Page:Ducks- and how to make them pay (IA cu31924003102971).pdf/20

6 hundred young ducklings reared at the present time, in various parts of the country, where there were only ten reared some years ago, and soon there will be one thousand reared where there are one hundred produced at the present time. Young ducklings should really form a great part of our daily food, and especially where there are large families. The food they thrive on is cheap, and all kinds of butcher's meat is dear; not only so, but it is far more satisfactory to be able to produce flesh meat for one's own table, than to buy elsewhere. It has been thought by thousands of English people that ducks were very difficult to rear, and that it was only those who lived in the country and had a large pond, river, or brook for them to swim in who were able to rear them at all, but I am pleased to say that I have proved this to be entirely wrong. Ducks can be reared in towns just as well as in the country, and in a limited space without water, except just enough for drinking purposes only, better than they can in a farmyard, or where they have a large pond or stream to go to. They grow faster, and fatten quicker if they are never allowed to go into the water at all. They do not require an elaborate house; a large box, made watertight, or a small shed is quite sufficient for them where one only wants to rear a few for the table. I have dealt very briefly in this little work on how ducks can be managed on a small and large scale, both for exhibition and market purposes; which are the best breeds to keep, as regards pure and crossbreds, according to circumstances; which are the best and cheapest houses to keep them in; and how to distinguish