754 Live Stock. Poultry Water- Fowls Ducks Management t&amp;gt;f. 



The difference between the living and dead weight of a turkey is thus ftated 

 by Mr. Young: Live weight 2ilb. ; dead weight i4!b. 



Water-Fowl. Various birds of this defcription may be kept with benefit bjr 

 the farmer, where he is fo fituated in refpecl to water, commons, and other 

 conveniences, that they can be managed without much attention or trouble ; 

 but in other cafes they are not worth his notice, as they will feldom repay the 

 trouble of looking after them. 



Ducks. There are different breeds of ducks, but the common while or Englijh 

 Ireed and the dark brown orfpeckled wild breed are in moft eftimation. The flefh 

 of the latter is higher flavoured than the former. Thefe birds may be kept with 

 moft profit to the farmer in filiations where there are large ponds or flieets of 

 water f0r them to reft upon near to the farm-yards, as in fuch cafes they will re 

 quire little or no trouble ; but in other circumftances, except where they are 

 reared by perfons who make a bufinefsof dealing in thefe and other forts of poul 

 try, they will afford little advantage in the way of profit, unlefs it be a few juft 

 for the purpofe of the table. Ducks moftly begin to lay early in the year, as 

 the latter end of January or beginning of the following month, efpecially when 

 well fed. They require attention at this period, as they lay a great number of 

 eggs, and are very apt to drop them in the water, or at random in other places* 

 One drake is fufficient for four or five ducks. When fet, from ten to a dozen or 

 ihirteen eggs are a fufficient number. They fit about thirty days, and during 

 the time mould be fed and have water near their nefts, to prevent the eggs from 

 being injured by their leaving them too long. When hatched, they mould re 

 main with the duck in fome inclofed fafe warm funny place, and be well fed with 

 crumbs of bread, grits, or barley-meal and boiled potatoes well mixed and ufed 

 frefh and frefh, fand and clean water being conftantly kept in mallow pans. The 

 duck breeders have alfo in general a provifion of worms &amp;gt; fnails, and other firnilar 

 animals in readinefs for them when a little more advanced in their growth,, as well 

 as corn either in its ground or natural ftate. It is likewife a point of great import 

 ance to keep them perfectly Clean, and to let them have plenty of dry clean ftraw 

 as litter. The practice of raifing ducks under hens feldom anfwers well, as their 

 habits are by no means fuited to the rearing of fuch birds ; nor has the cuftom of 

 trimming off the tails of the young ducklings, any better foundation in reafon.* 

 They mould never be admitted at full liberty till they are become quite ftrong, as 

 at a month or fix weeks old. It is ufeful to keep them as diftinct as poflible from 

 the others. 



