294 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



wander. After a fortnight or three weeks the hens 

 may be removed, but the coops should remain, and the 

 young birds should be regularly cooped up at night, 

 and also during the day if it be very wet. It is im- 

 portant to ensure that they have plenty of ventilation 

 when in the coops. It is essential at this time that the 

 ducklings should not get into any water for swimming, 

 as they will be found to develop cramp and rheumatism : 

 large pans for their drinking-water should also be 

 avoided, in case they get into them, and, when the 

 water is done with, the pans should be emptied. As 

 regards feeding, it is important that they should have 

 plenty, but it must be of the right sort ; they must be 

 fed regularly when very young five times a day, three 

 times in the morning and twice in the afternoon. The 

 food which is most highly recommended is a meal 

 specially prepared by Messrs. Gilbertson & Page, 

 Hertford. It should be mixed with a little water and 

 given to the birds warm for the first fortnight ; after 

 that they may have it cold. No other form of nourish- 

 ment is required, and if given regularly the birds will 

 be found to thrive on it and grow rapidly. After a 

 fortnight, three times a day is sufficiently often to feed 

 them, and this may in turn be decreased to twice a day. 

 When eight weeks old, the birds may be taken to the 

 stream or water which is intended for their permanent 

 home, and fed twice a day as before. After a time 

 they will become accustomed to their new surround- 

 ings, and then they need only to be fed once a day, in 



