Are pekins pets or meat?

[neohiobiker]

I've had my p ducks for about 9 months I work outside all the time they still take one look at me gather in a bunch head up and yell the MONSTER IS COMING and head for the hills lol
I'd love to sex mine I'd love to eat a few. Mine free range but I do grain feed them twice a day with a plastic scoop about 2 quarts mark from tractor supply.

 

[chooniecat]

Historically bred for meat and obviously kept as pets. Just euthed a Pekin drake I had for almost 10 yrs and he was 10+ old. I don't find duck edible but if kept for meat I am OK(as long as they are treated well).

 

[ket806]

That is the question I have 3 of them and you cant even get close to them with out them running away. Id like to hear how others are with there ducks. I hear theyre just for meat and i hear there pets. U tell me.

I have 16 ducks a few pekings a mascovi Cayuga cross a magpie some Cayugas a cuyaga crested cross and rouens. Some I've raised from hatchlings some are rescues and some I've acquired from other People. All will quack and wag when I come to see them and run up to me when I'm feeding or have treats. 2 of my Pekings will walk up to me no matter what and I can pet them and my drake will follow my daughter like a dog. The other(which I raised from a hatchling) I can not touch. Now mascovi rescue was a wild duck who was caught in fishing line and broke a wing will walk up to me but I can not touch(yet) he is slowly getting curious and closer and closer every day(he will now eat out if my hand) my Cayugas are very skidish as well as my magpie. Now my rouens will sometimes runs up and run around my feet and sometimes will be stand offish

 

[ket806]

In my experience it seems they are like horses and have to gain your trust?!!

 

[sourland]

They can be both. Treat them with kindness and good husbandry and utilize them as you choose.

 

[ket806]

I've eaten many breeds of duck over the years(came from a hunting family) and I do like them very much! They do have a "gamey" taste so you have to have a taste for it! As I do like to eat them all of mine are pets