259 



Wild Duck. 



only by carrying it out that you can make sure of retaining 

 your ducks. 



The mode of feeding to be adopted is at first to scatter 

 the bulk of the food on the margin of the water. Then, 

 by degrees, gradually come to throwing the whole of it 

 into the water in places where it is from ift. to i8in. 

 deep. In this way the birds will consume less and benefit 

 more by it. They will busy themselves feeding more or 

 less during the whole of the night, and if they require 

 anything more they will occupy themselves searching for 

 such natural food as their haunts supply in the times 

 between dozing and flighting during the day. 



Now as to the best food for wild duck, a matter of 

 great consideration, and one which proves a stumbling- 

 block to most of those who experiment in wild-duck rear- 

 ing. To begin with, it is necessary to repeat that maize 

 is not a suitable food. Given occasionally, and in small 

 quantities, it serves a purpose; but as a staple food its 

 use must be avoided. There is nothing better than wheat 

 and barley, and it is not necessary to be too particular 

 about the quality, provided it is reasonably sound. The 

 grain should always be soaked some hours before being 

 given to the ducks, and if you have cause to vary the food, 

 it is inadvisable to mix two or more sorts of grain. It 

 must also be remembered that a very useful manner of 

 feeding wild duck is to make a small stack or cock of 

 corn in the straw near the water. The rakings from any 

 cornfields are best for the purpose, and the ducks will 

 work out the stack by themselves, just as game-birds, such 

 as pheasants or partridges, will. A reserve of food put 

 up in this manner proves of great assistance, particularly 

 where ducks on distant waters are concerned, and generally 

 in hard weather with severe frost. It is also not a bad 

 plan occasionally to throw grain in the straw upon the 



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