82 THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



flock of sixty-eight young ducklings, which brought in the fall, when well 

 fattened, from eight to nine shillings per pair, saying nothing of the large 

 number of eggs used for culinary purposes in a family of ten persons. 



REARING DUCKS WITH HENS. 



In rearing young ducks with hens we placed near the coops, which were 

 always located in the vicinity of the pump, a small pan or water-tight box 

 sunk in the ground to receive the waste water from the pump, which an- 

 swered the purpose as well as if they were given a pond of water to swim 

 in, and fretted the hen-mother much less. In fattening them, we gave them 

 plenty of boiled potatoes, mixed with cooked Indian meal, made into a pud- 

 ding. We fed but little corn or oats. They paid us well for our undertak- 

 ing, as they doubtless would, if the experiment were tried on a larger scale. 



THE AYLESKURY. 



This variety of aquatic fowls derive its name from the town of Ayles- 

 bury, England, and is highly prized by breeders in this and other countries, 

 on account of the many good qualities which it possesses. They are large, 

 possess excellent table qualities, and are very prolific layers. As for beauty, 

 we do not think a flock of pure white Aylesburys can be equaled. The 

 first importation of this breed was made about the year 1854, we believe, by 

 JOHN GILES, of Woodstock, Conn. The pure bred bird has plumage of un- 

 spotted whiteness ; a pale, flesh-colored bill ; a dark, prominent eye, and 

 orange-colored legs. Dr. BENNETT says: "The weight of the adult Ayles- 

 bury duck should at least average, if properly fed, from ten to twelve pounds 

 the pair. Instances, however, have occurred where the drakes have come up 

 to eight pounds and upwards, and would in all probability, if fattened, reach 

 ten pounds each. They are very prolific layers. From two of these ducks 

 three hundred eggs have been obtained in the course of twelve months, in 

 addition to which, one of them sat twice, the other only once, the three nests 

 giving thirty young ones. The eggs vary in color, some being white, while 

 others are a pale blue. As a further recommendation for them, in an 

 economical point of view, it is argued that their consumption of food is less 

 than that of the common duck ; and another advantage may be found in 

 their comparative silence from the continuous ' quack, quack, quack,' of the 

 latter bird. They also attain greater weight in less time ; and, from their 

 superior appearance when plucked, are a far more marketable article." 



The carriage of the Aylesbury duck is more upright than that of the 

 Rouen, and from its great powers of locomotion the bird is by no means 

 addicted to such stay-at-home habits as the latter. It is not uncommon to see 

 the bill of these ducks turn black or become stained with dark spots as they 

 advance in life. This disfigurement has been greatly commented upon, but 

 no definite conclusion arrived at, still many are disposed to regard it as heredi- 

 tary. It is averred that the Aylesbury, being a lighter breed, are better sit- 

 ters and nurses than the Rouens, after the experience of two or three years. 



