CHAPTER XIV 



Water Fowl 



Not a few farmers seem to be prejudiced against 

 water fowl, especially ducks. Geese are tolerated 

 because they forage for themselves very largely 

 and live on what they pick up from waste lands 

 such as marshes and wet pastures. They are es- 

 sentially grass-eating birds. From the time vegeta- 

 tion starts in spring till killed by frost in autumn, 

 geese demand almost no attention. Goslings, after 

 they are four weeks old, will also shift for them- 

 selves. Ducks, on the other hand, will not stand 

 neglect so well, and they are more likely to wander 

 and get lost or be killed by prowlers, such as foxes ; 

 then, too, the ducklings, if allowed on streams and 

 ponds, are likely to be eaten by turtles and preying 

 fish. Another objection is that ducks improperly 

 managed often lay their eggs in the water. Unless 

 they have desirable quarters and are given proper 

 attention they are rather troublesome to look after. 

 Besides this, they are very noisy, especially if dis- 

 turbed at night. The careless farmer is most likely 

 to be prejudiced against ducks for the above reasons, 

 and also because half-fed ducks will overeat them- 

 selves when they do get a chance at food. 



DUCKS 



As noted in Chapter II, it will not pay the 

 farmer to go into duck raising on an extensive com- 

 mercial scale unless he is situated within easy ac- 



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