,,, ■ ■ ' WATER FOWL 20s 



BREEDS OF DUCKS 



Unquestionably the Pekin is the leading breed of 

 ducks in America. It is a white-feathered bird, 

 which may be easily kept in inclosures. The beaks 

 are yellow. This breed is very large, uniform in 

 size and rapid in development. At four months the 

 ducklings should weigh 5 pounds each. In 

 America they have no successful market rivals. 

 This is because of their hardiness, quickness of 

 growth and prolificacy of large, usually white, eggs. 

 Standard weights are 8 pounds for the mature 

 birds and 7 pounds for the duck. The carcass 

 is very long and deep and contains a goodly pro- 

 portion of meat both on the breast and behind. 



The Aylesbury resembles the Pekin in general 

 appearance and size, but the bodies are somewhat 

 oval. The plumage is white and not so soft. The 

 bill is flesh colored and the feet yellow, instead of 

 reddish as in the Pekin. The Aylesbury stands 

 with its body more horizontal than the Pekin. The 

 breed is the leading market favorite in England. 

 It is about as quick growing as the Pekin, but has 

 not proved as satisfactory among American duck 

 raisers. According to the standard of perfection, 

 adult drakes weigh 9 pounds and ducks 8 pounds. 



The Rouen ducks, which are given the same 

 standard weights as the Aylesbury, look much like 

 the common puddle ducks of the farm. When well 

 bred, however, their colors are more pronounced 

 and their size much larger. They are also better 

 layers and quicker to mature. There is nothing to 

 indicate that they are in any way inferior to Pekin 

 or Aylesbury ducks for the table, but their color 

 is against them for the general market. For home 



