HATCHING AND REARING
The time is now approaching when the ducklings may be expected to hatch
out. Care has been taken to plentifully sprinkle the eggs with tepid
water, two or three times a week, whilst the hens are off for their
daily feed, and everything is ready for the young birds.
The first sign of approaching hatching is a curious opaqueness which
affects the eggs. This is speedily followed by chipping, and by placing
the egg close to the ear the young birds can easily be heard
endeavouring to obtain their liberty. If all the eggs chip and hatch
together it is a sure sign of healthy birds; but should they be hatching
out patchily, remove the earliest birds at intervals from the different
hens and put them in a basket lined with flannel, in a warm corner of a
room, but not too near the fire.
When the birds are quite dry and lively, remove them eleven or twelve
together and place them in a coop, with a small wire run attached.
Always place the coops facing the sun, if possible, and with their backs
to the wind.
Wind and rain must be kept out and the sun admitted. The latter will
bring on young birds quicker than anything. During very bad weather
coops may have to be shifted two or three times a day if the wind keeps
changing.
A matter of considerable importance is the nature of the soil on which
the ducks are to be reared. Let it be light and well drained, and the
ground undulating, so that it may be always possible to shelter the
young birds from a harsh wind. A high bank, such as that alluded to in
Chapter I., is often of the greatest assistance in sheltering them,
particularly when they get a little older.
The ducklings must be put on some grass, as otherwise the hens will
scratch for food, and generally damage one or two of their brood. The
young hopefuls require scarcely anything to eat or drink for the first
twenty-four hours, and do little else but brood underneath the hen,
though little patches of brown and yellow with a bright eye here and
there form a fascinating picture for any passer-by.
The first food given should be a little fine wild duck meal, scalded in
the usual way, and put on a _shallow_ plate outside the coop, and inside
the small wire run attached to the coop. To start with, a little food
may be scattered over the grass inside the coops to attract the little
birds to their meal; they should, however, be taught to feed as soon as
possible outside for the sake of cleanliness.
It is most important at this early stage that the food be not of too
sloppy a nature, otherwise the birds soon get in a terrible state, and
absolutely coated with their food. This always leads to their heads,
eyes, and often their backs becoming sticky, and in the end spells a big
death roll. Very little water, and that pond water, should be given
during the early stages; the colder the weather the less they ought to
have to drink, and it is often a good plan to take the chill off what
little is given them. Don't forget to give the hens food and water twice
a day.
A busy time is now before the keeper, or whoever is responsible for the
feeding.
The earliest meal should be given at about 4 A.M. or as soon as it is
light, and then regularly throughout the day, every four hours.
Be careful to feed more frequently during inclement weather, and move
the coops prior to feeding.
The ducklings are now fairly started on their journey, and before
following them I propose to describe the method to be adopted in the
case of ducks sitting on their own eggs. Visit the sitting birds pretty
regularly, so that they lose their shyness on seeing you, and when the
birds have been sitting twenty-five days, go in the early morning and
late in the evening to satisfy yourself that the eggs have not hatched.
An experienced eye can generally tell, by the unusually elevated
appearance of the duck on her nest, when she has hatched, and sometimes
by creeping quietly forward the little birds may be heard chirping,
though they instantly cease on receiving a warning from their mother.
Should you have doubt as to the hatching having taken place, a blunted
stick put under her breast will generally reveal the state of affairs,
and if she knows you the old bird will not mind this.
Directly it is ascertained that the brood is dry enough, the old bird
should be caught and the little ones put in a warm basket, and the lot
transferred to a coop and run, after which they are treated in exactly
the same manner as those under a hen.
I do not, however, think it wise to give the duck as many young ones to
look after as are given to the hen; very often, however, there is no
option in the matter.
Ducks are very cunning at hatching time, and unless the keeper is quick
and observant, will frequently give him the slip, and get off with their
brood to the water, where more than half of them will probably fall a
prey to rats and pike.
I remember on one occasion being unable until late afternoon to go and
look at a nest which was due to hatch in the morning. I found fourteen
empty shells and the family gone. It was a very cold day, and after a
prolonged search the party were found snugly ensconced under a willow
tree. They were speedily captured and brought home.
The young ducks are now three or four days old, and have got into the
way of running out of the coop and into the run for their food and
water. They have overcome their early shyness, and on the appearance of
the keeper speedily show themselves. A little fine crissel and flint
grit can now with advantage be added to the meal, and some sand, which
acts as a digestive, placed in the water and on the grass. Never give
them more than they can eat. Nothing is worse than stale food left
about; it leads to diarrhoea, &c., and gives the youngsters a distaste
for their food. The food can be placed in long shallow troughs or on the
grass in one long line. I prefer the former plan, as less is left about
to become stale and sour. Care should be taken to see that the troughs
are thoroughly washed after each meal.
When about ten days old the ducklings require more room to roam about
in, and unless you give it them they will begin to go back.
[Illustration: A SMALL RUN]
Place five or six coops, hens inside, in a line, and about a foot
apart, and wire in a piece of ground about ten yards square round the
coops; it is better to give them too much room than too little. It will
generally be necessary to move on to fresh ground every four or five
days during this stage, but much depends of course on the state of the
weather. It is a good plan to leave the small wire runs inside the
larger runs, as they give a certain amount of shelter in bad weather. It
is delightful to see the little chaps appreciating their new liberty and
dashing about in all directions in chase of flies, &c. Nothing seems to
hurt them at this time, and I once remember seeing three of my young
ducks devour a bee apiece after first crippling it. I have noticed a
bird swallow a bee alive, and have also seen one stung, but no ill
effects resulted.
It is a good plan now to give the birds a little boiled rabbit, chopped
up fine; it makes a change from the crissel, and ducklings must have
some animal food as a substitute for the slugs, worms, and many
etceteras that they pick up in their natural state. The chopped rabbit
should be mixed with the meal.
One word of advice before going farther. Previous to placing a number of
coops containing the old ducks close together, ascertain carefully
whether there are any vicious ones amongst them--some are very savage,
and will immediately peck to death any unwary little one which enters a
coop not its proper home. It is best in these cases to isolate the old
bird and her brood altogether, if you have plenty of room, or, failing
that, to place her by herself in one corner of the run.
If bad weather comes on, a pinch of "Cardiac" (a kind of tonic sold by
Messrs. Spratt) may be added to the food, but I only advocate its use
occasionally. The chief point I am anxious to impress on my readers is,
don't let your birds get cold and wet; if you do, ground is lost which
can never be recovered. A capital plan is to cover some portion of the
run with sacking or a waterproof sheet to form a shelter against
excessive heat or a sudden hail-storm. The most delicate time, in my
opinion, is just when they are getting their shoulder feathers, and if
you get them safely through this period the worst is over.
[Illustration: WARE WIRE!]
When they are about a fortnight old begin to give them some wheat in
their drinking water; that known to farmers as "seconds" is best. I am a
strong advocate of steeping the wheat before feeding, as I think it
renders it more digestible, though this is not so necessary if one uses
"seconds." The ducks having got to eat wheat nicely, introduce a little
barley, and by the time they are seven weeks old you can afford to do
without meal entirely, and it will be time to take the birds down to the
water which is to be their home. The greatest obstacle to success in
rearing during the early stages of a young wild duck's life is the
extraordinary knack they have of getting their heads and backs dirty.
This is a most serious matter, and causes great mortality unless
attended to. It is generally caused by the food adhering to their heads
and cheeks; being of a sticky nature, it will often, if neglected, cause
inflammation to the eyes and eventually blindness. If once their heads
get dirty, their backs soon follow suit, as the act of "preening" soon
transfers the dirt from the head to the back.
This curse to young ducks is most prevalent in wet weather, and it is
therefore most necessary to constantly change the ground so as to keep
the birds as clean as possible; if once the old bird gets dirty, it is
good-bye to the general good health of her brood.
The only remedy, if matters become serious, is to get some tepid water
and soap, and carefully wash the affected places with a soft sponge,
taking care to free the down or feathers which have adhered to the skin.
A hot sunny day is the best for the purpose, as the young birds then
have every chance of getting dry. If the old bird is dirty, try to allow
her a good wash in a tub or small tank; she must, however, be watched,
otherwise she may leave her young ones in the lurch. If your ducks are
pinioned it is easy to manage this bath, and to prevent the birds
straying afterwards from their young. When the ducklings are seven weeks
old choose a nice warm day, and take them down to the water: I say a
warm day, as owing to their delight at getting to their natural element,
they are very liable to overdo their bathing at first, and, should the
day be cold, the casualty list will be a big one next morning.
[Illustration: WIRED IN ON THE WATER]
At this time it is best to wire off a piece of land and water, making
the whole into one large run, and taking care that there is some shelter
on land for the young birds. It is a good plan to bring down the old
birds, coops and all, to their temporary home, keeping the mothers shut
up in the coops for the present. Their presence gives confidence to the
ducklings, and their sharp warning "quacks" tell them when danger is
about, and also emphasise the fact that there do exist such things as
gulls, carrion crows, cats, dogs, &c., and that in future the young
hopefuls must look out for themselves. Willow trees planted at the
water's edge and kept about five to six feet high form admirable
protection from bad weather and winged vermin, and also give welcome
shelter from the heat of the sun, whilst they undoubtedly add to the
amount of insect life in the run.
If you wish to study economy in feeding, an excellent plan is to mix
barley meal with your duck meal; commence in the proportion of four
parts duck meal to one of barley meal, and increase the proportion of
the latter until the mixture is half and half. Too much barley meal is,
I feel sure, a bad thing, and causes indigestion, and if expense is no
object it is best to stick to the wild duck meal until the ducks are
weaned to corn; if, however, you do decide to feed on barley meal, it is
a good plan to mix a little bran with it, in the proportion of one part
bran to four of barley meal.
You should get the ducks on to corn as soon as possible, and teach them
to eat it in shallow water; they don't eat it so fast if this plan is
adopted, are less liable to get indigestion, and in searching for the
food are constantly drinking water at the same time as the food, as well
as a certain amount of grit, sand, &c. Ducks must have water with their
food, and the sooner they are trained to take corn and water together,
the better will their meals be digested; moreover, if fed in this way
birds certainly require less, and there is consequently a gratifying
reduction in the grain bill at the end of the year.
To return to the run at the water's edge, let it be assumed that the
birds have been ten days to a fortnight in their new home, have become
thoroughly accustomed to it, and naturally look upon it as the place
where food is to be obtained at stated times.
It is now time to enlarge them altogether, but before doing so liberate
a few of the least vicious of the old ducks. These birds very soon take
charge of a certain number of young ones, and directly the wire is
pulled up will teach them where to look for food. It is a very pretty
sight to see an old bird swimming at the head of twenty or thirty young
ducklings, who form a compact mass behind her, and always accompany her
in foraging expeditions. She it is who warns them that it is nearly
feeding time; it is her eye which has detected a well-known figure
hovering overhead, and her voice which warns them to make for the
nearest shelter.
By this time I am sure that my readers will be getting impatient because
I have said so little as to the cost of food. A golden rule is to give
your ducklings all they will eat during the first seven or eight weeks,
and after that make them hunt for their natural food, giving them just
sufficient to keep them fairly fat and prevent them from straying. It is
quite possible to get them fat enough for the larder by increasing the
supply of maize during the last fortnight or so before your shoot takes
place.
I am of opinion that, provided a man feeds and looks after his ducks
himself, is in possession of a supply of coops and runs, and is
fortunate enough to have a suitable piece of water of his own, as well
as a bit of ground to rear them on, that he can make his accounts
balance at the end of the year. In other words, he will be able to give
his friends some very enjoyable shooting, and supply himself with a
hobby of which he will never be tired, at no expense to himself. In
support of my statement I propose to give a few figures. The breeding
stock has of course to be purchased, and for the sake of simplicity let
us put it at twenty ducks and fifteen drakes, making an initial cost of
about L7. In an experience of some years, however, I have found that my
stock at the end of the season numbers practically the same as at the
commencement, and I found it always possible to fill up any casualties
by catching and pinioning wild birds which join my own. On these grounds
I consider that my stock at the end of the season is of the same value
as at the beginning, and that one side of my account balances the other.
The stock fed on maize will cost about 12s. 6d. a month, and, supposing
that the first birds are hatched out about the middle of April, and
practically all, except a very few retained for breeding purposes and
some immature birds, are killed the first week in September, this
calculation brings the price of feeding the breeding stock for seven and
a half months to L4, 13s. 9d.
Now for the food of the young birds. I assume that from the
above-mentioned stock about 250 ducklings will be reared, and, taking an
average of several years, their food from the date of hatching (mid
April) to early September works out roughly at L16. This includes wild
duck meal, wheat, barley, and barley meal, a little maize, and the many
etceteras, such as crissel, grit, and cardiac.
To this should be added a little extra for the feeding of the immature
birds, which are not quite ready for killing. Put this at 15s.
In addition there is still the expense of sitting hens: if twenty hens
are purchased at 3s. each and afterwards sold at 2s., this item will
work out as an expenditure of L1. They have of course to be fed, but
their food--maize is the best--has been taken from the food purchased
for the ducks, so that no further amount has to be charged under this
heading.
The debit side of the account will now work out as follows:--
Food for ducklings L16 0 0
Food for old birds 4 13 9
Extra food alluded to above 0 15 0
Expenses for sitting hens 1 0 0
---------
L22 8 9
As against these figures there are 250 young ducks for sale: deduct from
this number fifteen for casualties of various kinds, such as dead birds
unpicked at the shoot, odd birds that may stray and be killed, &c., and
this gives 235. If the birds are properly fed a game-dealer will be glad
to give 2s. each for them, especially if the shoot is timed to fit some
popular function, such as Doncaster Races; so that the credit side of
the account shows a sum of L23, 10s. for the sale of 235 birds, giving a
small surplus of rather over L1, which can be used to meet incidental
expenses, such as purchase of wire, &c. Each young bird will cost about
1s. 3-1/2d. to rear, and will sell for 2s., leaving 8-1/2d. a bird
profit with which to meet the other expenses. Many of my readers may
think the margin of fifteen birds set apart as casualties far too small,
but I can assure them that, so far with me, it has never reached that
number, and need not do so provided the birds are kept at home by proper
feeding, and the right people propitiated.
Naturally one does not sell all one's ducks, or anything like it. Some
are given to the friends who come to the shoot, and many are given to
the farmers round, but in considering accounts, I think I am justified
in including the value of birds given away as one of the assets. In any
case I have made an honest attempt to help those who wish to look before
they leap. Ducks are very fond of maize; it certainly brings them on
quicker than anything else, and I have had young drakes of the year in
full plumage on August 1, when maize has been the only corn used. It is,
however, too fattening, I think, and a bit apt to make the birds lazy. I
do not believe that birds fed solely on maize fly so well or are as good
for the table as those whose diet is composed of a mixture of wheat,
barley, and maize. The birds must be encouraged to seek their natural
food, as only by this means will the wild duck's flavour be retained.
The birds must be fed at regular hours, as this is the only guarantee
that they will be at home when wanted.
I hope that in this chapter I have succeeded in showing how wild ducks
can be fed in the best and also most economical manner, and I shall
endeavour in the concluding one to give my readers some hints as to how
the birds can be made to show reasonably good sport.
SHOOTING
[Illustration: _W.L. Colls, Ph. Sc._
"_Quite tall enough._"]
CHAPTER IV
SHOOTING
The chief difficulty confronting a host who desires to give his guests
good sport lies in the fact that it is no easy matter to get young
hand-reared wild ducks to fly well, and I propose in this chapter to
endeavour to show how it can best be done.
I say _young_ birds, as I think it will be admitted that wild duck, if
shot in late October or November, will nearly always fly well. Many
sportsmen will, however, for various reasons, not want to keep their
birds so long, either on the score of expense or for fear of their
straying from home. Young wild ducks hatched about the second week in
April should, if properly fed, be in good plumage and fit to shoot by
the first week in September; and why, their owner naturally asks, should
they go on eating their heads off when they are ready to be shot and
eaten themselves. Partridge driving has not begun and the first edge has
been taken off the grouse, so why should not the ducks be shot now;
moreover, if fed well they will fetch a good price in the market at this
time, as they will be in the nature of a treat so early in the season.
The methods of shooting hand-reared wild ducks may be divided into
four:--
1. Posting the guns at different spots on the margin of a lake or near
it, and flushing the ducks by means of dogs and beaters.
2. Teaching the ducks to take a particular line of flight by means of a
horn, and then, without using the horn on the day of the shoot,
intercepting them during their flight.
3. Catching the ducks beforehand, liberating them in convenient numbers,
and then driving them over the guns.
4. Flight shooting.
To deal first of all with No. 1 method. Let it be imagined that the host
is fortunate enough to possess a lake or piece of marshy ground of
considerable extent, and bordered by reeds or flags, which form good
cover. Possibly the lake may narrow at some part, and if so our host's
dispositions are easy; he places his guns on either shore at the "neck,"
and if there is room he fastens a punt in the water, midway between the
guns on land. A second line of guns might, of course, be placed farther
back.
If the lake winds about a good deal the ducks will probably cut across
country, and in any case can be easily made to do so by being flagged in
or by being fed in a certain direction; there will very likely be some
belt of trees in their line of flight, and if so some delightful sport
may be had at high birds, the guns being placed in the open and well
back from the trees, unless the birds are very shy.
When the dispositions of the host are made, spaniels and keepers will
beat the rushes on either side of the lake, driving the ducks over the
guns, and the dogs can then be taken to the farther end and a return
drive given when the ducks have been over the guns once; the latter will
probably have to conceal themselves for this return drive, as the birds
will now be more wary, and many that have not settled at the farther
end of the lake may be circling high overhead.
After a time it will probably be necessary to rest the birds for an hour
or two for fear of driving them clean away. Don't forget when the shoot
is over to have a thorough hunt for dead birds and cripples; the "pick
up" is always a big one, as very few birds are missed entirely. The best
time to shoot at a high-flying duck is just after he has passed
overhead, as then the shot gets behind the feathers and penetrates more
easily.
The best shot to use is, I think, No. 4.
The disadvantages of the above plan are: (_a_) all the birds are
frightened badly, and some are sure to be lost; (_b_) some birds, which
strictly speaking are barely ready, are certain to be shot.
[Illustration: AN INEFFECTIVE CRIPPLE STOPPER]
Many a good day's sport have I enjoyed with the ducks in India. In the
North-West Provinces, where I was once quartered, there are a number of
"jheels" or huge lakes, and during the cold weather these are tenanted
by countless wild-fowl of nearly every variety. The plan usually adopted
is to post the guns some distance apart and where they can best command
the favourite feeding grounds of the birds; natives are then sent to
different parts of the lake to stir the fowl and afterwards to keep them
on the move, should they settle at a distance from where the guns are
placed. Well I remember the keen pleasure, not unmixed with anxiety,
with which I received an invitation to shoot a celebrated "jheel" which
had not been disturbed that season. Ten guns, I was told, were coming.
Now I knew that there were not more than half-a-dozen really safe guns
in the immediate neighbourhood, and I determined that in my case
discretion should be the better part of valour. I accepted the
invitation with certain mental reservations.
Arrived at the rendezvous, I found an old friend and good shot; in
addition several good fellows, some of whom, though charming from a
social point of view, plainly showed by the rather defiant manner in
which they handled their guns that they were best avoided on the present
occasion. Fortunately for my friend and myself we were rather short of
boats, so with apparent good nature we insisted on staying on shore,
where we could get well out of range if necessary. We speedily secreted
ourselves amongst some tall reeds, and well away from the direction
towards which the fleet of boats was making. One of these, strongly
resembling a three-decker, had three guns on board, all of whom stood
upright throughout the action. Her we christened the _Man of War_. The
smaller craft skirmished in her vicinity, and for two hours the battle
raged furiously. No distance was too great, no waterfowl too small or
insignificant for their attention; but endurance has its limits, and at
last we noticed that even the _Man of War_ was silenced, having fired
upwards of 600 rounds. Slowly and solemnly the "Fleet" worked its way
back to tiffin.
[Illustration: BEFORE THE EVENING MEAL]
In the meantime my friend and I had some capital sport, killing several
pintail before these birds, always the first to leave, had finally
departed. In addition we got some grey duck, gadwall, and a number of
garganey and pochard. Later, when the boats had all left the "jheel,"
the fowl slowly began to return, and we now realised with satisfaction
that we were well placed. Never have I had better sport or enjoyed
myself more, and when at length we were peremptorily informed that the
return train was shortly due (and even Indian trains don't wait for one
more than half-an-hour), we staggered into the little wayside station,
followed by our coolies, carrying enough ducks to feed the station for a
week. The second method has now to be dealt with.
Nothing is easier than to accustom the ducks to come to feed at stated
times.
At first a horn may be used and then gradually dropped, and in a very
short time the birds will know the time of day as well as their feeder
does; the latter must be stern with them, absolutely declining to feed
them except at the regular hours, one of which will be timed to suit the
hour it is intended to commence the shoot. Before commencing this
tuition the host will have to select the place from which he wishes the
birds to fly, and also the feeding ground which is the end of their
journey.
Ducks prefer to rest during the day, and are very fond of shade; provide
them, therefore, if possible, with a plantation on some sloping ground
fairly near water, where they can get shelter from sun and wind. I have
found willows excellent for this purpose, as by topping they can always
be kept at the required height. Such a spot will do admirably as
jumping-off place, and here the birds may regularly be expected to rest
after their night's wandering in search of food. The next step is to
select the feeding ground, which should be some little distance from the
spot described; preferably it should be on high ground, so that the
ducks in their flight have to pass over some sort of valley situated
between the two places. In this valley the guns are placed shortly
before the feeding hour, and as that time approaches small detachments
of ducks will wing their way across the valley for their meal, and give
most sporting shots. It is, of course, essential that the resting-place
by day and the feeding ground are not too close together, as if this is
the case many birds hearing the firing close at hand may be scared from
coming to their food.
[Illustration: A RIGHT AND LEFT]
After this the birds may be driven back the reverse way, though
naturally this practice cannot be repeated more than once or twice in
the year, or the birds will be scared away from the feeding ground
altogether.
If the host has a piece of water at right angles to the flight of the
birds many will scatter after passing the guns and settle; and later on
these birds can be driven up and down the water as described in the
first method.
One great advantage of the first stage of this plan is that the birds
mostly fall on dry land and are easily retrieved. If the ground does not
lend itself favourably for high birds the difficulty can be largely
overcome by planting a belt of trees and then placing the guns in the
open a little distance back; birds inclined to break out at the sides
can easily be flagged in.
It is a good plan to run some wire along the slope of the ducks' resting
place, as it facilitates their rising at once, and they get into the
habit of flying the whole distance instead of walking part of it.
The third system has now to be considered. It is the most artificial of
all, and is most suitable in cases where the ground does not lend
itself well for high birds, or the host is not a man of unlimited means,
but is fortunate enough to have the shooting rights over a fine stretch
of water. The ducks probably vary considerably in size and age, as the
owner, not having a large breeding stock, has not been able to put down
a large number of eggs at once.
The time has, however, come, when he has sufficient to give his friends
a very nice shoot. It is, of course, undesirable to frighten or damage
either the pinioned or immature birds, and these latter will have to be
sorted from those which are fit to kill.
The first step will be to accustom the birds to feed inside a wire
enclosure, with some dark building, such as a barn or stable, at one end
of the enclosure, and connected with it by means of a door. The birds
all having been coaxed inside the enclosure to feed, shut the door of
the enclosure quietly, and gradually drive the birds into the dark
building. Here the birds will be left all night, and owing to the
darkness will not damage themselves. A certain amount of ventilation and
some water will be necessary.
[Illustration: AT THE END OF THE DAY]
It is a bad plan to give them any food beyond a light meal the evening
they are caught, and certainly nothing next morning, as otherwise they
will fly badly and heavily when liberated.
Next morning, those ducks that are fit to shoot will be separated from
the pinioned birds and those that are immature, and these latter can be
conveyed in hampers to any convenient building, and fed.
They will be kept in confinement during the shoot.
Now for the shoot itself. The man who feeds the ducks has for a
considerable time trained the ducks to fly in and out of the paddock or
yard, in which the enclosure is situated. This is easily done by
stretching a piece of wire, which can be gradually increased in height,
across the boundary of the paddock into which the ducks come for their
food. They soon get accustomed to this wire, and realise they will get
no supper if they don't take the trouble to fly.
As has already been mentioned, the owner of the ducks has the shooting
rights over a fine piece of water, and on this water, and in the cover
which grows round it, the birds pass the time between their feeding
hours. There is sure to be a line of willow trees of some sort or other
near the water's edge, and it is over these the ducks must be made to
fly. Provided that a small clump of low willows, or other cover, is
planted some distance from the rearing field, with the high willow trees
standing between the two, it is quite easy, by occasionally feeding in
this little cover, to accustom the birds to look on it as their
sanctuary, and when liberated from their enforced confinement they will
make straight for it, and over the tops of the intervening trees. All
that has to be done now is to place the guns between the tall willow
trees and the little cover, but well in the open, so that the ducks may
see them and be induced to rise higher in consequence.
A little false cover can now be put along the wire before alluded to at
the edge of the rearing field, to make the birds rise better, and to
prevent the guns from getting any inkling of your plan of operations.
[Illustration: COMING ON A SIDE WIND]
All is now ready, and at a given signal the birds which have been shut
up all night will be liberated in detachments of varied numbers, first
from the dark building, and secondly from the wire enclosure. Thoroughly
frightened with their unaccustomed imprisonment, they take wing at once,
and make the best of their way to the sanctuary, giving the guns most
sporting shots. Should the wind be across their line of flight to the
sanctuary, you will of course have to flag them in, as ducks always rise
up wind, and love to fly against it; nothing they detest so much as
getting their feathers ruffled. It will be found that they always fly
best on a dull stormy day.
The piece of water behind the guns should preferably run at right angles
to the line of flight of the birds from the paddock to their sanctuary,
as after the birds have passed the guns they will split up right and
left, and settle at one end or the other. The guns will next be placed
so as to command the water from bank to bank, one of them being placed,
if necessary, in a boat moored for the purpose in midstream.
The ducks are now driven over the guns again, down wind for choice, and
this can be followed by a return drive, which ends the day's sport.
An hour later some one must search the lake thoroughly for cripples, and
when this has been done the breeding stock and immature birds should be
released.
A modification of this plan may be tried, though I do not recommend it.
Instead of the birds being liberated from the enclosure as already
described, they are caught, placed in hampers, and conveyed to some
convenient spot at a distance from home, and then liberated in the
numbers required. The birds naturally fly straight home, and sometimes
fly well. Care must be taken to set them free amongst surroundings they
know, otherwise they are cowed like a rabbit liberated away from its
burrow. It is also advisable to place some obstacle across their line of
flight, and about sixty yards in front of the guns, so as to make the
birds rise well. The last plan has the obvious disadvantage that the
ducks must be cramped to a certain extent by their imprisonment in the
hampers, and it savours too much of the artificial to ever prove a
complete success. On the other hand, the method described as the third
works well; the birds are not crowded, but on being liberated are glad
to escape; they are frightened and mean to fly well: but best of all
your breeding stock and immature birds will, if this principle be
adopted, know nothing of the shoot, and on being let go, will settle
down in a very few hours and will assist in taming those birds which
have been shot at but escaped. Whatever you do be careful to conceal all
your plans from your guns, when artificial methods are adopted; the day
is always more enjoyable if the guests cannot see how their host manages
matters.
[Illustration: LADIES IN WAITING]
Ducks are extraordinarily good barometers, and by their behaviour on
the water invariably give warning of coming rain or storm.
No one who has kept wild ducks long has failed to notice their peculiar
uneasiness before bad weather.
Suddenly one bird with outstretched wings will dash madly on the surface
of the water, and behaving much in the same way as a flapper chased by a
dog, throw itself into the air, and dive suddenly on alighting again: in
a moment this is taken up by every bird on the water, until one sees
the extraordinary sight of two or three hundred ducks behaving just as
if they were mad. They dash in all directions and appear quite unable to
control themselves. When all this is noticed there is pretty sure to be
rain within twelve hours.
The last but by no means least sporting form of duck shooting must now
receive a little attention. I allude to Flight Shooting. As winter comes
on the ducks' natural instincts have begun to assert themselves, and
regularly at dusk, heads will go up, and a peculiar uneasiness manifest
itself: very shortly the birds will fly off, after one or two
preliminary circles round, to the feeding ground they have selected,
though if properly fed they will not go far. All that has to be done is
to observe where the ducks feed, and place the guns either in the line
of flight between the birds' home and their feeding ground or round the
feeding ground itself.
No sport is more fascinating than this--the absolute solitude, the dull
red glow of the light fading in the west, gradually getting fainter and
fainter, the light shiver of the reeds, as a breath of wind rustles
through them, and best of all the whistle of beating pinions high
overhead, betokening the welcome intelligence that birds are circling
round, and making a full inspection of the feeding ground before
alighting. Don't move now whatever you do, your retriever, sitting close
at your side, will move his head quite enough, without your stirring as
well: if you watch him you will soon get a pretty good idea as to where
the birds are.
Presently the noise becomes louder, and then with a loud "swish" the
birds come right at you. Throw up your gun quietly and quickly and fire
at once--don't dwell on your aim, and let us hope that the dog has no
difficulty in retrieving a bird that was evidently cleanly killed.
Ducks, like other birds, always alight facing the wind, and this fact
must be borne in mind when selecting the stand. Should there be no wind
to speak of, it is best to face the fading light, unless the ducks are
known to make a practice of coming from one particular direction.
They are most capricious birds, here to-day, and gone to-morrow, but
this all adds to the fascination of the sport. I remember once killing
eight ducks at a particular spot one evening, and not even getting a
shot the next, although there were hundreds of ducks in the
neighbourhood. Very different sport to this does one get in the East.
The man who goes Flight Shooting there is almost certain of good sport,
provided he knows what he is about. Well I remember a certain evening in
Upper Burmah. It was at Alon on the river Chindwin, and during the last
Burmese war.
We were not supposed to go far from the Fort, but if we took an armed
escort with us, no objection was raised.
There was a large "jheel" about two miles from the Fort, which was much
overshot by the small garrison quartered there, and during the day
little could be seen on its surface besides a few whistling teal, a duck
that gives poor sport, and is only just worth eating.
I discovered, however, that at dusk hundreds of ducks returned to the
"jheel" from all directions, remaining there probably until dawn.
Followed by my soldier servant as an escort, I made my way to the
"jheel," and having made our passage in one of the frail boats, known as
"dug-outs," we eventually arrived at a small island which I had selected
for my stand.
Never shall I forget that evening. For about twenty minutes I shot
nearly as fast as I could load, and not too well, I am afraid.
Ducks of several different varieties were coming fast, and at all angles
and elevations.
Many an old sportsman will understand my difficulties. I had of course
no second gun, no ejector, and at times I utterly forgot the motto
"Festina lente."
At last it was over, and I went home moderately satisfied with about
five-and-twenty ducks, leaving, alas! a large number unpicked, as we had
no dog.
When your shoot is over, and the season is drawing to its close, the
only work left amongst the ducks is to select the breeding stock for
next season.
The best to keep are long and well-furnished birds, as they always fly
better, and lay more eggs than the short thick-set variety: they should
have rakish-looking heads, with long bills, chrome yellow tinged with
green in the case of the drake, and dull brown fringed with bright
orange in the case of the duck. The eyes should be set high in the head,
and the head itself _appear_ to be slightly angular in appearance, and
not too round at the crown. I believe in fairly light coloured birds, as
I have always noticed that any strange birds that arrive appear lighter
in colour than my own, and I think that the darker and coarser birds do
not fly so well. In any case get rid of all short thick-set birds--they
will do for the table, but not for sport.
In taking leave of my readers, I hope that I may have been fortunate
enough to secure a little of their interest, and that this book may
prove of some assistance to those who, like myself, love wild duck, and
consider a few hours spent daily in their company an education and a
treat.
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
Edinburgh & London