On the Rearing and Management of Poultry, 



195 



condemn; for, no later than last year, a party of whom I pur- 

 chased a Hock took advantage before delivering them of robbing 

 them of a great part of their feathers ; the consequence of which 

 was the loss of the most of them. I admit a small quantity 

 may be taken off with little or no injury ; but then so few people 

 can be trusted to do the work, that it is undoubtedly the best 

 policy to let the feathers hang as they grow. 



I have almost forgot to state that when geese get a habit 

 of going through fences, the best way to prevent them is to 

 Lang a stick about 30 inches long across the breasts of the 

 leaders. 



Ducks. — In almost every rural situation ducks can be profitably 

 kept. They lay abundantly, although at a season when the eggs of 

 fowls are very plentiful, yet their eggs command a ready market 

 from their known superiority for pastry purposes. Ducks ac- 

 quire fat very fast, and their food being nothing more, if we may 

 so speak, than refuse, they are hence not only profitable as layers, 

 but also for the market. 



The number of ducks to one drake should never exceed six, if 

 the object be to have eggs for incubation. But if the eggs are 

 for sale alone, then the number of ducks may be doubled. 



I have before stated that the duck-house must be kept 

 thoroughly clean ; if this be attended to there is little difficulty 

 in getting the ducks to lay constantly in it ; but should it be, as 

 we too often see, a house of filth, then there need be no surprise 

 at the duck endeavouring to delude her keeper by seeking nests 

 in obscure places. 



The duck delights so much to be in water that she leads her 

 brood to it when too young, especially at the commencement of 

 the season, when the weather is frequently cold ; she does not, 

 therefore, stand high as a nurse, in consequence of which the 

 incubation of duck-eggs is almost invariably intrusted to the hen 

 of the fowl. 



It very frequently happens that not a single duckling is ob- 

 tained from a setting of eggs ; a circumstance that can only be 

 attributed to a want of fecundation : when such is the case the 

 sooner another drake is obtained the better, to displace him that 

 has too long had dominion. 



The ducklings should make their appearance about the 29th 

 day of incubation. Their management must be much the same 

 as that described for goslings. 



A custom prevails, which I have not seen noticed by authors., 

 of cutting away with a pair of scissors the down on that part of 

 the rump which will be occupied by the tail feathers. The 

 reason given is that the weight of the hinder parts counterbalances 

 the fore parts, and prevents the duckling from walking with 



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