Duck Keeping. 1 35 



and from these eggs fine ducklings were hatched on the 20th 



December I never keep ducks over eighteen 



months old, as I find they eat idle food from the end of 

 August to March, which is better bestowed on their young 

 ones, at that time laying. I except from this rule any 

 particularly large bird, or one remarkable for its laying 

 qualities." 



One great advantage in keeping ducks is, that they are 

 hardy and easy to rear, in proof of which we may quote 

 what was told us some time ago, by one of the largest breeders 

 in the kingdom, namely, tbat he very seldom finds any eggs 

 infertile, that the proportion of eggs failing to hatch is very 

 small, and that the mortality among the ducklings is almost 

 nil — so that the duck breeder has every chance of success. 

 So far as the fattening is concerned, we have fed ducklings 

 up to 81b. and 101b. the couple, in eight weeks, at a cost 

 of about 30 cents to 40 cents each ; and as the price to be 

 got even at au ordinary time would be not less than 18 

 cents, and probably 25 cents a pound, whilst earlier in the 

 year it would be much greater, there is plenty of margin for 

 profit. Besides, ducks are most prolific layers, and there is 

 always a good demand from cooks and confectioners for their 

 eggs. Ducks are undoubtedly large eaters, but as the old 

 birds kept need not be very numerous, this does not affect 

 the matter ; and there are thousands of cottagers and others, 

 living near small streams, who might add very considerably 

 to their incomes by keeping ducks, and without any great 

 outlay in the first instance, or much time and money after- 

 wards. But the place must be suitable if profit is to be 

 made. We do not for a moment wish to say that ducks 

 cannot be reared without water. In fact, in our early poul- 

 try days we hatched and reared every year sufficient ducks 

 to supply our table for months, on a very small plot of ground ; 

 but we never attempted to keep adult birds, buying the eggs 



