no Practicai, Bird-Kekping. 



Rushes and other thick herbage should be encouraged for 

 shelter and nesting sites, but some ducks prefer to nest within 

 the shelter of a wooden box or kennel, and several of these 

 should be provided, the ground forming the bottom, and a hole 

 just large enough for a duck to enter forming the entrance. 

 Quite a number of species prefer to nest in boxes or logs at 

 some height from the ground, and so boxes should be fixed on 

 stumps from four to six feet high, a rough log leading from the 

 ground to the entrance. 



The enemies that have to be fought against are foxes, 

 cats, stoats, weasels and rats, and it is well worth while to go to 

 the expense of a six-foot fence of wire-netting round the whole 

 enclosure. To make this proof against all furred vermin it must 

 be of small mesh, say five-eights of an inch. It should be sunk 

 into the ground for eighteen inches, and then turned outwards 

 for say twelve inches, and the trench filled in and rammed. At 

 the top of the fence also the wire should be turned outwards 

 for two feet, that is, an extra length of wire netting two feet 

 wide should be wired on to the top of the upright fence and 

 supported outwards at right angles by means of iron supports 

 screwed to the upright posts. Such a fence should be practically 

 vermin proof. 



Ducks should be fed twice a day, on a mixture of wheat 

 and barley, and the quantity given should be just so much as 

 will be readily consumed. The birds should be taught to come 

 to the keeper's whistle, and when they are once accustomed to 

 this they will readily swim towards him when feeding time 

 comes. If they do not do so it is a sign that they are being 

 over-fed. In cold weather, a small quantity of barley meal and 

 chopped boiled liver or bullock's heart is very desirable, and, in 

 fact, for the diving ducks, unless they are able to obtain a good 

 deal of natural food, this diet should be given in small quantities 

 pretty constantly. Bread is also an excellent diet for most ducks, 

 and stale crusts, thrown into the water will be much appreciated. 



As to the procedure in the nesting season. Experience 

 teaches us that broods left to the parent ducks are rarely reared 

 successfully on a large pond in a mixed collection. Many young 

 ducks are extraordinarily independent and will go a great distance 



