Duck Breeding in the United States. 507 



Duck Breeding in the United States. 



A bulletin has been issued by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture dealing with the standard breeds and 

 management of ducks and geese in that country. According 

 to this publication there are ten standard breeds of ducks in 

 the United States, and of these the following six kinds, viz., 

 the Pekin, Aylesbury, Rouen, Cayuga, white and coloured 

 Muscovy, are considered profitable to raise. Of all the ducks 

 none stand higher in popular esteem in the United States, 

 for farm and practical purposes, than the white Pekin. The 

 white Aylesbury ranks second to the popular Pekins for 

 market purpctses, but is not bred so extensively. The 

 coloured Rouen duck is popular throughout the country and 

 is considered one of the most profitable breeds to keep. It 

 does not mature so early as the Pekin or the Aylesbury, but 

 the flesh is very delicate, and the breed is acknowledged to 

 be superior for table purposes, being easily fattened, while it 

 is also hardy, prolific, quiet in disposition, and of beautiful 

 plumage. The black Cayuga is distinctly an American duck, 

 having been bred so long in the country that all trace of its 

 origin is lost. Muscovy ducks are considered to be very un- 

 satisfactory birds to keep on a farm with other poultry, owing 

 to their quarrelsome and pugnacious nature. 



During the last ten years duck-raising in the United Stal es 

 has developed into a flourishing industry. Prior to that time 

 the duck was not considered a profitable fowl to rear, and its 

 flesh was never prized very highly by the masses. Ducks 

 were bred on ponds and streams, feeding mostly on fish and 

 water insects ; this food gave the flesh a strong fishy flavour, 

 hence it was not particularly sought after. Artificial incu- 

 bation and brooding, combined with judicious feeding, have 

 been instrumental in the development of this industry, and 

 there are now numbers of farms in the United States that are 

 devoted exclusively to raising ducks, averaging from 5,000 

 to 20,000 birds as an annual output. The profits are stated 

 to be excellent, and good incomes may be made when once 

 the business is thoroughly mastered, but it is one which 

 requires an apprenticeship and a thorough knowledge of the 



