Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-22
Habits, Care and Feeding
of Indian Runner Ducks

tne laying season, unless this be abSo-
iutely necessary to his other plans.
For every change of this nature is
. Immediately reflected in a drop in
the egg record, unless strongly forced
FEEDING is part of the system. Even
then, failure to eat may stop laying.
Feeding Based on Everyday Habits
If change of ownership be fol-
lowed by an increase of laying, II is
because of bettered conditions or a
more congenial caretaker. But an
important change is more likely to be
followed by period of apparent loss
of appetite, with consequent loss I'm
eggs, due partly, no doubt. to home
sickness. but partly TO Indifference to
, unknown foods. Mature stock not
accustomed to corn will not eat It at
first, and may never learn to really
like it. although, where they are
brought up on 1t, corn is one of their
| best-liked grains.
The feed for ducklings and adults
alike is made up of the simplest
grains. mostly in the form of mash.
1t Is customary to add little moro
meat and less cornmeal to the ration
intended for breeding birds, although
all are usually fed alike for the first
six weeks or so.
raised to eight weeks under confine-
ment, and the eye of the attendant.
Given proper conditions, nearly
ninety-five per cent. of the we'll
hatched ducklings will grow to ma
/ turity; this is a working average. But
! rats are extremely fond of the sweet.
soft. juicy young duck meat, and 1t
pays well to have coops with board
floors. carefully screened with inch
mesh wire net. Closest care must be
taken that rats do not harbor directly
under the eoops.
Duck raisers. as a rule. do not like
to have the ducklings get their young
down saturated. When fresh from
the nest. they are very sensitive to ex-
tremes of either heat or cold. Later,
they scorn cold. and at three weeks
lose much of their dependence on a
mother, or shelter, except in extreme
cold weather. But they never be-
come Injured to hot sun without shade:
access to shade, then, is a vital and
constant necessity to both young and
old.
The one most common trouble is in
digestion from overfeeding. This, If
accompanied with constipation. may
develop intoN tumbling convulsions,
ending in death. Some attribute
rheumatism also to indigestion. In
general, 1t may be noted that the same
common sense used in feeding man is
of value to duck growers. The feeder
who uses fine flour, white bread,
boiled milk and hard-boiled eges lib
orally and at the same time has only
himself to thank for flock troubles.
/ He has not used his judgment, for all
these are strongly constipating feeds.
Sprouted oats is a valuable buffer
against all sorts of troubles and should
| be fed literally to birds in conflne-
ment. Dncklfngs lately from the nest
eat the roots gladly. They take their
first food when ready, without coax
ing. This first feed may be of stale
| bread, soaked lightly in milk. adding
bran, etc, as the days pass. Sprouted
oats or grass should be fed every day.
or placed where the birds may obtain
; 1t at will. Sand is mixed with the
mash.
One OF the largest, most successful
duck growers uses the following
formula: For first feeds, equal parts
cornmeal, middlings, crackers or stale
bread, and green stuff, chopped, with
| small handful of sand to each quart
| of feed. After a week: Two parts
| cornmeal, one part each of meat, bran
and middlings, with one-third as
much green stuff as all the rest to-
gether. After six weeks the ducks to
be fattened are penned, and the mash
is made of two-thirds cornmeal. with
bran, greens and II per cent of beef
scraps.
Cornell Ration For Breeding Ducks
The Cornell ration calls for nearly
| twice as much beef scrap. proportion
ately, as the above fattening mash.
To 3 lbs. cornmeal are added 10 lbs.
each of wheat middlings, wheat bran,
meat scraps and alfalfa meal, or
chopped green feed. This is fed twice
day. with, in addition, a quart of
corn to about 80 ducks. at noon. II
skim milk is available to wet the
mash, one-half the named amount of
meat scrap is needed
Duck growers use sand, fine shell
and grit usually in the mash, but