DUCKS AND GEESE 



Sometimes birds show lines of white feathers 

 around the eyes and over the head and these should 

 be selected against as breeders as they are likely to 

 cause white splashing in the plumage. Yellow or 

 greenish bills must likewise be avoided since the first 

 of these is a disqualification. In general this variety 

 in breeding behaves insofar as color is concerned, 

 very much like the Blue Andalusian chicken.* The 

 young ducks when hatched are yellow or creamy 

 blue and from blue matings there are also produced 

 black and white ducklings. As in other colored 

 breeds and varieties, the dark pin feathers are some- 

 what of a disadvantage from a market standpoint. 



The Crested White. Although not so large, this 

 breed is much like the Pekin but with body carried 

 more nearly horizontal and with a crest on the head. 

 The type varies considerably however, the principal 

 selection practiced having been for crest. The plum- 

 age is white in color throughout. What is desired 

 in the crest is to have as large a one as possible, 

 round and perfect in form, and set squarely on the 

 head. Not infrequently crooked crests occur and 

 also double or split crests, that is to say, where the 

 crest is parted or divided. In some cases the crests 

 may even come treble, that is, split into three parts. 

 Entire absence of crest is by no means uncommon. 



*For a detailed discussion of the behaviour of the Blue An- 

 dalusian in breeding, the reader is referred to "The Mating 

 and Breeding of Poultry" by Harry M. Lamon and Rob R. 

 Slocum, published by the Orange Judd Publishing Company, 

 New York City. 



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