672 JourvaJ of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Nov., 1918. 



A cheap foster-motlier for young ducks can be made out of a kerosene 

 ease placed on the flait. Put a flat quart bottle filled with hot water in 

 the centre of the box. Cover it with brown papei", and then put saw- 

 dust, chaff, or straw over it. This will provide Avannth for the duck- 

 lings, but it should be used only where small numbers are being reared, 

 or where proper brooders cannot be obtained. Young ducks do not . 

 require quite as much heat as chickens, and can do without mother or 

 brooder when about four or five weeks old. 



Incubators that allow of plenty of moisture to the eggs are the most 

 suitable machines for hatching duck eggs. 



The best green stuff to grow for ducks is maize, which should be cut 

 young. Silver-beet, thousand-headed kale, lucerne, rape, and all other 

 green food should all be chaffed and mixed with the soft food. 



To start young ducks, and also young ones after moulting, to lay, 

 use maize meal with a little green cut bone for the winter months in their 

 morning meal. 



The best food for old ducks is two parts pollard, one bran, one 

 lucerne, and chaff. The chaff should be scalded and steamed in a 

 covered vessel. All food should be given fairly soft, and fed in " V "- 

 shaped troughs, with bars over the top so that the birds cannot get 

 into the troughs and spoil the feed. Care should be taken to mix the 

 food thoroughly, and to ,see that none is left, as it may become sour 

 and cause diarrhoea. 



If meat soup is available, it should be used to moisten the food. 

 Animal food is, of course, a great aid to egg production, and ducks can 

 assimilate a larger percentage of meat food than fowls. All animal food 

 should be given in a cooked form, and the quantity regulated according 

 to the discretion of the attendant. 



If young ducks are desired to mature quickly, the best food is pollard, 

 barley meal, bran, rendered fat, and skim milk. Nothing will mature 

 them quicker than milk. All meal should be scalded, and drinking 

 water given occasionally. Grive them a little bone meal twice a week 

 in their morning food. It will promote growth and also prevent leg 

 weakness. 



All grit should be given to ducks in water, using a shallow dish so 

 that they cannot get their eyes under the water. Grit masticates the 

 food, and increases condition and also Qgg supply. 



Ducks require water to wash in, so as to keep them clean. If the 

 soft food is allowed to clog about their eyes, it gives them an unsightly 

 appearance, and renders them more liable to ailments of the head and 

 eyes. 



Young ducklings should not be allowed free access to water until they 

 are, at least, four or five Aveeks old. Water in a trough with bars over 

 it should be provided, having the trough a sufficient depth, so that they 

 can wash their heads and faces. 



Ducklings for market should not, however, be allowed in Avater. All 

 young ducklings, when being fattened for market, should be penned as 

 even in size as possible, otherwise the smaller ones will not get as much 

 food as the larger, and their size and growth will be retarded. Lots of 

 25, or less, should be placed in each pen. 



Cottage holders should make the nests on the ground when using hens 

 to incubate duck eggs. 



