GENERAL REMARKS 163 
easily grown with few losses, are docile, not 
wild like chickens, and are very rapid grow- 
ers, putting on half a pound a week after two 
weeks old. The White Pekin does not re- 
quire water other than plenty to drink. It 
can be brought to four pounds in 8 to Io 
weeks. At that weight the ducklings ought 
to be marketed. 
Great trouble may be saved in the way of 
washing eggs, if you are particular to keep 
the nests clean, changing them as often as 
they require it, the result being nice clean 
eggs that do not need washing. Washing 
takes away some of the natural luster of the 
shell and takes considerable time if you have 
many to clean. So should the nests be very 
dirty, some stains are sure to be left. 
Keep cockerels and roosters separate from 
hens that are supplying market eggs, as the 
males are of no use in the pen with these 
hens; in fact, rather bother them. Again, 
infertile eggs are better for table purposes, 
and will stay fresh longer. It is said that an 
infertile egg never rots, but simply becomes 
stale, which is proved by the appearance of 
eggs taken from the incubator after having 
been subjected to heat for some time. The 
eggs without germs have not rotted but are 
simply stale to the smell. 
