Page:Ducks- and how to make them pay (IA cu31924003102971).pdf/55

Rh Nature provides for all the feathered tribe until they become strong enough either to feed themselves or to be fed. Young ducklings are strong enough to feed themselves after they have been out of the shell about 15 or 18 hours. They really do not hurt without food even from 24 to 30 hours after they are hatched out. When they can run about nicely, I like to put a little food down to them. My first feed, as a rule, is a little water in a saucer or some little shallow vessel, and some coarse oatmeal sprinkled on the top of the water. While sprinkling the oatmeal on the water, it is well to let some fall on the ducklings' backs; this will teach them to peck, as when they see it on each others' backs they peck it off and so get the taste of the food. If they do not appear to begin to eat readily, one or two should just have their beaks put in the water; then when they get the taste of the oatmeal which is floating on the water, they commence to swallow it at once. Then either stale bread crumbs or oatmeal should be mixed with hard-boiled egg. If it is early in the season they should have hard-boiled egg for several days. When they are required to make large stock ducks for exhibition, or if one wants to bring them up to an extra size, they should have egg give them till they are from 7 to 10 days old. But in the ordinary way, if they have egg given them till they are two or three days old that is quite sufficient in the cold weather, or early in the season. Biscuit-meal just soaked in hot water, not too much, just enough so as not to make it sloppy, but nice and crumbly, should be given them; then they can peck it up nicely and enjoy