FEATHERED FANCY

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 217, 17 October 1914, Page 5

FEATHERED FANCY

Ducklings: The majority of ducks ' for household purposes are hatched under the hen, and time of incubation is four weeks. As soon as the hen is prepared to leave the nest with her brood she should be placed in a coop. Water, in a vessel that the ducklings cannot get into should be given liberally. For the first few days, table scraps, boiled rice, and stale sweet bread should be fed cn a board. When three days old the usual mash can be given, and at seven days old whole wheat can be fed in a trough of water. Plenty of grit and green food should always be available. It is advisable always to feed ducklings from a trough, they belonging to the extravagant class, and the food will be cleaner and not wasted. At ten days old the ducklings should be allowed plenty of range and given sufficient water to cleanse and assist their plumage once daily. If you require ducks for table purposes, it is a mistake to think they will fatten on a river or stream. This is merely exercise and they are not likely to fatten on such treatment. Barley is a good forcing meal, and the ducks will fatten quicker confined. The last week was a trying one for chicks, and in such weather they do not come away so quickly as in milder circumstances. They should be kept in

(By GEIT.)

Black Red Game were brought out. From this pair Mr Richmond formed the nucleus of his stud. He has two pens, the male birds both being bred from the imported bird, which is now dead. The imported pullet is still living and in the breeding pen. At present only Black Reds have been bred. This is a pity, for such valuable birds could have been used with considerable ad\ antage with Piles and Duckwings. The coek birds are very fine and reachy, and of good colour, and there is no better proof of the value of the old bird than the quality of his two sons. From Ins present stock Mr Richmond should get some good chicks. He also has a member of the Buff Pekin family, a hen that came from Napier way —rather a nicelooking bird. Mr Richmond is also a lover of dogs, and has two exceptionally fine Cocker Spaniels, one having just finished his quarantine-time. As my position will not permit me "going to the dogs,'' I will have to leave the report of these valuable animals to a canine friend. MR B. HARMAN, SYDENHAM. Mr B. Harman, Croydon Street, is a fancier of only a few months' standing; still, during that short period he has secured a great amount of success. He is breeding White Wyandottes, White Socks, and utility White Leghorns, and he has already a good number of chicks, principally of the former variety. His houses are very good and solid, and the comforts of the birds have received every attention. They face the northerly