DUCK RAISING ON THE FARM 



the carcasses produced but the results in egg pro- 

 duction will likewise be better. 



Age of Breeding Stock. The best results in breed- 

 ing are secured from ducks during their first laying 

 season. Not only is egg production better but they 

 are less likely to become so fat and large as to in- 

 terfere with the fertility and hatchability of the 

 eggs. In fact, on commercial duck farms the breed- 

 ing stock is entirely renewed each year. However, 

 ducks can be profitably kept until they are 2 or 3 

 years old, and it is common practice in a farm flock 

 to hold over some of the breeders after they have 

 finished their first year. Of course, where the duck 

 breeder has some especially fine stock which will 

 produce just the quality he desires in the offspring, 

 he holds and utilizes these birds just as long as they 

 are in good breeding condition. As a rule it is best 

 not to l;iold breeding ducks after they have finished 

 their second laying season. 



Size of Matings. The proper number of ducks 

 which should be mated to a drake varies with the 

 different breeds. Pekins and Aylesbury can be 

 mated in the proportion of one drake to 6 to 8 ducks. 

 In the Rouen mate 4 or 5 ducks to a drake and in 

 the Cayuga 5 or 6 ducks to a drake. In the Muscovy 

 as high as 10 females may be mated with one male. 

 In the Blue Swedish and Buff mate in the proportion 

 of 6 or 7 ducks to one drake. In the Call and East 

 India breeds from 5 to 8 ducks can be mated to one 



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