The Poultry Run.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 August 1911, Page 4

The Poultry Run.

.-♦ ; — NOTES OX DUCKS.

The larger the range is and the more swimming water tho birds have the longer will they continue to lay and breed .satisfactory, as the vegetable and insect food and tlie. natural exercise of swimming wili keep them in vigorous health. In addition to a .good run and ample water, stock ducks require s'bady spots to which they may resort during the sunniest hours of the day. Artificial shade can be provided for tlie -birels by driving stout stakes into t'ho ground and fixing to these stout canvas; or a good-sized framework of wood rods covered ' with reeds 01 straw, and raised off the ground by means of supports will form an admirable shelter under which the birds will go in sunny weather. Ducks will tako no harm if allowed to sleep in the open air, but for tlie sake of their safety it is as well to confine them at night, hut the sleeping places must be abundantly ventilated, as nothing is more fatal to the well-being of ducks than foul air. It is a good plan to leave the doors of the sleeping places open both night and (lav, but to prevent rains from driving into the structures a wooden frame covered with wire netting and loosely woven sacking should be fitted to the openings. The biids should he allowed all the outdoor liberty possible but a.s they must be confined to or near t'ho sleeping houses till 9 or 10 o'clock a.m., to prevent them from laying in strange places, they should not bo confined until late at night. HOUSING AND FEEDING.

Stock ducks kept in limited spaces, like those rcierred to above, should bo provided with shade, and may be allowed to sleep in or out ol their 'Louses at night, where their safety can be ensured. Ducks kept on a good range -where insect and vegetable lite are available, will only require feeding once daily, the food be.ing given before thy retire to their houses. A good handful ol wheat or oats placed in a trough containing water and some grit will be sufficient for each bird. Ducks kept- under confined conditions should be fed twice daily; morning and evening. The morning feed should consist of a mash made up of 2 parts ground oats or biscuit mea,l and 1 part bran. The meals should be mixed with hot water ami allowed to stand and partly cook and swell, when enough sharps should be. added' to mix them into a moist, crumbly state. Every other day some meat scraps from the kitchen or boiled offal from the butcher's should be added to the mash. A> evening feeds oats and wheat may he used alternately, and these, should be placed in troughs containing water ami grit. If stock d-ucks are to be kept in breeding condition over a long period, over-feeding and fattening foods must be avoided. A handful of food is sufficient for a large sized bird such as the Aylesbury or Peftin, whilst two handfuls ar? enough! for three birds of the smaller kind, such as Indian Runnel's. .DUCKLINGS FOR STOCK PURPOSES. As regards ducklings that are intended -for stock purposes, the diet should be a generous, but not a fattening one, and the birds should have ample range and swimming water. it is useless attempting to rear stock on limited areas of land and without bathing facilities. Ducklings intended for the table should-be confined to small runs, and the latter should be. moved about to fresh grass land. Too much water hinders t'he process of. fattening, so that the youngsters should on] r be allowed to drink enough to assist them in swallowing their food. In addition to the fattening foods, the birds should .have a supply of green food, and grit should, be placed in the water troughs. Keep the bird,', shaded during spells of sunshine, and see that their sleeping quarters are kept clean and in a dry and airv condition.