70 



Points on Care and Breeding of Pheasants, etc. 



Mandarin and Wood Duck Breeding 

 The Real Duck Bantam Family 



The mandarin duck is the most gorgeous in appearance of all the ornamental duck tribes, 

 and deserves greater attention from breeders and exhibitors than it has heretofore received. 

 The bird is of small size, weighs about one pound, closely and neatly built, and the beautiful 



bright plumage of the drake in grandeur, is almost beyond 

 description. The long crest on the head and the fan on 

 the back can be raised or lowered at will. The color of 

 the feathers run in orange-brown to an olive brown and 

 greenish orange. Mandarin ducks are a native of China 

 and it is customary in that country to carry a pair of 

 Mandarin ducks in a wedding procession. They show 

 everlasting fidelity to their mates. The breeding sea- 

 son is from April to June The duck lays from fifteen to 

 twenty-four eggs _in a season and- the eggs hatch within 

 twenty-one days. The young can be raised with bantam 

 hens and require about the same attention and feed as 

 bantam chicks. Mandarins require a very secluded spot in 

 order to make them breed. In captivity they do not want 

 to be seen or hunted up during breeding season, and their 

 nest must not be molested. I have been very successful breeding these ducks in putting 

 up a lot of cornstalks in their yards, which the birds use for their hiding-place. 



MANDARIN 

 Showing its plumage 



A SWIMMING POOL FOR MANDARIN 

 AND WOOD DUCKS 



An aviary should be about the size 6x10 feet. A good size wash-tub will answer for a 

 swimming pool, and put it in the ground to be even with the surface of the ground, be sure 

 and place this tub in a shady spot. In the middle of the bottom of the tub bore a hole and 

 insert a plug with a chain attached, which will enable you to let the water out by pulling the 

 plug out. In digging the hole for the tub make sure that there is plenty of dirt dug away 

 directly underneath the plug, in order to give the water a chance to soak away readily. The 

 water shoxdd be changed every day. The ducks will enjoy this pool immensely and no doubt 

 if you are a lover of birds you will enjoy looking at them. It will also keep their plumage 

 in a most perfect and beautiful condition. To make these beautiful small ducks breed, set 

 some cornstalks in the pen, in which they can hide and make their nests. 



