RANKIN'S DUCK BOOK 



QUESTION 40.— Should a pure bred Pekin have any 

 black feathers? 



ANSWER. — No. The feathers should be a creamy white. 

 Dark feathers are a sign of mongrel stuck. 



QUESTION 41.— Will rain injure young ducklings? 



ANSWER. — They are as susceptible to rain as chicks up 

 to three weeks of age, but after that, will endure more, and at 

 eight or ten weeks old, will really enjoy a good rain storm. 



QUESTION 42.— How large do Pekin ducks grow? 



ANSWER. — We have had drakes to tip the scales at 13 

 pounds each, though this is somewhat rare. The past season, 

 one of our drakes weighed 9j/ 2 pounds, dressed, at 10 weeks 

 old. 



QUESTION 43.— What is the weight of Pekin duck eggs? 



ANSWER. — In the height of the season, ours weighed 

 about 3 pounds to the dozen. 



QUESTION 44. — Is wet, marshy land suitable for ducks? 



ANSWER. — Should prefer dry land contiguous to a 

 stream or pond. 



QUESTION 45. — How many duck eggs should be placed 

 under one hen? 



ANSWER.- — From nine to eleven, depending upon the 

 size of the hen. 



QUESTION 46. — How long does it require to incubate 

 duck eggs? 



ANSWER. — Pekin eggs twenty-seven days. Muscovy 

 eggs thirty-two days, same as geese. 



QUESTION 47.— Do Pekin ducks sit well on eggs? 



ANSWER. — No. They are unreliable. Hens are better. 

 A good incubator still better. 



QUESTION 48. — If you were a young man, with the 

 same experience you have now, would you enter the poultry 

 business? 



ANSWER. — I certainly would, for two reasons. First, 

 because it is a congenial occupation to me ; second, it is by far 

 the most profitable of any branch of farm industry. 



nooi 



