der conditions which require yarding, malte much use of small 

 grit, and many use charcoal also, at least, occasionally. Char- 

 coal is especially good in the case of trouble with indigestion. 

 But, inasmuch as the old saw about locking the barn after the 

 horse is stolen applies with great force to ducks, the wise duck 

 grower studies his conditions carefully, and so plans as to render 

 impossible, those things which are likely to make trouble in the 

 duck yard. 



One careful grower known to me who would by no 

 means be caught napping about anything in the regular preven- 

 tive line, has lost a large bunch of ducks through hunters; an- 

 other, through the ducklings having eaten rose beetles. 



The sexes are usually about equally represented in the young 

 stock. Occasionally, a freakish hatch may be very unequal. 

 One buyer, in 1910, reported one duck and nine drakes raised 

 from one setting of eggs ; while another, more under fortune's 

 care, apparently, reports, on the very morning when I am writing 

 this chapter, three drakes to nine ducks. 



One breeder suggests that real beginners could more easily 

 enter upon poultry culture with Indian Runners than with any 

 variety of hens, because they "would meet with but few of the 

 vexing problems and setbacks that would fall to their lot if they 

 tackled chickens." The first requisite in handling, he says, is to 

 get pure-bred Runners, "free from crossing with Pekin and other 

 ducks." 



To speak definitely of our own experience, I may say that 

 we have hatched and raised our Runners entirely with hens. 

 Early in the season, I give not more than nine eggs to a hen. 

 This is equal to 13 hens' eggs. A nest with a sod or earth bottom 

 is best. The eggs are supposed to hatch in 28 days, but I have 

 had a brood all out and in the coop before the end of the 28th 

 day. The ducklings require little feed the first day or two. I do 

 not try to feed them till they begin to look for it, for they do not 



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