raising pekin ducks for meat

Cost to purchase the ducklings: $7.00 each I’ve paid anywhere from $1.00 each (I was in the right place at the right time) to $3.20 (bulk order). There is a lot of great meat duck on the market today, in this article, we take a look at the top ten meat ducks. If you raise meat birds from Metzer Farms for sale in your area, we will add your farm to this list. Be aware that they are messy, you’ll want to provide a pond or pool for them to splash in, and the ducks are not very good mothers. We got that early morning call – like 3 AM – and had to rush downtown to get them. I remember the morning that we picked up our ducklings from the post office. TOP 10 DOMESTIC MEAT DUCKS FOR BOTH THE ADVANCED AND NOVICE DUCK OWNER Pekin . I do like the Pekins for eggs and meat, but maybe I’ll be swayed when I finally get around to raising some Muscovies, lol! I do find that they don’t particularly like to be penned…even though it is a very large pen and they find ways to escape so they are mostly free range. Caring for ducklings is pretty similar to caring for chicks. Make sure their feed is fresh so that the Vitamin E hasn’t started breaking down. Hopefully it will stay warm long enough to get these nasty beasts outside! Thanks for making me laugh, Ellen! I cringe when I think of meat ducks––I really love my ducks! They seem just a little bit smarter and they are pretty cute. They are producing better than any of my chickens, the eggs are much larger and are great for baking. Yes, organic is expensive. There are many duck breeds that you can raise for meat. These ducks were bred specifically for meat and egg production but have become almost synonymous with the word duck today. Best wishes with your duck adventure! We have been getting asked a lot why we raise ducks and what do you use them for. I don’t know if I will be able to maintain sanity after putting up with this mess in my house for that long straight! It can be such a wild ride raising poultry , Thanks for sharing! What is your favorite breed for a dual purpose goose? Ducks can be great livestock guardian animal. It sound like it’s raining drakes on your friend, Deborah! I’ve been wanting geese. Well, at least we will get a drake out of the deal! So, we were excited to see that. There are many duck breeds that you can raise for meat. It does not take long to have a viable meat source from ducks if that’s what you’re looking for. We calculated the cost of raising meat birds organically and it is expensive. Moulard ducks are second in meat duck popularity only to the Pekin in the United States and are often the meat duck of choice in Canada and France. Pekin ducklings are larger than chicks, they also grow faster, eat more, and make a bigger mess than most baby chicks. You are so right about the raging hormones of drakes! For the homesteader looking to raise a healthy source of meat or eggs, build a lively population for the pond, create a reliable source of ready-to-apply fertilizer, or simply enjoy the delightful antics of these silly poultry, Pekin ducks are a fabulous addition to … If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. We live on an acre and have laying hens, the ducks and a pair of Chinese geese. This Site Uses Cookies… The Self Sufficient HomeAcre is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The problem is the males can get to 10-12 pounds, but the females only get to about 6 pounds. For now, feel free to continue reading. When you butcher, be sure to let them rest in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours. Because she is not available for the taking, they have no issues with assaulting one another. One Farmer’s Guide to Raising Ducks for Meat. Silver Appleyards are a heritage breed that takes a bit longer to reach butcher weight but provides a desirable roasting bird. (and guineas, and goats, and, and, and…!). Raising Pekins is easier than raising most any other breed of domestic duck because of their strong immune systems and ability to s… Also popular are the Cayuga, Rouen, Silver Appleyard, and Welsh Harlequin. Most Cornish Cross chickens are butchered at 8. Such as the Muscovy Duck Meat type which is good when you want to start selling ducks for meat. Some duck breeds are kept … Ducklings should have a bit more space and it is recommended that you provide them with a special starter feed for ducklings. Our ducklings grew very fast and were ready for processing at 7-8 weeks of age. Any self-sufficient farm would go for white duck meat which it can produce on its own and serve as part … We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. My ducks are terrified of me…but they have a pretty good reason. Most places will give you a lower price per bird if you buy more than a few at a time. Raising Ducks for Meat Ducks are great as a source of meat, especially Pekin ducks. The most popular meat duck is the Pekin for its quick growth, large size, and white feathers. Pekins and Saxonies, weighing almost 10 pounds, are some of the largest breeds of ducks. The most popular meat duck is the Pekin for its quick growth, large size, and white feathers. Raising Ducks for Meat. If you want to learn homesteading skills, like raising chickens and preserving the harvest for winter, you’ve come to the right place. Ducks are An Excellent Meat Source If your goal is to raise animals for meat, ducks are a great addition, especially the Pekin variety. Schlecht Hatchery has the best price I have found online for ducklings. Or is there another breed that you recommend? I do appreciate and respect your self-sufficiency – you provide great information. So do I! We don’t have any drakes, but a friend wants to give us one. Ducks do need a water source for dipping their heads. I understand keeping them just for pets. We had some Pekins that grew so fast, they were ready for butcher in 6 weeks. Commercial Meat and Egg Production Brochure If you are looking for locally raised duck, goose, or chicken, visit our Local Meat Producers page. Disclosure. Hi Rachel, It didn’t take more than a couple weeks for them to outgrow their first home. Your ducks were very lucky to go to a place with a pond! Know what duck breeds will suit your needs, how to feed, house and take care of your duck. Can You Feed Ducklings Medicated Chick Starter? Contrary to popular belief, ducks don’t need a pond to swim in; they will be content splashing around in a kiddie pool. You also want to be sure that the ducklings aren’t swimming too early. I ordered my ducklings from Schlecht hatchery in Iowa. (#ad). I raise Emden geese and I think they are great for meat…a bit noisy but they all are! I think you will find that their meat tastes a lot like the dark meat of a chicken. Glad to hear that you appreciate the duck info! This site earns income from advertising and affiliate sales. For example, Muscovy ducks are great for meat. We still have four ducks left and plan to butcher them soon enough. The cost of the ducklings is one of the biggest variables in this project. Muscovies provide delicious meat and will hatch their own eggs. by Wesley Hunter of Seymour, MO. Introduction. Information on raising ducks for either meat, eggs or just as backyard pets. This post contains affiliate links or advertisements. There are many breeds of ducks to choose from. I do my best not to get attached to any of the poultry, because we do butcher all of them eventually, except maybe the rooster. Ducks can be raised for both meat and egg production. Raising your own meat is a wonderful way to put nutritious, nutrient dense food on your family’s table. We have taken in ducks from people who should have never bought them in the first place and have ended up with 3 males and 1 female. Mule ducks, a cross between Muscovy ducks and another breed, are an alternative option for meat production. Any breed can be butchered, but you’ll have the highest meat yields from the heavy and medium weight ducks. The Rouen is second to the Pekin with its flavorful carcass. Do you want to be more self-reliant? The most common are Pekins (aka Giant White Pekins) and Muscovy. Instructions for requesting your listing are also on the Local Meat Producers page. You can let them hatch their own eggs. At least the results will not be the same as you get with the hybrid chicks directly from the hatchery. Pekin ducks produce a lot of flavorful, moist, dark meat and at around 6-8 weeks are ready for butcher producing a dressed out carcass of about 5 pounds. I gather an egg almost every day from my ducks. No one gets hurt but it is really outrageous how crazy they can get! Thank you! So—if you’ve mastered raising your own meat from other small livestock and want to try something new, try ducks. Like the Aylesbury, Pekins seldom go broody. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Raising ducks for meat is an easy, efficient way to raise your own meat. The pink colored bill is an easy way to tell an Aylesbury duck from a Pekin duck. We were hoping that they would imprint on us, but no such luck. We found them to pretty much more aloof than our chickens. In just three or four months, they can grow and be over 10 pounds each, which means you don’t have to wait long for your viable meat source. We are currently raising a few but have not butchered any yet. Since these ducks will not reproduce, you will be forced to carefully breed only Pekin hens with Muscovy drakes – separating out ducklings of the wrong breeding sex as soon as you can destinguish their gender. The Cornish X might provide a bit more meat per bird, but you can’t keep them to breed a new batch of chicks each year. For more information about the habits and care of ducks, consult our free duck articles library for free duck information. Of course, I’ve only tried the Pekins. We did a few, kind of feeling our way along, then did a few more the next year. However, I was happy with the price. We were waiting to see if we liked the taste before committing to more. In general, a Pekin is a big, white duck with an orange beak that is a hearty, friendly bird. They can grow to be 10+ pounds in a matter of 3-4 months. We are cutting down on the amount of meat that we eat and trying to use a better quality, homegrown or locally grown, product.

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