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What a hoot!

A Review On: Pekin

Pekin

Rated # 1 in Ducks
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Price paid: $4.95
JustDuckie23
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Pros: friendly, cute and great forager

Cons: short life span

Pekins are the epitomy of what you think of when you think duck.  They are cute fuzzy yellow peeps when little and grow into a waddling, chattering, funny, beautifully white feathered ducks with bright orange bills/feet.  Because they are mostly bred for food, they get enormous in a short time which makes it difficult for them to get around and apparently from what i just read, they have a much shorter life span becuase of it :(  I have mine for the fun of it, but have recently discovered the wonderfully delicious duck egg!  Who knew?!  Pekins' eggs make even jumbo sized chicken eggs look miniscule. 

2 Comments

I totally agree with you. Before this year we did not have ducks, but have fallen in love. They are so very comical, and goodness yes, they grow unbelievably fast. You can see the difference day by day. I weighed them daily in their first week, gave up on that, from 4 oz to over a pound in one week, figured they were doing just fine. Now at 6 months they are easily10 pounds, and they're girls, the one drake must be over 12. The eggs are wonderful, and even tho they have more cholesterol, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals you won't find in chicken eggs. Very lovely to bake with, everything comes out more moist. Don't you love the double yolkers too? My doubles weigh 5 oz or more, and a jumbo chix is 2.5. Double the pleasure! The yolks are so nice and rich, great for toast dippin'. The birds themselves can be friendly and trained to come when called, especially when it's "pea time." They fall all over themselves trying to be the first in line. These make great pets for kids, they're pretty sturdy, and if the kids have just one or two, they can certainly spend a lot of time handling and imprint them. Will follow the kids around like puppies. I like your picture by the way, once had a rooster who played tag with our golden!
You're right! The eggs ARE the best. Especially the double yolkers. I have never had a more tasty egg. Until now, my 5 year old didn't like eggs. She just now started eating them only becuase she knows that her ducks "Mattie" and "Molly", make them for her :) They are great. I just wish they lived as long as the other breeds. When I read that they only live an average of 3-4 years (5 years under IDEAL circumstances), I was in tears. I guess I will just have to enjoy them as much as I possibly can :)
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