The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-04-18

phase of human experience. No
matter what our line of endeavor we
ucceed only in proportion to our un-
derstanding Of the subject and our
activity in putting the same into
proper operation.
To those we'll versed in duck lore,
ducks are easy to raise.
In the first place, ducks, old and
young, require plenty of shade. Their
blood temperature is low and circu-
lation slow, therefore they cannot
bear sunshine. Their natural habitat
would be the cool wooded marsh
rather than the hot, sandy, sparsely
shaded spot.
The natural food for ducks con-
sists of both animal and vegetable
material. Their very physical make
up-web feet, close, waterproof
feathering, shovel-bill, long neck, and
their individual preference suggest an
environment near soft ground, mud
flats, sloughs, water, and a living off
the grass, insect, worm and fish life
that abound there. When this specie
of bird is raised in confinement this
diet should be initiated to get the
most satisfactory results. The duck
has no craw. Food passes direct to
the gizzard, and for this reason most
growers have best success with soft
food. Hard grains in too large guam
titles are not conducive to best re-
suits. However, some feeders do use
a little grain. Soft food is their
natural diet, together with grasses,
vegetables and animal food. Proper
selection of food to obtain a well bal
anced, substantial ration is most I'M
portant to secure rapid growth.
Like every other occupation, there
are more ways than one to arrive at a
successful Termination. Every cul-
turist has special short cuts, little
personal touches that appeal to his
understanding and add interest to his
work.
One should not conclude from the
foregoing that ducks can not be sue
ce1sfully raised where one does not
have a marsh, we'll wooded. They
need shade-plenty of it, but they dc
not need water to swi. min, nor muC
to slop around in. With these gener,
alities a brief outline will be suggest
ed for the brooding, feeding and carr
of ducklings through various stage.
until full grown.
Baby ducklings require very it'll
heat, and at night only. If one i
. versed on the principles of fireles
brooding as good ducks may be raise
without heat as with it. If one Wi
observe ducklings with the mothe
duck they will find them sitting out
1 side in the fresh open air and rarel
huddled or under her. Common gumI
A ton must be ones guide as to ten
peratures and comfort of duckling
If they are confined in a broodt
house or brooder where heat is SUI
piled, be sure to have plenty of vent
lation and room enough so that the
can seek the temperature that sui
them best.
Fortunately the question of feediT
ducklings too soon is no subject
worry about They will not eat t.
soon. Usually the second day W
find them ready to eat a little. The
first meal may be of bread crumt
or cracker crumbs, or it may be
80 wheat bran and corn meal mixed Wi
Is per cent h~ard-boiled egg, 10 p
cent sharp sand, all made into a mo-
crumbly mash. For convenience a
Is ease of preparation we would feed
z the first week 8 parts chick feed,
part chick mash, l part wheat br;
q l part cut green feed, 1 part sha
= sand, moistened into a crumbly ma
9 Feed all they will clean up in 10 m.
2 utes five times a day. For the nj
two weeks d parts chick feed 3 pa.
z chick mash, 1 part wheat bran, 1 p;
= cut green feed, 1 part sharp sa'
2 mixed into a moist mash and fed fl
times daily all they will eat in
z minutes. At three weeks old I'll
Y may be fed a mash mixture of 2 pa
z wheat bran, i part corn meal, 5
4 cent of this bulk good meat Scra
z 10 per cent sharp sand, 10 per C
z cut green feed. Moisten int
3 crumbly state and feed four time
2 day, or they will be better fed "
6 parts growing mash, 2 parts bl
1 part sharp sand, / part green
= feed.
2 The owner must be guided by
condition of mis- flock as to his ms
DDS and quantities of feed. Du
z are very hardy eaters and for I
2 reason enough bulk must be gi
z TO avoid feeds too rich. Modificati
y in the ration are sometimes adv
z bic, depending on supply and pr
4 It is good practice to have a SANE
Q grit box well supplied, also a boz
s shell and one of charcoal for gr
e and growing ducks to use as wan
3 It is our experience that waite
2 drink on an empty "tummy" ms
flowers for ducklings more often |