. The Eastern poultryman . food. They must be fed oftener than chicks. Chicks will seldom leave the feeding trough and go to the drinking dish; ducklings will do so frequently be- fore they finish a meal. The food clogs their nostrils, when they wash their bills and drink a little at the same time, con- sequently it is absolutely necessary to place a dish of water near their feeding trough. The water must be given so that they cannot get into it. Dampness is fatal to ducklings. Our method of caring for young ducks has been about as follows: We always for the first three or four days feed bread
. The Eastern poultryman . food. They must be fed oftener than chicks. Chicks will seldom leave the feeding trough and go to the drinking dish; ducklings will do so frequently be- fore they finish a meal. The food clogs their nostrils, when they wash their bills and drink a little at the same time, con- sequently it is absolutely necessary to place a dish of water near their feeding trough. The water must be given so that they cannot get into it. Dampness is fatal to ducklings. Our method of caring for young ducks has been about as follows: We always for the first three or four days feed bread moistened with milk or water, then after they get to eating well we feed bran and shorts wet with milk until slightly sloppy. When we begin feeding this we always add a little dried and ground meat, one of the most valuable feeds we have ever found. They must always be given green feed. If you have a patch of red clover handy they will eat large quantities of it. As to water they only actually require enough to drink at all times. They must be kept warm and dry until fully feathered out. We regard the first three or four days as the most critical. If we can get them well on their feet and to eating well we seldom lose one m a hundred. Corn- meal can be fed some, but I advise feed- ing it rather sparingly. When they are full-grown they can be fed considerable corn safely. If raising for market it is not usually advisable to keep them long after they have become full-grown. They are such vigorous eaters they will soon "eat their heads ; My experience has taught me that a young duck will eat just twice as much as a chicken of the same age and grow twice as fast. Hence the wisdom of marketing them as soon as they are ready.—E. A. R.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectpoultry, bookyear1902
