112 POULTBY FATTENING. 



the hen for about a week, kept in small coops, though 

 frequently they are taken sooner from the hens, and 

 sometimes they are kept in the cottage itself. Then 

 they are removed, placed in roomy sheds, which are 

 usually divided into compartments, and must be well 

 lighted and airy. We have seen in a single shed up- 

 wards of 2,000 ducklings, divided into flocks of about 

 25 each by L-shaped boards, so as to prevent over- 

 crowding. As they grow these places are increased 

 in size, and then they are put out into open runs with 

 sheds attached, from 100 to 200 in a flock. On one 

 large farm two long, low sheds are employed, divided 

 by 18-inch boards into a dozen compartments, each of 

 which holds 100 birds. The ducks are allowed out 

 when younger three times a day for feeding, at 7 a.m., 

 12.30, and 5 p.m., then put back and penned off in the 

 manner stated. They are not given any water for 

 swimming as a rule, but there are exceptions to this 

 arrangement. Water for drinking is given in troughs, 

 which are half-filled with a special gravel brought 

 from Long Marston in Buckinghamshire, and which 

 is regarded as having some special qualities to recom- 

 mend it. It is inexpensive, costing Is. 6d. per load, 

 without cartage. Similar gravel can be met with 

 elsewhere, and this material is essential to success in 

 duck rearing. 



The food is, of course, varied a little in accordance 

 with the individual ideas of breeders, but as a rule, for 

 a few days, it consists of hard-boiled eggs, chopped 

 fine and mixed with bread-crumbs, but some breeders 

 use at this period in addition toast soaked in water. 

 After three or four days of this feeding the birds are 



