THE POULTRY YARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2106, 23 November 1880, Page 4

THE POULTRY YARD.

THH PEKIN DTTCK. An English authority on poultry, writing to the "Field," strongly recommends the Pekin duck as preferable to any others. He says he does not wish to run down the Aylesbury or the Rouen, for they are very excellent varieties. Still, his experience in the breeding of ducks leads him to believe that for domestic purposes—that is, for birds arriving at maturity at an early date, for hardihood and productiveness—the Pekin is unapproaohed by any of our older var f eties. With the Aylesbury and the Rouen, when kept under the most favourable conditions (with plenty of water and an unlimited run) a large percentage of their eggs, when used for hatohing, turn out unfertile or the young ducklings when hatched are often very delicate and difficult to rear. Now, with the Pekin it is quite'the reverse, for nearly every egg set produces a bird. Then, as regards laying, they are truly wonderful egg produeers; morning after morning there is to be found an immense egg from nearly every duok, for, after having once commenced to lay, they continue to do so almost daily for several months during the year. They are large white, or, yellow-white, duoks, with orange bills, legs, and feet. It is only a few years since they were introduced into this country, and they have already become a most popular variety. They are more hardy than the Aylesbury and the Rouen, and their flesh is as good as either. Although we have several breeds of nonsitting fowls, the Pekin alone is a non-sittmg breed of ducks. They are good foragers, and the young duoklings when hatched are hardy and vigorous, and thrive wonderfully quick. Many admirers of Pekins maintain that they will soon out-rival the Aylesbury and Rouen as useful duoks in the farmyard, and as ornamental ducks at the poultry shows.