Page:Ducks- and how to make them pay (IA cu31924003102971).pdf/91

Rh should have stewed linseed given them. Their plumage is much looser than that of the Aylesbury. Pekins look very much larger than they really are. They are something like the Cochin fowls, more feathers in proportion than body. The duck and drake should have exactly the same carriage. They are not such a nervous class of duck as the Aylesbury that is to say, if they are frightened when they are being caught, or anything runs after them, they can get out of the way much quicker than the Aylesburies do. If a stoat or rat got amongst a flock of young Pekins, it would have a difficulty in catching them, while young Aylesburies appear to lose the power of their legs, and fall down as though they were paralysed. This is a great consideration to duck-breeders where they are overrun with rats. The latter are passionately fond of ducks, and often clear several broods off in a night, and, in some cases, in the middle of the day. Where people who are fond of ducks have so many rats, I should advise them to go in for the Pekin blood. I find the young ones are quite as healthy as the young Aylesburies; in fact, they appear stronger on the legs, and fewer of them have the cramp. I do not consider the Pekins make as good table birds as the Aylesburies, as their skin has a yellow cast, which many English families object to. Pekins do not grow, as a rule, so heavy at the age as Aylesburies. I do not know why, but there are not so many Pekins which have found their way to the exhibitions these last few years as there used to be.