately from the nest eat ths
roots gladly. They take their first foot
when ready. without coaxing. This frs
feed may be Of stale bread, Soaked light,
in milk, adding bran. etc, as the day.
lpass.
One of the largest, most successful
tduck growers uses the following formula
For first feeds. equal parts cornmeal
Imiddlings, crackers or stale bread, anc
green stuff. chopped. with small hand
full Of sand to each quart Of feed. Aftel
a week: Two parts cornmeal one par
each of meat, bran and middlings witt
lone-third as much green stuff as all the
rest together. After six weeks the duck:
to be fatted are penned. and the mash
lis made Of two-thirds cornmeal, witt
bran. green's and IL per cent Of beef
scraps.
Ration for Breeding Ducks.
The Cornell ration calls for nearly
twice as much beef scrap. proportionate.
ly. as the above fattening mash. Tc
fifteen pounds cornmeal are added ter
pounds each Of wheat middlings, whea,
bran. meat scraps and alfalfa meal, OF
chopped green feed. This is fed twice g
Iday, with, in addition, a quart of corr
to about thirty ducks. at noon If skin
milk is available to wet the mash, one
half the named amount of meat scrar
is needed.
Duck growers use sand, fine shell anG
Igrt, usually in the mash, but often ir
Iseparate dishes.
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