1 Dec., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 441 
Referring to general management, Mr. Rankin, in the Poultry Keeper, 
says :— 
“We keep them in yards, with wire-netting 2 feet high. Some of 
them dress over 10 Ib. per pair, the average being about 9 lb. per pair. It is 
necessary to have water dishes so constructed that they can drink freely 
without getting wet themselves. We use galvanised iron tanks, about the 
size of a 6-inch pipe, tight at one end and open at the other. Small holes are 
bored through this tank about a quarter of an inch from the top. It is then 
filled, or partly filled, with water, according to number and size of ducklings, 
and inverted into a tin saucer half an inch deep and about 1 inch larger in 
diameter than the tank, leaving a 3-inch space for the ducklings to drink from 
between that and the tank. The water will ooze out of the little holes just 
as fast as they can drink it, avd no faster. 
“ Ducklings should be fed about the same as chicks for the first few days, 
giving them milk, if to be had, by mixing their food with it. Care should be 
taken the first few days to keep the young ducklings warm and dry. For the 
first week they will suffer more from coldand wet than chicks ; after that time 
they will endure more of either than chicks. Cornmeal, exclusively, is too 
concentrated, and will cripple them in their legs and feet. It should be mixed 
with bran, boiled potatoes, &c. It is a pleasing and comical sight to see three 
or four hundred young ducklings when first out. They are much more 
interesting than chicks, hardier, and if well cared for the mortality is much 
fess.”’ 
Campbell says ducks that are kept for breeding purposes must have a pond 
or water of some kind to swim in, else the eggs will be largely infertile, and 
there is usually quite a large percentage of addled eggs in them, imperfect 
germs, &¢. This does not agree with Mr. Rankin’s experience, who generally 
has a very large percentage of fertile eggs, and confines his breeders on land 
altogether. On Long Island some of the duckers use water for their breeding 
birds, and others do not; but Mr. Hallock, who uses water, told the writer 
that he did not believe it made much difference either way. 
Harcuina. 
Duck-eggs require turning, and the same general handling as hens’ eggs, 
during the period of incubation, says Mr. Rankin, and the same amount of heat, 
with a little more moisture after they begin to pip. 
Cooper says duck-eggs are not more difficult to hatch than hen-eggs, and 
require about the same general treatment. ‘The only point to bear in mind is 
that they require more air because they are larger, and are more difficult to dry 
down. ‘The air cell will have to be larger than in hen-eggs, so as to give the 
duck room to turn its somewhat large head and bill. The operator will have 
difficulty in a damp location in drying the eggs sufficiently unless care is taken. 
Temperature should be 103°, with a tendency below rather than above: cool a 
little more than for a hen-egg. 
Campbell says duck-eggs and hen-eggs can be hatched together, but will 
hatch best if by themselves. he shells are very tough, and many of the young 
ducks will have to be helped out, but when they are out they will soon be as 
lively as crickets. Great care must be used to give the help at the proper time, 
as if done too soon the ducks will die. 
“ Ducks are unlike chicks in that respect,’ continues Mr. Campbell; “a 
chick that cannot get out alone is seldom worth helping out, but a duck thatis 
helped out is usually as good as the one that can get out himself. 
“ Ducklings are like chicks in that they require no food for twenty-four 
hours after hatching out. They should first of all be given a few drops of 
water, using care not to let them get wet. They should never, under any 
circumstances, be allowed water to swim in until they begin to feather; then 
water will do them no harm, but they must haye it before them at all times to 
drink and wash their bills. 
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