BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[LindaB220]

If you decide to go forward with purchasing the Muscovy ducks please, please, please supply us with regular updates about your experience. I just started with chickens (and my husband is desperately trying to reign me in so I don't purchase more before these ten have matured), and I now want to add Muscovies to the mix. He thinks I'm a little crazy, but I've tasted their meat and they are stellar....really fantastic when prepared properly...and from what I understand their dispositions are wonderful and they're extremely quiet. Please....feed my addiction. Since my husband won't cooperate I need a good enabler.

And right there is my answer. Maybe the hens are but the Drakes, from what I've heard are hard to handle when it comes time to process. I don't have anyone to help me so I'm gonna have to pass on this. I think that I'm having to take a step back and realize that I really can't do it all. Recently I've stepped up the idea of breeding rather than processing might be my best target. My family is not on board of homegrown meat at all and will not eat what I process. Other than the eggs, of course.
Another thing I think I will forego is the caponizing. There's really no need.
Sorry DesertChic, to be such a downer today but reality does set in.

 

[hellbender]

And right there is my answer. Maybe the hens are but the Drakes, from what I've heard are hard to handle when it comes time to process. I don't have anyone to help me so I'm gonna have to pass on this. I think that I'm having to take a step back and realize that I really can't do it all. Recently I've stepped up the idea of breeding rather than processing might be my best target. My family is not on board of homegrown meat at all and will not eat what I process. Other than the eggs, of course.
Another thing I think I will forego is the caponizing. There's really no need.
Sorry DesertChic, to be such a downer today but reality does set in.

If I were you, I'd sell all the home grown eggs!

 

[RedRidge]

Boy I'm outta touch for a few months and it takes me forever to get caught up. Update from Red Ridge Farm:

Butchered a bunch of dual purpose a month or so ago. Great weights and great flavor. Will round up the stats if anyone is interested. I butchered all the cockerels except my favorite - he's going to the big show in Knoxville this weekend. ;-)

Incubators... love my octagon 20 advanced ex. I've been toying with selling it if anyone is interested. It has all the bells and whistles but I think there's a chance the turner may need a new motor after loaning it to the school to use (they are $30). I have a cabinet bator so really don't need to keep it.

Last springs pullets are laying like crazy but all the older gals are molting.

Project birds are coming along - 2 different back crosses hatched this fall.

 

[DesertChic]

Where folks get into trouble is when they try to house chickens and ducks together. Can it be done...sure but it makes life for the chickens worse than miserable and even dangerous in many cases.

Yikes! That was never even a consideration for me. Those ducks are HUGE compared to the chickens. I actually have an unused dog house that all of my dogs rejected (in favor of our house with comfy couches and beds they can dominate) that I considered using for the ducks to hang out in at night, plus building a pond for them to swim in. The ducks and chickens may interact while free-ranging my property, but they'd have their own distinct homes to retire to at the end of the day.

 

[DesertChic]

And right there is my answer. Maybe the hens are but the Drakes, from what I've heard are hard to handle when it comes time to process. I don't have anyone to help me so I'm gonna have to pass on this. I think that I'm having to take a step back and realize that I really can't do it all. Recently I've stepped up the idea of breeding rather than processing might be my best target. My family is not on board of homegrown meat at all and will not eat what I process. Other than the eggs, of course.
Another thing I think I will forego is the caponizing. There's really no need.
Sorry DesertChic, to be such a downer today but reality does set in.

So...no more playing Wonder Woman? (You know there's a magic lasso involved, right?)

Seriously though, good for you for knowing where to draw the line. It's something I tend to struggle with....A LOT! My teenage son is always criticizing me for the projects I start with enormous enthusiasm, and then drag on forever as I realize just how hard it is to do everything myself. He's waiting for that to happen now with the "chicken project", and I'm pretty sure he's hoping I'll fizzle out about the time I would cull birds for meat. He's fine with collecting eggs but turns green and very quiet whenever I bring up raising birds for meat. I'm looking forward to that first chicken dinner when I get to announce to him that we're eating one of our own birds. (Yes...I'm a bit sadistic. I think that's a parental right when you have teenagers. Karma!)

 

[LindaB220]

If I were you, I'd sell all the home grown eggs!

In fact, I'm thinking of having another coop for only layers. I'm impressed with the idea of ISA Browns. They are so much better than regular sex links. 325 eggs in the first 80 weeks. Not bad. Considering that you have to wait 4 mo for them to start. I'll have no trouble selling the eggs.

 

[LindaB220]

So...no more playing Wonder Woman? (You know there's a magic lasso involved, right?)

Seriously though, good for you for knowing where to draw the line. It's something I tend to struggle with....A LOT! My teenage son is always criticizing me for the projects I start with enormous enthusiasm, and then drag on forever as I realize just how hard it is to do everything myself. He's waiting for that to happen now with the "chicken project", and I'm pretty sure he's hoping I'll fizzle out about the time I would cull birds for meat. He's fine with collecting eggs but turns green and very quiet whenever I bring up raising birds for meat. I'm looking forward to that first chicken dinner when I get to announce to him that we're eating one of our own birds. (Yes...I'm a bit sadistic. I think that's a parental right when you have teenagers. Karma!)

Yes, I lost my lasso. I've had to do the proving over and over on the chicken project. So far, I have proved that I can raise chickens, and don't fizzle out. Thanks for the description. This fits me to a tee. Next came the "You can't sell them after you raise them" Less than 12 hrs on Craigslist. Bought and picked up. Even a profit. I had someone knock on my door the next day saying" Your SIL said you were giving away chickens?" Truly pink cheeks on that one. He had no idea that they would sell. I let him talk me out of a garden this past year but this time I already have someone lined up to do the hard stuff for me. And by God, this year I'm gonna have me some peas.

DesertChic, don't tell him you are having homegrown chicken. Do it after lunch. He won't eat it otherwise.

 

[hellbender]

Yikes! That was never even a consideration for me. Those ducks are HUGE compared to the chickens. I actually have an unused dog house that all of my dogs rejected (in favor of our house with comfy couches and beds they can dominate) that I considered using for the ducks to hang out in at night, plus building a pond for them to swim in. The ducks and chickens may interact while free-ranging my property, but they'd have their own distinct homes to retire to at the end of the day.

Quite seriously, please let me know how that works out for you. If you have a drake, he will almost certainly molest the hens, likely to the point were they have to be destroyed. If I were bound and determined to have both, I would alternate free-range times. Plenty of folks get by very well with that approach.

EDIT: Keep in mind, ducks can be herded pretty well but chickens...not so much.

Good Luck!

 

[hellbender]

In fact, I'm thinking of having another coop for only layers. I'm impressed with the idea of ISA Browns. They are so much better than regular sex links. 325 eggs in the first 80 weeks. Not bad. Considering that you have to wait 4 mo for them to start. I'll have no trouble selling the eggs.

You could do a lot worse than ISA Browns! If I were going to run a 'serious egg business' instead of a glorified hobby, That is likely be primary breed that I'd work with.

 

[RedRidge]

If sexing is important why go for a sex linked variety? Why not go for an autosexed variety instead?
That's what we did and we've been thrilled with them.