FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



Labor and cost of brooding, 10 cents. 



Food for 10 weeks, 20 cents. 



Dressing for market, 6 cents. 



Total cost when ready to ship, 46 

 cents. 



At an average price of 18 cents a 

 pound, the duckling will bring 90 cents, 

 leaving a margin of 44 cents profit. 



In the above estimate, the cost of feed- 

 ing for 10 weeks at 20 cents may be a 

 little low, while the price of ducklings 

 varies from 30 cents a pound early in 

 the season to a minimum of about 15 

 cents a pound later. 



BREEDS OF DUCKS 



There are eight or nine general pur- 

 pose and fancy breeds of ducks pro- 

 duced in the United States. The more 

 important are the White Pekin, White 

 Aylesbury, Colored Kouen, Black Cay- 

 uga, Muscovy and Blue Swedish. 



White Pekin — This is the most prom- 

 inent and popular breed of ducks in 

 America and the leading variety grown 

 for commercial purposes. It is a white 

 breed, walks in an upright position, 

 timid and noisy in disposition, non-sit- 

 ter, but excellent layer, averaging from 

 100 to 150 eggs a season, hardy, easily 

 raised, early maturing and among the 

 best for table fowls. The standard 

 weight of the drake is 8 pounds, ducks 

 7 pounds. From four to eight ducks 

 may be kept with each drake. 



White Aylesbury_This duck is sec- 

 ond in popularity only to the Pekin. It 

 is less grown in this country and not 

 generally considered as satisfactory for 

 profit as the Pekin. The birds have soft, 

 white plumage, a wide, pale, flesh colored 

 bill, a long, deep body and full, round 

 breast. They are easily acclimated, ma- 

 ture early, and are very hardy and pro- 

 lific. The standard weight of the adult 

 bird is 9 pounds and the duck 8 pounds. 

 Use one drake to four or eight females. 



Colored Rouen ducks — This is a very 

 popular breed throughout the entire 

 country, but does not mature as early 

 as either the Pekin or Aylesbury. In 

 color it resembles the wild Mallard duck, 

 from which it is believed to have de- 

 scended. The body, however, is longer 

 and heavier than that of the Mallard, 

 the flesh is delicate and excellent for 

 table purposes and the bird is easily 

 fattened. The distinct white ring on 

 the lower part of the neck is a distin- 

 guishing characteristic. One objection 



to them aside from their slow maturing 

 is dark pin feathers. Mature drakes 

 should weigh 9 pounds, the ducks 8 

 pounds. 



Black Cayuga duck — This is an 

 American breed, originated in central 

 New York, sometimes called also Big 

 Black or Lake duck. By some they are 

 considered second only to the Pekin in 

 desirable qualites. They are seldom 

 bred, however, on the larger duck farms, 

 possibly owing to their black plumage, 

 on account of which longer time is re- 

 quired in dressing for market. These 

 birds thrive well on limited range, are 

 quiet, docile, home-loving and breed well 

 in confinement. The standard weight 

 of drakes is 8 pounds and of ducks 7 

 pounds. 



Indian Runner ducks — This is a small 

 breed, standing in the same relation to 

 duck breeds as Leghorns do to breeds of 

 chickens. Old birds lay from 125 to 

 150 eggs annually, and records of 200 

 eggs are common. They are very active, 

 good rangers, picking up a large part of 

 their living, non-sitters, hardy and easily 

 reared, but restless under confinement. 

 The term "Runner" comes from the fact 

 that they literally run instead of wad- 

 dle. Drakes of standard size should 

 weigh 4lVo pounds, ducks, 4 pounds. 



Blue Swedish i s a variety seldom seen 

 in the United States. It belongs to the 

 standard breeds, the drake weighing 8 

 pounds and the ducks 7 pounds. The 

 general color of the plumage is a uni- 

 form steel blue, with the exception of 

 the front portion of the breast, which is 

 white, and the main flight feathers, 

 which are also white. 



Muscovy ducks_The Muscovy duck, 

 sometimes called Musk duck, on account 

 of the odor of musk which pervades the 

 skin, is a native of South America and 

 is extensively grown in Brazil, where it 

 is highly prized for table purposes. There 

 are both colored and white varieties. 

 They are said to be superior to the best 

 strain of Pekin duck, in that they are 

 not nearly so noisy nor timid, lay their 

 eggs regularly in nests instead of drop- 

 ping them anywhere on the ground, are 

 good sitters, hardier than the Pekin, less 

 affected by heat, are ready for market 

 as soon as the Pekin and just as heavy, 

 while in meat qualities they are supe- 

 rior to the Pekin. The drake is char- 

 acterized by long, crest-like feathers. 



