262 Farm Poultry 



table fowls. As producers of fine-grained, deli- 

 cate flesh, these fowls are not surpassed by any of 

 the so-called useful farm breeds. The Rouens 

 resemble the wild Mallards in color, the resem- 

 blance between the drakes being most marked. 

 The Rouens are hardy, prolific, and of gentle dis- 

 position. Young birds may be kept in rather large 



FIG. 86. Rouen drake (one-eighth size). 



flocks without the danger of stampeding that 

 is so troublesome with the Pekins. The standard 

 weight for the Rouens is the same as that for Pekins, 

 yet it is thought that they do not grow so rapidly 

 as the latter. Extensive duck-raisers prefer the 

 Pekins or Aylesburys on account of their quick 

 growth. However, the Rouens are most excellent 

 farm fowls and are highly prized on account of 

 their hardiness, prolificacy, and gentle disposition. 



