THE POULTRY YARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1033, 12 August 1879, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE POULTRY YARD.

HINTS ON BAISING DUCKS,

A correspondent of the Poultry Journal (American) gives the following advice upon this subject :—I like a lieu better than a duck to raise ducklings, for they will bear confinement better, and, if allowed their liberty, will not wander all over creation in search of v.-ater, as the old duck will. I generally set my duck eggs—not too many of them under a trusty hen, on the ground, if possible but when that is not practicable, I put a freali sod in the bottom of an old box, plenty of fresh earth on that, and a little fine hay or broken straw on top. I generally use a good-sized box, to prevent all danger of the lien jumping. on the, eggs. You may think that I am very particular about a-nest, but let me tell you that, even if you have good fresh eggs, no small share of the success in hatching them depends on the nest. Sprinkle the eggs slightly with tepid water three times during the third week, and every other day during the fourth week, until the little ducks begin to break through the shell; then, let them alone. For young ducks almost any kind of cooked food is good. Scraps from the table, moistened with milk, make the best of food for ducklings. Do not feed any grain unless well-cooked, until they are at least six weeks old, and, above all, do not over-feed, or -feed too often, when they are quite youngj four times a day is often enough, and it .will not- do at any time to give them all they swallow, for young ducks are' voracious eaters, and will eat until they kill themselves, if allowed to have all that they can swallow. Give them plenty of water or skim milk to drink ; it should be placed, in small shallow dishes. After ducklings are old enough to take to pond or running stream, they will get most of their living until fattening time. They are easily fattened by giving plenty of corn, cooked meat, turnips, and potatoes.. I sometimes think that ducks must be anxious to get rid of their offspring, for they are deter mined to plunge the little ducklings into the first stream of water that they c.aii find ; but, as a general thing, hens do not show any remarkable degree of anxiety to force their web-footed charges into cold water. Kovices in. duck-raising must bear in mind that ducklings should be. kept from cold water; and out. of cold dews and rains, until they are .about six weeks old, for, like youiig.turkeys,, they are liable to cramps. Where young ducks are allowed their liberty from the time they are hatched, one-half invariably die, with cramps, and stray .cats, minks, muskrats, turtles, rats, &c., usually get away with the other half. After the ducklings are a week- old, water that has had the ■" chill" taken off may be. placed in shallow pans for theuvto bathe in.