Page:Ducks- and how to make them pay (IA cu31924003102971).pdf/87

Rh see the outline of the feathers of the different shading. There have been a few of these, that have been well marked and large at the same time, which have fetched high prices. I have often known them fetch £10 and £15 each. The drakes during the summer months are not in full plumage and the colours are not so distinct while they are shedding them.

breeders who keep this variety of ducks say that they like them better than the Aylesburies. One reason for this is that they are non-sitters. Some people have an idea that the eggs from the Pekin ducks are not quite so strong in flavour as those from the Aylesburies. My opinion is that this is more fancy than reality, because the taste of a duck's egg depends a great deal on how they are fed—if possible, more so than with hens' eggs, as ducks will eat any dirty rubbish they can get hold of. They will fetch things out of dirty ponds, and they are also very fond of fish. Whenever ducks eat the latter their eggs taste very strong, so much so that one would almost think they were eating fish when they are eating ducks' eggs which have been partly produced from the refuse of the fishmonger's yard. It makes a difference if it is young fresh fish they catch alive. There are specimens of the Pekin ducks which are enormous layers, but many of the strains have been spoiled by forcing the birds for the show-pens. I knew a gentleman who had a strain of three ducks which