257 Wild Duck. 



barley, and oats, with a little sound maize given occasion- 

 ally in wet and cold weather. When the ducks are 

 mature, home-grown wheat is the best possible food, and 

 should be the basis of the whole of the feeding. 



As soon as the feeds are reduced to two, then at first 

 the grain given in the morning may be slightly soaked, and 

 that provided for the evening be given dry. Later on, as 

 the birds mature, hard food at both meals will suffice. 



We have now reached the stage when the wild ducks 

 which have been reared may be regarded as mature birds. 

 By this time they will have abandoned the coops and 

 taken to such places adjacent to the water as may have 

 seemed fit for resting purposes. As soon as the ducks 

 give up using the coops these should be removed, as they 

 will require no further shelter beyond that which they 

 provide for themselves. 



As will have been seen, there is no great difficulty attach- 

 ing to the rearing of wild duck, provided suitable accom- 

 modation is at hand. The difficulty is to retain them 

 upon your own waters when they have become mature, or 

 nearly mature, birds. It is in this respect that most of the 

 failures occur, and it must be admitted that there is no 

 great satisfaction gained by rearing wild duck to stock 

 other people's water. As a rule, the only causes con- 

 tributing to the loss of ducks are those of incorrect 

 management and improper feeding. 



Two objects must be held in view by those rearing these 

 fowl. In the first instance, the birds must be really wild, 

 and good flyers ; and in the second place they must have 

 their proper home, to which they unfailingly return. 

 Compared with pheasants, for instance, wild duck are 

 naturally far less disposed to leave their home; and in 

 order that those who may be trying their hands at wild- 

 duck rearing may properly appreciate the way they should 



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