DUCKS 323 



to the turkey hen, since the turkey seems to be the more 

 successful of the two in raising the young brood. 



After the young turkeys have grown large enough to 

 range the farm they require little attention until fattening 

 time comes, when they can be fattened by the use of the 

 rations given to chickens for the same purpose. 



DUCKS 



Of the eleven standard breeds of ducks, — Pekin, Ayles- 

 bury, Rouen, Cayuga, Call, East India, Crested, Muscovy, 

 Buff, Indian Runner, and Swedish, — raised for fancy or 

 market purposes, the two most popular breeds and the ones 

 most commonly found on the farm are the White Pekin and 

 the Indian Runner, either fawn or white. The Pekin duck 

 is valued primarily for its carcass as young roast duck, or 

 " green duck," while the Indian Runner is valued for its 

 great power of egg production. It is not unusual for Indian 

 Runner females to lay as many as one hundred seventy 

 eggs a year, rivaling in this respect the best strains of 

 domestic hens. The Rouen is a strong rival of the Pekin 

 in some sections. 



Quick Growth Necessary. — The quicker the flesh is put 

 on, the more tender it is. The duck grower has his duck- 

 lings under absolute control all the time. He keeps their 

 appetites keen and gives them all the flesh-producing 

 food they will eat. They are penned in quarters sufflciently 

 large to allow proper exercise, but not enough to make the 

 flesh hard from too much activity. These pens are kept 

 absolutely clean, as are also the yards. In some sections 

 where the soil is sticky and unsanitary, duck growers cover 

 their yards with straw and care for them the same as for 

 those in the indoor pens. 



