40 DUCK DOLLARS 
In selecting breeders, first look for the largest, but do not take a 
large bird that is sluggish in behavior. The big, active ducks make the 
best breeders. Do not take any birds which have black feathers. Black 
feathers are not necessarily a sign of bad blood. They may be what is 
known as a “throw-back” in the breeding or a “ sport,” liable to come 
out in any breeding, no matter how pure the stock is. 
In breeding large numbers of ducks there will occasionally be freaks, 
such as three-legged and four-legged ducks. We have seen three-legged 
and four-legged ducks grow until we killed them for market. The supple- 
mentary legs were not so large as the two legs on which the duck 
walked, but were dwarfed. 
Sometimes a duck will be found with more than one egg orifice. We 
have seen freak ducklings with as many as five egg orifices. 
We do not do any inbreeding. Our stock is crossbred. In the years 
that we have been building up our strain, we have greatly increased the 
size of the breast and the depth of the keel. By poor 
selection of breeders from year to year and thoughtless 
inbreeding, some breeders of Pekins of our acquaintance have weakened 
their stock, and cannot now produce the bird they ought. 
The breeder should aim to introduce new blood into a certain pen 
or pens every other year, to keep up the size and vitality. 
Don’t Inbreed 
ans A drake which, for example, has served three to five 
von i ducks for two seasons should be replaced by another at 
Inbreeding 
the end of that time. 
We do not do any pedigree or record-keeping. Such drudgery is a 
waste of time and is a wholly unnecessary detail. By separating the birds 
into flocks, each with its drake or drakes, there cannot be inbreeding. 
It is surprising what improvements a duck breeder, if he is careful 
and intelligent, can make in his flock in size and good laying qualities, 
: by selection of the best specimens from year to year. 
oa We have got our birds up to the point where they pro- 
duce twice the number of fertile eggs which the earlier 
generations did years ago, and the birds have a longer and deeper keel, 
and weigh more. These are important factors in moi ey-making, espe- 
cially the matter of fertility. Those who start with our breeding stock 
get the benefit of the years of study and selection we have done. They 
should continue the work with their own breeding stock, remembering to 
save for breeders only the largest and best birds. 
Do not get the idea that you can buy any kind of a white Pekin 
duck and in quick time build up a strain of superior size and breeding 
qualities. You might just as well try to breed a race-horse out of com- 
mon drudge horses. The blood that makes for size and 
Get ee 
ene fertility can be produced only by years of effort. It is 
Stare much better to start with a trio of stock at $10 a head 
than to buy a bargain lot at $2 or $3 apiece, or even 
less, as they are sometimes sold. The precious seed eggs from first- 
class stock only are what you wish to secure from the ducks you are 
breeding. By buying first-class breeding stock or eggs you jump over 
years of effort which you will have to go through if you start with scrub 
ducks picked up at bird and poultry stores, or bought here and there 
of anybody who happens to have a few ducks. 
