52 



THE GAME BREEDER 



of species of ducks- other than the mal- 

 lards. 



We have printed several short articles 

 on this subject by successful breeders 

 and for the benefit ot new readers who 

 are asking advice we repeat the sub- 

 stance of some of these articles. 



The mallards reared on preserves are 

 easier to handle than other ducks are 

 because they are descended from ducks 

 artificially reared and in many cases they 

 have a more or less visible admixture of 

 tame blood; this is true even of some 

 ducks which are strong on the wing and 

 afford good sport. 



The black ducks have been bred in 

 good numbers by some of our readers 

 and by the writer, but in every case the 

 stock ducks have been in captivity at 

 least two years and those which have 

 been made fairly tame are the birds 

 which lay eggs. They do best when 

 given a considerable area about the pond 

 where they can select a suitable nesting 

 place in grass, brush or weeds. They 

 should not be disturbed by strangers or 

 by stray dogs or other animals which 

 may alarm or destroy them. I have seen 

 birds of the third or fourth generation 

 which were quite as easy to handle as 

 some mallards are, and I once purchased 

 a lot of such ducks which were reared 

 in a small yard near a farm house and 

 which fed fearlessly at their owner's feet. 

 I have had no trouble breeding these 

 black ducks and some others which I 

 purchased from another 1 breeder, which 

 were quite tame. They were strong on 

 the wing and often went miles away 

 from home visiting a bay where they 

 remained for hours at a time. They re- 

 turned very promptly at four o'clock 

 every afternoon when I always gave 

 them a good meal. They were so prompt 

 that we could tell the time by their ar- 

 rival. One of our readers described how 

 he rears about 200 black ducks every 

 season in a wire inclosure about one- 

 third water, one-third marsh and one- 

 third higher ground suitable for nesting, 

 containing grass, brush, etc. Mr. Pickell 

 has succeeded in making pintails as 

 tame as. mallards and as easy to handle 

 and breed. He and others have bred the 

 blue-winged teal, the green-winged teal 



and some other species. Many breed the 

 wood-duck which is quite easy to 

 handle ; some have bred the ruddy duck 

 and a few other species. 



I have purchased hundreds of wild 

 black ducks and pintails which would 

 not lay an egg and persisted in remaining 

 wild and shy. This was due no doubt to 

 a lack of attention by the game keepers 

 who were very busy rearing thousands 

 of pheasants and mallards and had not 

 the time or the patience necessary to suf- 

 ficiently tame the wild birds. 



The secret of success is to start with 

 birds which have been partly tamed, pre- 

 ferably with those which have laid eggs 

 in captivity, or with captivity bred birds. 

 Since most species will not lay eggs until 

 the second or third year the dealer who 

 has such stock naturally will ask a higher 

 price for it than for fresh trapped birds 

 or the easy going commercial mallards. 

 Fresh trapped mallards are not easy to 

 handle but they are in great demand 

 since all breeders wish to add wild stock 

 to their flocks in order to keep the birds 

 strong on the wing and suitable for 

 shooting. 



Fresh trapped mallards, therefore, are 

 worth at least twice as much as captivity 

 bred mallards are, but with the other 

 species the figures are reversed since 

 fresh trapped birds do not lay eggs for 

 some time and birds which will lay are 

 naturally in big demand. 



Care and Feed for Young Turkeys. 



J. D. McClintic, who breeds tame, wild 

 and half-breed turkeys with great suc- 

 cess, says : 



First see that they are free frm lice, see 

 that they are not over fed. Lice and over 

 feeding kill more young turkeys than any 

 other cause. Feed bread cut in slices and 

 browned in oven, crush fine when cold, mix 

 with hard boiled egg cut fine and cut dande- 

 lions; moisten with a litle milk or water if 

 not moist enough to stick together. After 

 two or three weeks old mix a little shorts 

 with bread and egg. Feed a good chick feed 

 as they grow older ; give them range if you 

 can. 



Importance of Range for Wild Tur- 

 keys. 



It is an easy matter to rear wild tur- 

 keys, just as it is to rear quail, grouse, 



