The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-04
A Chnnter on Ducks.

Pekins are called the Imperial, as they
are supposed to. excel all others in all re-
spects, which is also denied by those
who prefer some other breed, which Will
be mentioned herein. The best bred
Pekin ducks are a creamy white in plum
age, with blue eyes, deep yellow beaks,
and reddish orange. shanks and feet.
They often begin to lay in midwinter and
keep it up for several months. Their eggs
are large and very rich. and consequent
ly excellent for all cooking purposes.
The ducks should be kept in confine-
ment until some time after sunrise, as
they lay very early, often before day
break, and drop their eggs wherever
they may happen to be when the spirit
moves them. They care not two straws
for a nest. Like all the other pure bred
ducks. they are fond of water but do
as well without as with water to swim
in. They must have plenty to drink, for
they are large consumers of this great
temperance beverage.
Aylesbury ducks are also pure white
throughout, with pale, f1eSh-colored beak
and light orange shanks and feet. The
beak of the Aylesbury is longer than
that of the Pekin, and the median ridge
higher, so that the front of head and
top of beak form nearly straight line.
The beak is not so thin and fiat as that
of the aforesaid Pe1Sins We do not know
any serious object ton To AylcSbury ducks,
but believe the Pekns will lay more eggs.
Rouen ducks, in color of plumage are
an exact counterpart of the wild NAL
Il
a rich green and purple head, greenish
yellow beak with jet black bean at
the end. The ring around the neck, in
good specimens, is clean in outline and
NOT quite meeting at the back. The
beautiful metallic green of the head eX-
tends down to the neck, spreads over the
back, becoming r., l1 i on r,,,, lower ON,T
plish brown, and under parts of body and
sides a beautiful gray, growing lighter
to the rear Wings are grayish brown
= u, q broad
bow-hueL ribbon of purple, green and
blue, eul ed with clean white. Tail is
dark brown; tail coverts black with pur-
plish reflections Shanks and feet orange
with brownlsh tinge. The duck has
breast of dark, beautifully penciled brown;
wings lighter brown mixed with green
with broad ribbon like the drake. These
are beautiful and romantic birds with
gamy flavor and appearance. They are
the original duck that swan round Noah's
old yacht; the fluvaitic fowl OF all ages
They are charged.with delinquency in the
matter of eggs, but this is merely man
Hesitation of Jealousy by fanciers OF the
ing as early as Pekins or Aylesburies,
but when they, do they redeem the time
lost, and their eggs are the largest of
an You can, iin l3i, o, Wf1-aer DUCKS than
Cayuga ducks are black, smaller than
either of the above and not so desirable,
Call ducks are the bantams of the duck
family, and are kept as curioSities
The Muscovas are the meanest and viii
est and most worthless of all ducks. They
are veritable misers in egg production,
noisy, quarrelsome and smell bad. When
young and well fattened they are fit to
eat, but there is nothing more to be said
in their favor. Gen. Claiborne said If he
had a neighbor who kept Muscova ducks,
he would sell out and move away.
The common quacking puddle ducks are
better than no ducks-not much, of course,
but some better. Everybody knows them,
so we will drop them as we would any
other ''nlIack''