466 



Duck Raising. 



[NOV., 



denied water except for drinking purposes. The greater 

 majority of English ducklings marketed during the spring and 

 early summer have never been in water, though sometimes 

 " duckers " allow the young birds a bath a day or two before 

 they are killed. 



Stock birds should not be forced. — Where they are intended as 

 stock birds, however the better plan is to give them full liberty 

 after the first fortnight of their existence and allow them access 

 to water, though by so doing development is retarded and they 

 grow slowly as compared with those which are subjected to the 

 forcing treatment named above ; they have a stronger frame and 

 a reserve of strength which is essential to their future work as 

 breeding stock. Size is attained ultimately, but not with the 

 same speed, and they are not fit for slaughter as ducklings. 



System of hatching, — In Britain the system of hatching has 

 been until quite recently entirely by means of hens, artificial 

 methods n.>t being favourably regarded in the duck districts 

 of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. Though this feeling is 

 not so pronounced as formerly, incubators having been used 

 within the last few years by progressive duck breeders, the 

 majority still regard the natural method of hatching as alone 

 calculated to secure success. Where the ordinary system is 

 retained, hens — not ducks — are used for hatching, as it is recog- 

 nised that ducks are unreliable and late in becoming broody, 

 and, therefore, of no use for producing early birds. Up to a few 

 years ago it was considered doubtful whether artificial incuba- 

 tion would give as good results with ducklings as with chickens, 

 but since then American and British breeders have proved that 

 duck-hatching upon a large scale by means of incubators can 

 be made successful, and that for bringing out these birds in . a 

 wholesale fashion it is the only method which can be depended 

 upon. Artificial incubation has proved quite reliable if a plenti- 

 ful supply of fresh air is ensured and the eggs are damped daily. 

 Formerly the great difficulty was to rear the artificially-hatched 

 ducklings, but the process is now better understood. Ducklings 

 require heat for a much shorter period than do chickens ; during 

 ordinary weather a week to ten days is quite sufficient, but when 

 the weather is severe they may be retained in heated brooders 

 for a few days longer. Ducklings are frequently raised without 



