RANKIN'S DUCK BOOK 



Pekin ducks we had heard of for a year or two, but had taken 

 no stock in. Yet here they were in the market, while ours 

 were toddling about at home less than half grown. Here was 

 a revelation. We procured some eggs of this party, at once, 

 and in due time hatched out sixty lively young ducklings. 

 They were tended with the utmost care and not one was lost. 

 We were very much interested in these little fellows, they 

 were so hardv, and you could fairly see them grow. It occurred 



AYLESBURY DUCKS 



to me at this time to try and experiment with these ducklings, 

 keep a correct account of all food consumed by them, and 

 ascertain what they cost per pound when ready for market. 

 The average weight was taken from the rejected drakes which 

 we did not need for breeding purposes, and which were culled 

 out and sent to market at ten weeks old. We were very much 

 surprised to find the cost to us (exclusive of the cost of eggs) 

 was about 4 ; ^ cents per pound. We could hardly credit our 

 own eyes. The calculation was made again and again with 

 the same result. The same calculation was made a year later 

 on two yards of some three hundred ducklings with a result 

 obtained, when ready for market, of 5 J 4 cents per pound, in- 

 cluding cost of eggs. 



As I had long since left the paternal abode, and for years 

 had ceased to superintend the establishments of others, and as 

 the following experience will be entirely my own, I shall here- 

 after use the personal "I." It is needless to say that the figures 

 arrived at from the calculations made of those ducks were 



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