POULTRY NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES

REARING OF DUCKLINGS HOUSING AND FEEDING. (Ry Geo. H. Ambler). October is the best 'month for hitching ducklings. The broody hen gives the best results, both in hatching and. rearing, although on a large scale artificial means must be resorted to, and the ultimate result will be found more successful than that of chickens. An average sized broody hen will cover thirteen eggs. ’ ; • Ducklings are wonderfully hardy Creatures and they grow at an amazing pace. Almost anybody can rear them. The only danger to be guarded against is the rat, and that is why I advocate the use of the broody hen. Whether ducklings be naturally or artificially reared, always see that they are closed .in securely at night, and always give ample ventilation. A dry bed to sleep on at night is an essential feature. Unlike chickens, young ducklings have no depire to see the world, and if allowed a 1 comfortable corner in the backyard they will spend their time profitably eating, drinking and resting, but on no account must they be frightened in any way. If hatched by a hen the ducklings may remain in the nest 36 hours after hatching; then they may be transferred to a roomy coop and run. If they are hatched by an -incubator remove them to the brooder or fostermother. , .. Artificial heat may be dispensed with at the end of ten or fourteen days. Hovers give the best results as the ducklings can adjust their own temperature. The temperature of the brooding chamber shoitld never exceed 80 degrees, and 40 ducklings are quite sufficient to run together. When about three weeks of age they may be removed from their, coop or brooder, as the case may be, to more roomy quarters. They may be enclosed by wire netting 12 to 18 inches high. Any kind of house, so long as it is well ventilated, reasonably dry and has a ratproof bottom, will do for them to sleep in. The plan adopted in the duck breeding centres in England is to place the youngsters in flocks of 25 in pens made up of low wire netting or boards, With some kind of shelter. The pens are about five yards square. In case of heavy thunderstorms the youngsters should be driven to shelter. In hot weather there should be plenty of shade provided, and an occasional bath will do them no harm. This is, of course in hot weather. DUCKLINGS AND WATER. Ducklings at all times should have .water before them to drink, the vessels should be deep enough for them to swim in, and right from the start flint grit should be given in their drinking water. Green food also' is important. Lettuce and dandelion leaves etc., well chopped, are greedily devoured. The observance of these hints on drinking water, grit etc., are essential factors to successful duck rearing. The first meal (48 hours after the ducklings are hatched) should consist of milk, to w’ ich has been added a- little fine chick food. After the first few meals a little chopped meat (cooked) will prove beneficial; also a little ground oats or sharps may be added. Boiled rice mixed with a little ground oats or sharps is also good. These foods may be given up to 10 days every two or three hours. From ten days up to six weeks of age ducklings may be fed on offal from the butcher. This should be well boiled and chopped and mixed with boiled rice, brewers’ grains, ground oats, sharps or maize meal. If brewers’ grains are not

obtainable, bran may be substituted. The proportion to use should be one of meat to seven of the others. This may be given four times daily. Always feed on boards or in troughs, and never let food remain before the ducklings for more than 20 minutes at a time. This is important. SEPARATION OF THE SEXES. Directly the sexes can be told the unwanted drakes should be fattened and marketed. The ducks and drakes that are to be kept should be allowed more freedom and their meal should be reduced to three a day. They should be fed upon a mixture of bran, sharps and meat meal. The drakes and culls that are to be fattened should still be kept in their pens and fed on sharps, ground oats and maize meal/ to which add a little bran. To distinguish the sex handle each duckling by the neck. The

drakes make a hoarse, hissing noise; the ducks a clear, distinct quack. At four and a half months of age commence to feed for eggs, two meals a day being given. Breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m., according to time of year, 2oz of grain per bird, maize kibbled, or wheat; supper, one hour before sunset, allowing as much ■ wet mash as they will eat, consisting of one part of sharps, one part bran, one part maize meal, one part ground oats, 15 per cent, of lucerne meal, and 15 per cent, of fish or meat. Water for swimming is not essential for laying and stock ducks of the lighter breeds but, of course, being water , fowl, it is more natural, and they will look better apd keep cleaner if a pond or stream is available. They will also cost less to keep. It cannot be asserted that they will produce more eggs. In the case of young ducklings for the table water for swimming is harmful. Do you know that nearly all good

qualities, especially the production of eggs, are influenced by the male much more than by the female? This does not mean, however, that you can use any kind of hen with a good cockerel and obtain best results. The best hens mated with the best cockerels will give birds worth having. It is well to see to it that < the male bird mated with the hens i comes off high-fecund stock. Should he prove very satisfactory, it is a mistake to kill him at the end of the season, or to dispose of him, because if properly cared for he ought to be good for breeding purposes for three or four years. Mate him with only a reasonable number of females, and keep him in a lean condition by feeding grain for which he will ( have to scratch and exercise. At the close of the breeding season he should find a ho"se or pen apart from the females. Treat your highly fecund strain cockerel with every care, and you will find him useful for several season*.