60 



Ducks as Egg-Producers. 



[Apr. , 



modation and the same range for the rest of their lives, if the 

 best egg returns are desired. Changes made at a later date 

 are almost certain to result in a serious loss of eggs. 



Immediately the dueklets have been put in their perma- 

 nent laying quarters, they must be taught when and where to 

 expect their food. They must be made to realise that they 

 will not be given anything" until just before dark. They 

 Qiust learn from experience that they can only obtain 

 food by running about and looking for it, and that quacking 

 has no effect on their attendant, who must be firm. It 

 is wise to spend some time teaching dueklets where to forage. 

 They should first be attracted from their permanent quarters 

 by scattering a little corn on to their range in the direction in 

 which it is desired they should go. They must not be allowed 

 to remain in or around their sleeping quarters. If there are two 

 or more flocks it is worth while trying to teach one to go in a 

 particular direction and the other in the opposition direction. 

 In this way a larger area of ground is covered and a bigger harvest 

 oi worms and insects is obtained. 



Farm Duck Management. — Farmers and occupiers of grass 

 land will find the following plan worthy of trial. It has proved 

 Tery successful in the case of Khaki Campbells on a farm at 

 Appleby in North Lincolnshire. 



Two flocks of about twenty layers each may be kept at each 

 farmyard or feeding centre. One flock should consist of 

 dueklets and the other of second season ducks. The two 

 f ocks must be fed separately and must sleep separately. Two 

 open-air sleeping pens should be arranged some distance apart, 

 about 12 to 15 yd. square. They should be situated if possible 

 in a quiet unused part of the farmyard where they will be safe 

 from horses and cattle, and if possible they should be on thick- 

 growing grass. Each pen should be surrounded with strong 

 wire netting, hung on strong posts, the ends of which have been 

 dipped in tar. In a fox country the wire should be 8 ft. high 

 and let into the ground at the bottom; 6 ft. wire will be sufficient 

 if there are no foxes. Fix a simple gate in the middle of the wire 

 on whichever side of the sleeping pen is approached most con- 

 veniently from the food store. Place in the pen a sufficiently 

 long feeding trough of simple make to enable all the birds to 

 feed at the same time. Drinking water should be placed 

 outside only, not inside the sleeping pen, and a liberal supply 

 of cockle shell or other shell forming material should always be 

 available. Arrangements should be made for a supply of about 



