DUCKS AND GEESE 



shoulders should be broad and any tendency toward 

 narrowness at this point must be avoided. While a 

 good depth of keel is desired, the standard does not 

 call for so deep a keel as in the Aylesbury. As a 

 matter of fact, however, the winning specimens as 

 seen in the shows are not as a rule as erect in car- 

 riage as called for by the standard illustration, 

 there being a tendency to get them almost if not 

 quite as deep in keel as the Aylesbury. In fact, 

 some breeders seem to strive for a low down keel 

 approaching a condition where they are nearly as 

 low in front as behind but this is not desirable Pekin 

 type. 



Sometimes a drake will show a rough neck, that 

 is, the feathers on the back of the neck will be 

 crossed or folded over showing a tendency to curl. 

 These birds should be avoided as breeders since 

 there is a tendency for them to produce ducks hav- 

 ing a crest. Sometimes a green or a greenish spotted 

 bill will be encountered. Since the bill should be a 

 clear yellow, breeders showing this defect should be 

 avoided particularly as they are likely to produce 

 birds having greenish or olive colored legs. The 

 shanks and toes should be a clear deep orange. 

 Black sometimes occurs in the bean. This may occur 

 in birds of either sex but is more common in the 

 ducks than in the drakes. In the drake black in the 

 bean disqualifies but while it is undesirable and a 

 serious defect in the duck it does not disqualify. The 

 color of the plumage is white or creamy white 



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