Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-31

On the general farm more consid-
GRAFTON should be given to the man.
agement Of the ducks kept for breed
ing purposes. If, as in the case of the
poultrymen who specialize in duck
raising more time and thought were
devoted to the selection of the breed
ers and to the feeding of these fowls
much better results might be expected
On the duck farms the heaviest.
most vigorous and best shaped ducks
and brakes are selected as future
breeders at the time of fattening the
young stock for market. On the gen.
eral farm the selection may be made
At any suitable time prior to the be-
ginning of the breeding season. In
practically every flock there are in
dividual specimens that show signs
of exceptional vigor and rapid growth.
These should be picked out and leg
banded as soon as discovered. BY such
selection the vigor of succeeding gen.
erations may be maintained and the
rate of growth increased. brakes
grown under such conditions some
times weigh as much as nine pounds
in ten weeks, while the ducks reach
seven pounds These weights. how
ever, are not common and are only
possible when care has been used in
the selection OF the breeders.
Early Matched and well grown ducks
begin to lay in midwinter, about the
first of December. and continue to lay
until some time in July. provided they
have a constant supply of feed of the
right kind to support production. To-
ward the latter part of July the heavy
moult usually begins and as in the
case Of all poultry. production falls
off rapidly; this is especially true of
ducks.
Up to within one month prior to
the beginning of egg production and
to the breeding season the ducks and
brakes are kept apart either on free
range or in large pens with grass
pasture. Their food consists largely
OF grass and other green growing
forage crops such as Glove, alfalfa.
rape and the sprouts of young grain.
all Of which are exceedingly nutIi-
valuable food materials But in addi-
ticns to this, other feeds in the form
of whole cracked grains and mash
con- posed of mixtures of ground grain
ane meat products are usually fed in
moderate quantities If the ducks are
KEPT On pasture one feeding Of mash
is given in the morning and one of
whole or cracked grains. which for
convenien nee We may term the scratch
laisers prefer to feed three times dali
~. with two light feedings Of mash
morning and night. and one of scratch
feed at noon. The scratch feed usually
corn and wheat. corn. wheat and oats
or corn. wheat and barley. the mix
tur6 depending to some extent upon
the availability and the cost OF the
.ered abor. on the ground Or On a
board floor at the rate of about
pint to every fifteen ducks. A very
satisfactory mash and one which
Hnh sad s made 1 %p
pounds of corn meal, 100 pounds of
gronud oats or oat flower. 80 pounds
of high-grade meat scrap and 40
may n be omitted, in which case the
amount of meat scrap should be re-
duced to 10 pounds and the grit to
thirty. If good pasture is lacking the
proportion Of meat scrap may be in
borne in mind that the character
of the range, the quantity and variety
of the natural food materials found
on the range must regulate to some
the feed mixtures to be fed.
One other commonly used mash
mixture now recommended by the
United States Department OF Asricui-
ture consists of one part by weight
of corn meal. two Of wheat bran. one
of low grade wheat -four and one
OF green feed, with per cent
of meat scrap and per cent of
grit. In the feeding of mash, care
must be taken to feed only that
amount which the fowls will con-
sumo in a certain limited time. The
wet mash. which seems to be more
palatable and which gives quicker
results, should not be allowed to
stand for any great length of time
in the feeding troughs.
A constant supply of fresh drink
ing water is essential. but. contrary
to the commonly accepted theory.