Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 108, 10 May 1933, Page 9

Poultry Notes

FEEDING DUCKS FOR PRODUCTION. By M. Watson Stewart, Massey College. More than one correspondent has enquired recently as to tho feediug of ducks to keep them in good laying condition, so it may interest other readers to go into tho matter. As far as their good health goes and fair production, ducks can bo fed on tho ordinary rations of laying hens, but there is no doubt that more soft feeding and a greater percentage of protein in their diet makes for more continuous and better production. Ono reader writes that she is giving her dozen ducks “one pound of dry pollard (made into a mash) with some grain, morning and evening, with spice in tho morning; at mid-day a good quantity of masnea potatoes and vegetable peelings, etc.” If skim milk were given these birds to drink, ad lib, and used for the mixing of the/ 1 mash,” this would prove quite a useful diet .although tho spice, unless given just to old birds that need forcing before they finish their term of usefulness, will do as much harm as good. If ducks aro on good free range in spring and summer, they would do well on the diet mentioned, balancing it for themselves by the addition of slugs, worms, and insects of all sorts, to supply tho necessary protein. But at this time of the year it is imperative that this is supplied for tho birds in order to make production possible under unnatural conditions. . It must bo borne in mind when making up poultry rations that about 15 per cent, of tho combined white and yolk is protein and that the layer requires a further proportion fo’r the maintenance of her own body. Duck eggs aro even richer and larger than hens’ ami they aro' capable of laying more of them. By experiment, it" has been decided that the maximum protcin content of which hens can make use is about 15 per cent. Ducks can. however, do with 20 per cent. Whereas hens can make no use of more than an exceedingly small proportion of fat, ducks can digest quite a lot. When in laying condition they carry quite a lot ot fat and require some also in the composition of their feathers, this making them impervious to water. On farms where killing is done o r where butchers’ offal (usually mostly fat scraps) is available at very low cost, it will be found that fat scraps boiled down and added (with the resulting liquor) to pollard, house scraps, boiled vegetable peelings, etc., will make for marvellous production. When using this method, the writer arranged for supplies twice weekly, one boiling lasting over three or four days and coming a great deal cheaper than meat men? or fish meal. As has been explained in those notes before, ducks have not as good storage capacity as have hens. Also they digest their food more quickly. Add to this tho 240 z egg that a duck should lav every day almost, and it will bo realised that unless they are on good free range whore they can help themselves to a good proportion of their food, ducks may with advantage be fed oftener than hens and certainly need a greater amount per bird. At this season, 1 would suggest a wet mash—and ducks liko it definitely moist, though not by any moans sticky or sloppy—as early as possible in tho morning, consisting of equal parts bran and pollard with either 15 per cent, meat meal or the stock suggested above. Rotter still, would be equal parts by weight of bran, pollard and maize meal, when egg prices justify tho higher cost of tho maize. House scraps made into a good mash might be fed at mid day and (flther a third mash feed or kibbled maize fed in water, given an hour before sunset. In every case the birds should only have as much as they can clean up in a quarter of an hour. Remember that sufficient skim milk can take the place of the proteins mentioned. • Selling Stock. At this time of the year there is al-

ways a great demand for laying pullets —ur even for those that won’t lay—in the hopes of getting production while C SS prices are up. Jt cannot pay anyone to sell, unless at a good stiff price, for a decent pullet may easily lay two dozen eggs in tho month, or more, and soon lay her capital price. And it doos no one’s reputation any good to scH culls as layers. It can hardly, un the other hand, pay to buy pullets already in lay, for the moving to now quarters invariably puts them off after a week or two at this season, although it would hardly affect them in the spring. A moult results and it will be a month before they lay again. Of course, if tho birds aro purchased as breeding stock this is all to the good, as it gives the birds a rest, to come along with renewed vigour in time for the hatching season, but do not expect autumn eggs from birds moved now. Also, no poultry’ keeper, however hard times arc, can afford to part with his best birds, although the price may’ be tempting. Be sure particularly Io keep the parent stock of any particularly good birds bred last season. These, are almost more valuable than the birds themselves, being proved as breeders. Observation. One of the chief qualities needed for good poultry keeper is the same as an essential of a good Scout—a keen power of observation. It is all a matter of habit and can be acquired although, of course, some folks have it developed naturally. A beginner should observe his birds consciously’ every time he looks at them—to train his eye to exhibition and utility points, both in general and in the particular breed he favours. He should be able to take in the conditions of a house at a glance and notice, say, an egg on the floor, a fouled water-tin, damp litter where rain has driven in, or a bird that has a compacted crop or a cold, in the moment or two that he is in the shed with the birds’ mash in the morning. There aro many’ other things that may be noticed during tho 24 hours—how much sunshine gets into the shed in Die daytime, and what the atmosphere is liko where the birds perch at night; where the draught is coming from that makes tho birds roost at one end of tho perch; whether tho birds could not eat a little more masti than you allow thme now that more are in lay. or perhaps would be bettor with lessf if many aro off their feed a little, moulting. Get to know points of your birds individually now and you will bo better able to mate them suitably next month or a little later. It. is time to think of tho breeding pen already and without doubt, the most observant man makes the best breeder.