Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-16

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, ID, CT Il. L I. 49,
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* Is a7s S. tS,.4'i ENCEN
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RAISING DUCKS.

The Merits and Domcrits of the Aylcs-
bury, Iouen and Pekin Ducks.
The main object IN raising ducks is the
production of fine table birds, tho mark
citing of eggs being little considered, and
it is claimed by succG-sul poultrymen
that at ten weeks old duck meat can be
produced more cheaply per pound than
any other poultry meat. Rouens, Ayles-
burys. Perkins and CaAugas represent
principal breeds. An English poultry
man. who ranks the Aylesbury first
among these, says
'The Aylesbury stands first in impor-
lance because it is this breed which pro-
duces the early ducklings SO much priced
in large towns and SO remunerative to
their producers. The Aylesbury. how
ever, is much more difficult to meet with
pure since the introduction of the Pekiu,
with which it has been largely crossed.
losing. when much of the latter blood
prevails, some of its fine table qualities,
but gaining in its laying powers. The
pure Aylesbury is an unlimited white
bird with flesh colored bill it is an
early and productive layer and,
whether as a duckling at eight or ten
weeks old or matured bird of six
or eight months, is prime table
favorite The Roucn, though not lay
ing so early as the Aylesbury, or per-
haps developing quite 50 rapidly, is fully
as well fleshed, and, when III condition
in the autumn, attalns great weight
and makes table bird Of superb quail
ty: it has apparently been developed
from the wild mallard, with which il
breeds readily. A cross / once possessed,
having one-fourth wild blood and three
fourths Rouen, were the finest table
birds imaginable. They lived on the
river all day, slept on its banks ut night
and had just one feed of dry corn daily.
The Pekin is IL very handsome and
apparently weighty bird, but very de-
ceptive and nothing like so heavy as the
closer feathered Aylesburys and Rouens.
It is remarkable layer, but has great
er tendency to put on fat tAan flesh,
Crosses with them, however, sometimes
prove useful; dash Of their blood i'm
proves the laying powers Of ci,l.er ,Lc
Aylesbury or the &oucn, while the h1lf
or quarter bred birds in late autumn
make heavyweights for market and a
the Pelsin does not sit but continues TO
lay during many months, u large flock
of such half breds may be raised from a
few old birds"
Against the foregoing is the expert
ence of James Rankin rs related in MS
treatise on duck culture, from which it
appears that his favoriia is the Pekin.
Having bred AYleshurys clear and cross
ed them, he found the crosses fully one
week later than the Pehin III maturing,
about one pound per pair less in weigh;
aud with very much greater mortality
OF the young duck than among the
Pel;ins.
The Pelirs have become Formidable
rivals, oven with English breeders, OF
the Avlesburys, to winch they are per
haps the nearest fowl in appearance, but
it is difficult to distinguish them, pare
bred Aylesburys being perfectly White
with boat shaped body, short icys and
Il long, fine neck. y crclny color in tic
plumage, yellowish bill and partially
erect carriage of body shows a cross OF
Pel;in. An advantage urged for the
Pehin over the Ayesbuy is that it has
not the tenacity Of feathers which, par
ticularly annoying when plucking th(
latter.