1882 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
285 
Aylesbury Ducks. 
White occurring without intermixture of 
other color in the hair or feathers of animals 
and fowls, is evidence of change effected by- 
domestication. This color, or lack of color, 
and in favorable locations, breeds very true. 
Breeders so located find it is not difficult to 
obtain the pink bills without stain of yellow 
or blemish of dark streaks or specks. This 
is supposed to depend upon the purity of the 
water, and on the gravelly bottom of the 
A PAIR OF AYLESBURY DUCKS. 
becomes a very persistent characteristic. The 
accompanying engraving of Aylesbury Ducks 
represents one of the most beautiful of the 
white breeds of poultry. All white fowls 
are beautiful and attractive. We have white 
breeds of every kind of domestic fowl, and 
they all have such notable excellencies, that 
their admirers claim for each that it is the 
best of its kind. This is noticeable in white 
geese, which have the best plumage ; white 
turkeys are most domestic, and white barn¬ 
door fowls are most prolific. Aylesbury 
Ducks are claimed to be 
more prolific and to fatten 
more rapidly for market 
than other large breeds. This 
variety undoubtedly origina¬ 
ted in the vicinity of Ayles¬ 
bury, England, where large 
numbers are still raised an¬ 
nually for the London mar¬ 
ket. Its characteristics are 
distinctly marked, namely: 
abundant but close-fitting 
plumage of the purest white; 
a beak of peculiar form, be¬ 
ing long, straight, and broad, 
and set on a line with the 
forehead ; most noticeable, 
however, from its being of a 
distinct flesh-color; it some¬ 
times inclines to buff, but 
this is objectionable. The 
most delicate pink (as an 
English breeder enthusiastic¬ 
ally said to the writer, “ pink 
as a lady’s nail,”) is the color 
preferred; the legs are of a 
light orange color. Ducks 
and drakes are almost pre¬ 
cisely alike, the latter distinguished only 
by the curling feathers of the tail and by 
the voice, or lack of voice. 
This is an old and well-established breed, 
brooks with which their bills are constantly 
brought in contact. Exposure to the sun 
tans them, and, from some not well-known 
cause, it is almost impossible to obtain per¬ 
fect bills in many places, though the birds 
grow large and fine. 
It is customary in and near Aylesbury to 
confine the ducks in warm houses early in 
the season, and to induce the earliest possi¬ 
ble laying, that the young ducks may be 
marketed very early in the season, and high 
prices secured. They come to the market 
retain this tendency to lay, and hatch a brood 
early in mid-winter, only for the first gen¬ 
eration from importation; even then to a less 
degree than the imported birds show it. The 
tendency to lay very early would no doubt 
be maintained if it were encouraged as it is 
at home. In regard to the 
care of ducks, it is well to 
observe that the more a va¬ 
riety is changed by domes¬ 
tication, the more attention 
they need, and usually the 
more profit they yield. Many 
common ducks lay a clutch 
of perhaps 20 small eggs; in 
sitting, cover half or more, 
and hatch them out, while 
the Aylesbury Duck will lay 
60 eggs or more, but until 
she begins to show a ten¬ 
dency to sit, usually a week 
or ten days before she sits, 
she makes a sort of nest, and 
there she deposits her eggs. 
The only way to secure all 
the eggs is to shut up the 
ducks at night. They will 
usually lay an egg apiece 
between dawn and eight 
o’clock, and as soon as each 
has laid, all may be let out. 
They all march straight for 
the water, and if let out too 
soon, some eggs will be al¬ 
most surely found in the 
bottom of the pond. Ducks are voracious 
and almost omnivorous feeders; they are 
fond of grass and water plants, water-cress 
especially, and are diligent foragers for 
snails and the little shell-fish of fresh water 
streams, ponds, and swamps; and besides, 
on dry land, they are indefatigable insect 
hunters; young ducks being often very use¬ 
ful in a vegetable garden, where they gather 
and destroy many plant pests. 
A pair of Aylesbury Ducks, fit for exhibi¬ 
tion, ought to weigh at least 12 pounds; in 
a trio of toulouse geese.— (See next page.) 
just at a season when game and other poultry 
are scarce and high. Now, when the Ayles- 
burys are removed, and, as in this country, 
are treated like other kinds of ducks, they 
England they often reach 16 pounds to the 
pair, and are occasionally heavier by one or 
two pounds, thus almost equalling the weight 
of the heaviest specimens of Rouen Ducks.. 
