806 : QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Nov., 1902. 
supply of fresh water to drink, but this should be only given to them after 
meals. The birds should be allowed to eat as much as they will, and, when 
fully satisfied, may then be allowed the water to drink. 
The plan that is usually adopted in the Vale of Aylesbury is to allow the 
ducklings to remain with the hens for three or four days, when they are 
removed to warm roomy sheds in lots of about forty or fifty. A large 
number are kept upon only a small space, as the less exercise they are allowed 
the faster they will grow. If the birds were to be kept for stock purposes this 
would be a very bad plan, as they would not grow up strong or very healthy, 
and, moreover, the frame would be undersized. When, however, the birds are 
merely to be used for killing, this does not matter, and the desire is to force 
them on at as great a rate as possible, without caring whether the frame is 
much developed. Ducklings for killing are never allowed access to water, 
unless it be the day prior to their being killed, when sometimes they are per- 
mitted to swim for a few hours in order to wash their feathers. 
The utmost cleanliness must be observed in the duck yard, otherwise 
disease will soon break out. 
At the large duck farm at Belmont, belonging to Messrs. Baynes Bros., 
there are some 4,000 birds—Aylesburys, Pekins, Muscovies, and Buff Orping- 
tons. Every yard, pen, and-house is marvellously clean. No sloppy food is 
given, and all food is first boiled. It consists of liver, wheat, barley, pumpkins, 
lucerne, and other vegetable matter ; the whole mixed witha little sand. When 
ready for use, there is very little moisture in it, and the birds thrive wonder- 
fully on such diet, looking more like geese than ducks. All the ducklings are 
hatched in incubators. I should advise you, if you go in for ducks, to try 
Pekins and Aylesburys. 
The Indian Runner duck is a well-shaped bird, not very large, but a 
wonderful layer. With a good run like a farm, these ducks will roam for long 
distances and almost keep themselves. They rarely attempt to sit. 
TURKEYS. 
Turkeys will not thrive everywhere, and are more difficult to raise than 
any other fowls. They like high, dry land, and especially land adjoining a 
serub, where they can pick up any quantity of grubs and insects, of which 
they are very fond. Turkey chicks are very delicate and cannot stand rain, 
fogs, or cold wind; therefore, never let the young turkeys get wet; the 
slightest dampness is fatal. Feed nothing the first twenty-four hours after they 
are hatched. Before putting them inthe coop, see that it is perfectly clean and 
free from lice, and dust them three times a week with insect powder. Be sure 
the hen is free from lice; dust her, too. Look out for mites and the large lice 
on the heads, necks, and vents. Grease heads, necks, and vents with lard, but 
avoid kerosene. Nine-tenths of the young turkeys die from lice; remember 
that. Filth will soon make short work of them. Teed on clean surfaces. 
Give water in a manner so that they can only wet their beaks. The first 
week feed a mixture of one egg (beaten) and sifted ground oats, mixed, with 
salt to taste, and cooked as bread ; then crumble for them, with milk or curds, 
so that they can drink all they want. eed every two hours, early and late. 
Give a little raw meat every day ; also, finely chopped onions or other 
tender green food. After the first week, keep wheat and ground bone in 
boxes before them all the time, but feed three times a day on a mixture of 
cornmeal, wheat middlings, ground oats (all cooked), and to which chopped 
green food is added. Mashed potatoes, cooked turnips, cold rice, and such will 
always be in order. ‘Too many hard-boiled eggs will cause bowel disease. 
Remove coop to fresh ground often, in order to avoid filth. Ground bone, fine 
gravel, ground shells, and a dust bath must be provided. Finely cut fresh 
bones from the butcher’s, with the adhering meat, is excellent. They must be 
carefully attended to until well feathered. Give them liberty on dry, warm 
days. A high roost, in an open shed which faces the north, is better than a 
closed house for grown turkeys. A single union of a male and female fertilises 
