62 YOUNG DUCKS ON REARING FIELD 



planted near a pond on the preserve and allowed to run 

 wild would prove especially attractive to tKe ducks and 

 that it would not only tend to keep them at home, but 

 out of mischief. Since wild ducks fly well the ordinary 

 wire about a garden, used to keep chickens out, would 

 be no barrier to them, but some plan should be devised 

 to keep them out of gardens when they are reared on 

 country places. Probably my ducks were not fed 

 enough. If they are not permitted to become too tame 

 it would be an easy matter to scare the ducks away and 

 to let them know that the place was not safe, and by 

 providing some similar green foods in more accessible 

 and safer places they, no doubt, could be taught to stay 

 out of the garden. 



The English duck preservers and gamekeepers all ad- 

 vise that ducks reared under hens be not taken to the 

 water until ' they are seven or eight weeks old. They 

 should have water to drink in shallow pans and plenty 

 of it. It is well to put some sand in the water and to 

 scatter sand and fine grit about where the ducks can 

 always find plenty of these necessary materials. The 

 young ;Jucks are infatuated with the water, and the the- 

 ory is that without an aquatic mother to regulate their 

 -bathing and to lead them out at the proper time the 

 ducklings stay in too long, like some human youngsters. 

 Young ducks are liable to become chilled after being in 

 the water too long, and they are subject to cramp. It is 

 for this reason that all the authorities, including the 

 gamekeepers, who are the best authorities, agree that it 

 is best to keep young ducks which are reared under hens 

 out in the field and away from any water until they are 

 at least seven or eight weeks old. 



