XXV 

 . DUCKS AND GEESE 



Beginning with Ducks — A Favorable Location — Few 

 Losses — Few Desirable Breeds — Pekins, Runners, 

 Orpingtons — Runner Record Notable — Above 200 

 Three Successive Years — Extreme Claims — Fowls 

 for Feathers --Testing White Eggs — Feed — The 

 New Coat — Ducks as a Specialty — Popular Breeds 

 of Geese — Goose Farming — Hens as Hatchers — 

 Pasturage — Beauty Breeds — Prices 



It seems to be true that many Beginners take up ducks 

 and geese with diffidence and with fear, believing the 

 work to be more difficult than the raising of chicks. This 

 is so far from true that the losses with waterfowl are on 

 the average proportionately much less after they are 

 hatched than with domestic hens, turkeys, or guineas. 

 Indeed, some one recently suggested that it would be 

 much easier for a Beginner to start with ducks than with 

 hens. With natural water privileges, the work is less, the 

 growth is at least twice as rapid, and the losses far less. 

 These are certainly three very strong arguments in favor 

 of waterfowl. 



A favorable location for duck growing has a bit of 

 land sloping toward a stream deep enough to allow 

 swimming and diving delights. Such a place being 

 available, one who delights in poultry has missed some 

 of his privileges if he has not tried raising water fowl. 

 There are many clever midgets of fancy ducks, beautiful 

 for color, fascinating for sprightly grace, sympathetically 



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