286 



POULTRY CULTURE 



FIG. 317. White Leghorns, thirteen 

 weeks old 



very fast. It is not unusual for large specimens to weigh close to 

 4 pounds at three months, and to grow at an average rate of over 

 2 pounds a month for the next four months, putting on an average 



of over an ounce a day for that 

 period. This, however, is much 

 better than ordinary growth with 

 average stock. For such, i^ 

 pounds a month would be good 

 growth. Males usually grow both 

 a little faster and a little longer 

 than females. 



The rate of growth of duck- 

 lings is much greater for the first 

 three months than that of chick- 

 ens. Ordinary Pekin ducklings 

 weigh about 2 ounces when hatched. At three to four weeks they 

 should weigh I pound ; at six to eight weeks, from 4 to 4 \ pounds ; 

 at ten weeks, from 5^ to 6 pounds, the largest and fattest duck- 

 lings even more. 1 Unlike young chickens, the ducklings that 

 have been well fed are at this stage very fat. Those intended 

 for market are killed at from nine to twelve weeks of age. Those 

 reserved for breeding purposes continue to grow, but more slowly. 

 Usually they lose weight for a while through the loss of their 

 "baby fat." At five to six months of age Pekin ducks, when 

 well meated but not excessively 

 fat, should weigh from 6 to 8 

 pounds. 



The rate of growth of geese 

 is about the same as that of 

 ducks, allowance being made for 

 the original difference in size. 

 The newly hatched gosling is 

 about double the weight of the 

 duckling. At ten weeks the gos- 

 ling of any of the large breeds or 

 their crosses should weigh from 9 to 12 pounds, and at five or 

 six months should have added about 50 per cent to this weight. 



1 I have weighed goslings that at three months weighed almost nine pounds. 



FIG. 318. White Wyandottes, fourteen 

 weeks old 



