CHAPTER rV 



Commercial Duck Fanning — Management of the 

 Breeding Stock 



Age of Breeders. On most large commercial duck 

 plants the entire breeding stock is renewed each 

 year. In other words, the breeders are kept only 

 through their first laying season. This makes it 

 necessary to select from the young stock reared and 

 save for breeders as many head as it is desired to 

 carry for the coming year. This practice is used 

 for the reason that ducks lay best during their first 

 year. Therefore, since it is desired to keep up the 

 maximum ezs production in order to raise as many 

 market ducks as possible, young breeders are con- 

 sidered better. Some raisers, however, keep a part 

 of their breeding ducks for two years and occasion- 

 ally for 3 or even 4 years but this is not the usual 

 practice. Recent comparison made between young 

 and two year old ducks as breeders would seem to 

 indicate that ducklings hatched from the eggs of the 

 latter live a little better. 



Distinguishing Young from Old Ducks. In this 

 connection it is of interest to know how young ducks 

 can be readily distinguished from the older birds. 

 The young ducks have bright yellow legs and bills 



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