Correspondence , Notes, etc.


CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES



ETC.



139



FURTHER NOTES ON CAROLINA DUCKS.


Sir, —In answering the queries of one of our lady members, I hope

that the additional information, as she suggests, may be of use to others

also; hence my excuse for again intruding with one of my Anatine

favourites. As to the probability of a pair of Carolinas breeding in a wired-

over enclosure twelve feet by six, I can only say that Mandarins will breed,

according to the Hon. Rose Hubbard, in an even smaller space; and

Carolinas used to have the reputation of being better breeders, so that

success is quite possible with these also. It would, however, be better in

such a case to clip one wing, if they are not already pinioned, and let them

out during the day, especially as a shallow weedy pond is available. They

should, however, be gently driven in at night, and fed only at this time;

nor should they be let out till fairly tame and used to their surroundings.

If care is taken they are not likely to stray, unless perhaps about the laying

season, when the}" are apt to get restless, though less so than Mandarins.

The drying up of the pond in summer would not matter, as a very small

tank is enough for ducks like these. It should be placed in their enclosure;

a pan or tub a yard across and a foot deep will do, if some fresh water is

put in daily and the whole emptied out every week or so in dry weather, to

prevent the water getting too foul. A large bath sunk in the ground will

be found to answer excellently. The pond should be seen to, if possible,

when the birds are outside the enclosure.


The enclosure can be made either over grass or shrubs; in the latter

case a turf should be put in every day or so. If a bit of the pond can be

enclosed this would be a very good thing to do ; it might be deepened at

this point, so as to retain more water.


Food should be any small grain—wheat, barley, buckwheat—given

in a trough of water; maize and hempseed may be added in cold weather.

While the birds are confined in the small enclosure a few earthworms or

small snails (about the size of peas) may be given daily.


As to their being bred to profit, this ought certainly to be the case if

a good breeding pair be secured, as food and housing cost little. They are

quite hardy, and a big hutch or kennel littered with straw or moss-litter is

all they need for shelter. To breed a number it is better to have two ducks

to one drake.


In conclusion I may say that our member Captain Boyd Horsbrugh,

A.S.C., has kindly written informing me that a brood of Mandarin-Carolina

hybrids was hatched at the .Stephen’s Green pond in Dublin, but unfortu¬

nately all, he believes, were killed by a terrier. He does not know which

was the male parent. This at any rate shows that the cross is not so very



