The fattening yards are situated between the two ponds, and so arranged
as to inclose a portion of the stream.
The ducklings are marketed as fast as they reach a suitable age and
size. She commences sending them to market about the middle of June and
keeps it up till about the middle of September, when she quits till near
the middle of January. These prime young ducks, getting into market at a
time when such poultry is scarce, bring good prices--from 22 to 25 cents
a pound, dressed. By the time the price begins to decline she has
marketed all the earlier ones that she cares to spare, and the
later-hatched she keeps growing till mid-winter, when fine ducks are
again scarce and the price goes up. At Thanksgiving and during the
holidays when the markets are crowded with poultry of all kinds, she
holds on to her ducks, unless she has an order at an extra price.
At first my friend kept the Rouens; then she tried the Aylesburys, but
now she keeps only the pure Pekins, and is so well satisfied with them
that she has no desire to change for anything else. She says, "For
laying qualities, quick growth, great size, fine flesh and fine
feathers, the Pekins can not be excelled.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149