BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[hellbender]

I found the pic and recipe here:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/muscovy-duck-breasts-with-pomegranate-wine-sauce-231292

And for anyone else curious:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/669058/muscovy-ducks-tastes-like-roast-beef

It says:


The only reason they're not more popular is because they're ugly.

I know everyone has their own idea of what constitutes beauty or 'butt-ugly and I think the Moscovies are knock-outs!!!

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I know everyone has their own idea of what constitutes beauty or 'butt-ugly and I think the Moscovies are knock-outs!!!

The hens are cute, but the males look like some kind of turkey-goose hybrid. Most people don't know what they are at first.

 

[hellbender]

The hens are cute, but the males look like some kind of turkey-goose hybrid. Most people don't know what they are at first.

I have always thought they were somewhat more goose than duck. They are still on my planning stage, just waiting until spring when someone will drive to Pa. to pick some up!

 

[dfr1973]

I found the pic and recipe here:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/muscovy-duck-breasts-with-pomegranate-wine-sauce-231292

And for anyone else curious:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/669058/muscovy-ducks-tastes-like-roast-beef

It says:


The only reason they're not more popular is because they're ugly.

They are certainly ugly ... possibly the only creature uglier than an adolescent guinea. So they not only taste like beef, but specifically grass-fed beef? Judging from hubby's tone of voice, there may be a little duck pond in our future. We'll see what he says when he sees one in person, though. Oh, thanks for the recipe link - pomegranate wine sauce sounds wonderful, even though I have a full belly and would probably skip the whole "sauce" idea right now.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I found the pic and recipe here:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/muscovy-duck-breasts-with-pomegranate-wine-sauce-231292

And for anyone else curious:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/669058/muscovy-ducks-tastes-like-roast-beef

It says:


The only reason they're not more popular is because they're ugly.

Actually, I suspect that a bigger reason that they're not more popular is that they fly really, really, REALLY well. Like, they perch your roof (esp. the lighter hens, drakes get too heavy to go really high unless threatened). They will therefore sometimes fly away and never come back. (This will be my main issue to deal with - I refuse to pinion ducklings, so I'll be clipping wings A LOT). Also, as there is a problem with feral muscovies in some areas, there have actually been regional legal issues about whether you're allowed to have them. One reason they ARE popular with some, though, is that they're quiet ("the quackless duck"), as well as the excellent mothering.

(My info is from extensive reading in books and on BYC and elsewhere, not personal experience yet...)

I have always thought they were somewhat more goose than duck. They are still on my planning stage, just waiting until spring when someone will drive to Pa. to pick some up!

They actually ARE more goose than duck. They aren't true ducks and can't produce fertile offspring with other ducks - just mules. The French do this on purpose - Muscovy + Pekin = Moulard, a well regarded sterile meat hybrid.

- Ant Farm

 

[neopolitancrazy]

Hmm, is LF chickens like great danes, high protein fast growth bad?...

Not sure about all large fowl, but I have also heard of a strain of White Dorkings that had facial abnormalities when fed high protein.

IMHO, 20% protein is more than adequate but it needs to be high quality (meat based) protein.

I am glad that Purina reformulated Flockraiser to include 0.5% methionine, which is the most commonly deficient animal-based essential amino acid. Plus, it is now cheaper than the 30% gamechick starter I was using. I may keep the breeders and brooder chicks on the 30%, or just switch the entire flock to a single formula, (for my convenience.) I am ambivalent on this. The breeding adults certainly maintained their condition well on the 30%, and I do like "pretty" chickens.

I currently have 3 mobile hoop coops in the pasture, for growing out larger chicks. I really like them, and hope to get my husband to build 3 more. In addition to getting the chickens more live food, it saves me having to clean their pen or raise live greens/bugs for them.

 

[draye]

I found the pic and recipe here:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/muscovy-duck-breasts-with-pomegranate-wine-sauce-231292

And for anyone else curious:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/669058/muscovy-ducks-tastes-like-roast-beef

It says:


The only reason they're not more popular is because they're ugly.

And mean. They are meaner than my 4'10" reddish blonde ( slowly growing gray) ( she'll turn 59 this coming May) headed wife.

Just kidding my wife is much meaner. Haha.

 

[gjensen]

Hmm, is LF chickens like great danes, high protein fast growth bad?
My w giants and r sussex have not been on grower feed since my hawk episode now that they are with the rest of the adult flock. The giants are still growing great, getting quite big now. I was kinda regretting not having them separate and on a higher protein feed. Maybe they don't need it?

It can be, but not necessarily. There are more than a single factor that decides. One breed that is prone to leg problems when even fed moderately hot feed is growing Malay. There is no advantage to pushing many of the related breeds. It really is a matter of knowing what you have.

There are breed appropriate gains. There is an ideal concerning their ration, but it is up to you to sort that out. Most of the time, we have access to a good feed that we can supplement, and get what we want.

We tend to have a love affair with % CP as if it all defining. Really, it says very little. We have a tendency to think more is better. I guess the simplicity of the concept is appealing, but there is no merit attached. More is not better just because it is more. LOL. The ration is a sum of it's parts.

I say some of this to include that the balance matters concerning the problems that some people see. It is not always %CP.

 

[gjensen]

Not sure about all large fowl, but I have also heard of a strain of White Dorkings that had facial abnormalities when fed high protein.



I am glad that Purina reformulated Flockraiser to include 0.5% methionine, which is the most commonly deficient animal-based essential amino acid. Plus, it is now cheaper than the 30% gamechick starter I was using. I may keep the breeders and brooder chicks on the 30%, or just switch the entire flock to a single formula, (for my convenience.) I am ambivalent on this. The breeding adults certainly maintained their condition well on the 30%, and I do like "pretty" chickens.

I currently have 3 mobile hoop coops in the pasture, for growing out larger chicks. I really like them, and hope to get my husband to build 3 more. In addition to getting the chickens more live food, it saves me having to clean their pen or raise live greens/bugs for them.

I tend to feed a 24% game bird starter up to 8wks for the pullets, and 12-14wks for the cockerels. Thereafter they are fed a 20% ration, and free ranged. I am not beyond throwing the pullets some soaked oats or plain grain while they are growing out. Once they have reached the peak of their growth curve, they are not using as much. The rest becomes waste.

I find a little extra fat or oil goes a long ways for the general condition if they are ranged on greens.

I do not feed the Catalanas the 24% feed at all, and run 20% throughout. They are so quick to develop that I would rather them take jut a little longer.

I say all of this with the right to change my mind. There has been some changes in the availability of feed here of late.

 

[Beer can]

gjensen, dang, you remind me of yoda. I can get high protein feed if I add our condensed whey, just don't know what it is.%.....I add ground up whole blue gills also, dang kids catch them by the.....how ever many i want to feed them.