Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 139, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1913 — MUSCOVY DUCK IS MOST PROLIFIC [ARTICLE]

MUSCOVY DUCK IS MOST PROLIFIC

Size Is One of Strongholds ot Breed, But not Satisfactory to Market Young

(By R. O. DAWSON.)

We have in the Muscovy one of the most prolific of all the varieties of ducks, especially for the farmer. Young ducks marketed before Christmas time brought $1.50 each and yeanlings $2 each. \ The size is one of the strongh holds of this breed, but they are not satisfactory if you wish to market them at tea or twelve weeks, as they will not mature so rapidly as the Pekin. However, they can be raised on about half the feed which the other clucks require and they are very hardy and splendid foragers. We have raised large broods in the open fields, never feeding them, and find they are very much like the ton key in this respect. Those wishing an ornamental as well as the most profitable of all the ducks will find the Muscovy satisfactory. They make scarcely any noise unless molested, and are less of a puddiet than any of the other varieties, and they can be kept where any other variety would make anything filthy. They make a fine cross with any variety of duck and make a grand table fowl when crossed with the Pekin. We are breeding all varieties of ducks and find either the pure bred or the crossed birds profit-producers. The progeny of the cross-bred birds will not breed and are like the Canadian geese in this respect. The Muscovy is found wild in South America and Brazil and they are extensively domesticated in Europe, where they are bred in great numbers. They live to a good old age, as we have one female in a flock eight years old and has won many first premiums. If they are not allowed to hatch their eggs they will lay more or less from April to- November.' They molt but once during the year, and it requires five weeks to hatch the eggs.