Ducks. 14S 



the other poultry, and it should have a brick floor, so that 

 it can be easily washed. In winter the floor should be 

 littered with a thin layer of straw, rushes, or fern leaves, 

 fresh every day. The hatching-houses should be separated 

 from the lodging apartments, and provided with boxes. for 

 the purpose of incubation and hatching. 



In its wild state the duck pairs with a single mate : the 

 domestic duck has become polygamous, and live ducks may 

 be allowed to one drake, but not more than two or three 

 ducks should be given to one drake if eggs are required 

 for setting. 



Ducks begin laying in January, and usually from that 

 time only during the spring ; but those hatched in March 

 will often lay in the autumn, and continue for two or three 

 months. They usually lay fifty or sixty eggs, and have 

 been known to produce 250. The faculty of laying might 

 be greatly developed, as it has been in some breeds of 

 fowls ; but they have been hitherto chiefly bred for their 

 flesh. They require constant watching when beginning to lay, 

 for they drop their eggs everywhere but in the nest made for 

 them, but as they generally lay in the night, or early in the 

 morning, when in perfect health, they should therefore 

 be kept in every morning till they have laid. One of 

 the surest signs of indisposition among them is irregu- 

 larity in laying. "The eggs of the cluck," says Mr. 

 Dickson, " are readily known from those of the common 

 fowl by their bluish colour and larger size, the shell being- 

 smoother, not so thick, and with much fewer pores. When 

 boiled, the white is never curdy like that of a new-laid 

 hen's egg, but transparent and glassy, while the yolk is 

 much darker in colour. The flavour is by no means so 

 delicate. For omelets, however, as well as for puddings 

 and pastry, duck eggs are much better than hen's eggs, 

 giving a finer colour and flavour, and requiring less butter ; 

 qualities so highly esteemed in Picardy, that the women 

 will sometimes go ten or twelve miles for cluck eggs to- 

 make their holiday cakes." 



A hen is often made to hatch ducklings, being considered 

 a better nurse than a duck, which is apt to take them 



