51

AN INEFFECTIVE CRIPPLE STOPPER 64

BEFORE THE EVENING MEAL 67

A RIGHT AND LEFT 69

AT THE END OF THE DAY 70

COMING ON A SIDE WIND 73

LADIES IN WAITING 74

SELECTION OF STOCK AND THEIR HOME

WILD DUCKS

CHAPTER I

SELECTION OF STOCK AND THEIR HOME

The first point to be decided by the would-be owner of wild-fowl is the
locality where he intends to turn down his stock.

Wild-fowl can undoubtedly be reared far from any large piece of water,
but I am strongly of opinion that birds do better on a good-sized
stretch of water with a stream running into it and out of it. Given
these advantages, the running water must be constantly bringing a fresh
supply of food, especially after a fall of rain sufficiently heavy to
cause a rise of water; further, if the stream which runs out of our lake
empties itself into a large river, the latter will, when it floods or
rises rapidly, cause our stream to back up and bring in a further
supply of food from the main river.

Some morning the ducks are absent from their accustomed haunts, and if
we walk up to the spot where the stream enters the lake, ten to one we
shall find our birds there thoroughly enjoying some duck-weed or other
food swept down by a rise in the water.

This supply of fresh food is a gratifying source of economy to the grain
bill at the end of the year, and it is most fascinating to watch the
birds "standing on their heads" in their endeavours to reach this change
of diet.

Another great advantage, too, is that a far higher percentage of fertile
eggs will be obtained if the ducks have a large piece of water at their
disposal.

Given these advantages, it is, however, most necessary for the birds to
have some shelter near the lake, both as a protection against the
weather and to serve as suitable nesting places.

Nothing, for instance, could be better than a stackyard or paddock in
the vicinity of the water, and if the paddock is bounded by a flood
bank or tall hedge, giving shelter from the prevailing wind, so much the
better.

Ducks love to nest in stacks, and I have known a pinioned bird work her
way up the side of a stack and make her nest fifteen feet from the
ground. In stacks birds can burrow so deep that no weather, however
inclement, can damage the eggs.

Outhouses too are