Ducks Birds 
should have nesting boxes placed high up. Their 
yard should be covered with wire netting, as well as 
fenced, for these birds can scale a wire fence with 
perfect ease, and thus escape. Both species are 
active at night. It is more usual to hatch the eggs 
of these ducks under a Bantam; if this is done, other 
eggs should be given to the Wood-duck mother. 
HOUSE 
Ducks are hardy, but they should be protected 
from storm. A low shed does very well; the floor 
should be covered with chaff or shavings. It must 
be borne in mind that ducks squat upon the ground 
when resting, and therefore the floor of their shelter 
must be dry and clean, and should be changed often 
enough so that it is kept fresh and wholesome. 
There should be plenty of shade in the yard, and 
the house itself should be shaded from the hot sun, 
for the heat is dangerous to ducks, especially to 
ducklings. 
FOOD 
The natural food of ducks is largely insects, and 
all of the animal life that swarms about the aquatic 
plants in the ponds and still waters in which the 
ducks live. Thus, if raised where there is a pond 
which contains much duckweed and other vegeta- 
tion the birds will not need much other food, in 
summer, but if kept in an enclosure, the older ducks 
should be fed grain which has been moistened with 
water or milk. Plenty of green food, such as rye, 
clover, alfalfa or corn should be given, but it should 
first be cut fine in a feed-cutter; this may be fed 
alone or mixed with the grain. The food should 
never be placed on the ground where it may be soon 
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