Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-04-21
MuscOvY DUCKS.
In What Respects They Diner From
other Domestic Varieties.

OtAcE OputcSt1c t8EAchkc@e
South America is the native home OF
the Museovy ducks they are found
largely in Guiana, Brazil ana adjoining
equatorial gintries. III their native
state they area wild variety and. while
duck. are decidedly different from
any other domesticated OF wild variety
known to man. 4 peculiar feature Of
the Muscovy is that it never quacks
like all other ducks The brakes are at
some seasons of the year very pugna-
cious, especially at laying time, and
will battle vigorously among them
selves Other domestic varieties stand
no show whatever With 4 Muscovy in
a test of strength and endurance quail
tiles.
The standard Of perfection recognizes
two varieties Of the Muscovy the col
ored and white. There is practically
no difference except in color. The
brakes are large, nearly double the size
of the ducks, and often weigh nine or
eleven pounds each; are large in frame.
long in body and broad across the back;
are shorter iii shank, with broad web
feet, with long hawklike claws. and are
the most powerful of any variety of the
duck family The wings are of good
length, very compact, and are the chief
means Of battle and defense, striking
sledge hammer blows at a surprising
rapidly During the autumn and spring
s,,7 a xxYr,er hath r11o1ac
and females. as they delight to fly all
over the farm and also adjoining farms
simply for exercise. This is easily ac-
eompIished by cutting off the end of
seven flights of one primary They are
not a migratory bird and fly simply as
a means Of transit about their home
surroundings
They are largely bred at the present
time nearly all over the civilized world.
In the United States they are mostly
found in the southern states and along
the Atlantic coast. One drake will
mate with ten or dozen ducks. How
ever, if the flock contains enough males
they will mate in pairs. Being less of
puddier and swimmer than other ducks,
require not over half as much food as
other domestic varieties. Some writers
have quoted them as poor or ordinary
layers. This we have found incorrect.
Having bred them for many years
and in large numbers, we believe them
to produce more eggs than any other
standard variety. They usually COM
mence to lay in April and, if not al
lowed to sit. will continue until No
vember
Unlike all other varieties Of ducks,
unless it be the little ornamental Calls.
Cardinals and Mandarins, the Mus
covies invariably prepare their nests
and deposit their eggs, while other
domestic varieties must be penned at
night; otherwise they scatter them
broadcast. The duck prefers a hollow
log or stump for her nest and will usu-
ally lay fifteen to nineteen eggs for
laying. and all will invariably prove
fertile.
The young are active and strong
from the shell and. barring accidents.
will grow to maturity Another pecul-
lar feature of the Muscovy is that it
requires five weeks to hatch its eggs
instead of four with all other varieties
of the duck and goose family. If not
allowed to sit and hatch. the Muscoyies
will continue to lay until late autumn.
Unlike other ducks, they mott but once
a year. and. being natives of or near
the equator, they cannot stand the
weather as well as some other varie-
ties. 1t is no uncommon sight to see
one or more Muscovies sitting on the
fence or some building just as content
ed as if on the ground. The original
color of the Muscoyy was mixed black
and white, the latter predominating
By careful selection for many genera
tons the white has been produced
However, the young the first year will
nearly all have d black patch of feath-
ers on top of the head and occasionally
a few colored feathers on the hollow of
the back, which disappear usually aft
er the first MONTH Farmers Voice.
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