DUCKS AND GEESE 



drake which serves as one of the distinguishing 

 characteristics between the duck and drake of this 

 breed. The more prominent the knob and the more 

 wrinkled or corrugated the face the better is the 

 specimen in this respect. The wings are long and 

 strong and these birds fly very well. They will 

 also climb fences. The drakes are quite pugnacious 

 and fight one another badly at times. They are es- 

 pecially pugnacious when they have young. 



This breed of ducks will often roost on roosts like 

 chickens or in the trees or on the barn. They do not 

 quack like other ducksand unlike other domesticated 

 breeds which moult two or three times a year, they 

 moult only once, taking longer to do so, usually 

 about 90 days, although the female may complete 

 her moult a little sooner. The period of incubation 

 for Muscovy eggs is longer, being from 33 to 

 35 days as compared to 28 days fcr other 

 breeds. In size the male and female differ 

 considerably as will be seen from the standard 

 weights given (See Page ), the male being con- 

 siderably larger. These ducks lay well, the fertility 

 runs good, the eggs hatch well, and the little ducks 

 are hardy and easily raised. They are a broody 

 breed. The ducks will make their nests and hatch 

 out their eggs if allowed to do so and are excellent 

 mothers. Sometimes they will fly up and make their 

 nests in a hollow tree. A Muscovy duck can cover 

 properly about 20 eggs. In spite of the fact that 

 they fly well they are easily domesticated. It takes 



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