50 ARTIFICIAL REARING OF WILD DUCKS 



preserve in North Carolina many ducks nested on the 

 bank of a small stream, often under the projecting roots 

 of trees or beside a log. 



It is an easy matter, and an important one, to induce 

 the ducks to lay their eggs within a field which is wired 

 against ground vermin. The fence is made of chicken 

 wire and is run into the ground, and the wire is turned 

 outward underground so that any rat, or other vermin, 

 will not be able to enter the field. Traps are placed out- 

 side the fence and always beside any holes where ver- 

 min has been digging. 



No one had any success in rearing the young ducks 

 in England until the proper food for them was discov- 

 ered. This was invented and made by a well known 

 dealer in foods for pheasants and poultry, and duck rear- 

 ing at once became common on the preserves and on 

 many game farms. 



A number of excellent wild duck meals are now manu- 

 factured in England and in America, and the best of 

 these may be obtained from the Spratt's Patent (Am.) 

 Limited, Newark, New Jersey, or from at least one game 

 farmer, Mr. Wallace Evans, of Oak Park, Illinois. 



Since young ducks live largely on insects, it was nec- 

 essary to provide some animal matter in the food. The 

 gamekeepers, however, quickly transfer the young 

 ducks to a grass field after they are hatched, where they 

 can secure some insects, the more the better, no doubt, 

 and the coops in which the hens are confined are moved 

 from day to day in order to give the young birds fresh 

 ground and a better chance to secure insect food. Mr. 

 Whealton writes : 



"I feed all my young wild geese, ducks and swan, from 



