http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1989_March_April/A_Guide_to_Ducks_and_Geese

Issue # 116-March/April 1989

AMERICAN CLASSICS
A GUIDE TO DUCKS AND GEESE

A look at the breeds your grandparents raised, which are still best for small farmsteads

DUCKS

-----------------------Prim Use------Mature Weight------Avg.Eggs------Fly
-----------------------Eggs Meat-----Male--Female-------Per Year--

Aylesbury-------------------x-------- 10------ 9---------- 60-100-------Yes
Good grass-grazer: reaches table size in 6-8 weeks

Muscov----------------------x -------10-14--5-7-----------40-50--------Yes
Prefers moderate weather; males are "quackless."

Pekin----------------x------x--------10-------9-------------120-160-----No
Exceptionally hardy; adapts well to confinement

Rouen----------------------x---------10------9-------------70-100-------No
Usually docile; eggs bluish green to near white

Khaki Campbell----x------x-------5 1/2---4 1/2----------250-300-----No
Good winter layer if sheltered from extreme

Indian Runner------x--------------4 1/2---4---------------130-180-----No
Cold tolerant, excitable, a good free-range bird

Buff-----------------x------x-------7-8-----6-7-------------200-250-----No
Hardy, a persistent forager; grows rapidly


GEESE

-----------------------Prim Use------Mature Weight------Avg.Eggs------Fly
-----------------------Eggs Meat-----Male--Female-------Per Year--

Chinese---------------------X-------10-12--8-10----------40-80------Might
Highly fertile breed, good forager; can be aggressive

American Buff--------------X---------18-----16-----------25-35------Might
Calm, intelligent; lays large, rich-tasting eggs

Pilgrim----------------------X----------14----12-----------20-40------Might
Gentle, docile, a good forager, tolerant of cold

Sebastopol-----------------X----------14----12------------25-35------No
Likes lots of space and a large body of fresh water

African----------------------X----------20----18------------20-45-----Might
Very vocal; grows and matures fast

Toulouse--------------------X--------26-30--20-22--------35-45------No
Quiet and calm; prefers cool weather

Embden---------------------X--------26--------20----------35-50------No
Active, sometimes incompatible with docile breeds