Breeding Moulards

[protodon]

When breeding for Moulards can either sex of either species be used to produce this cross? And what percentage of the eggs will actually be fertile?

 

[1lpoock]

Moulards?

 

[duckyfromoz]

Muscovy crossed with a pekin from what I know... Bred for meat.

 

[1lpoock]

Okay after searching it looks like most people use a muscovy male and a pekin female....how I'm not sure on the fertility rate, I dont think many of us on BYC have experience with this?

 

[chickboss]

This is taken from "Storey's Guide To Raising Ducks" and I want some gold stars for typing it (

JK)

"Commercially, Muscovy drakes are crossed on Pekin, Rouen, or other large ducks. Eggs hatch in 4 weeks, and males and females are a similar size at butchering age. The hybrid females usually lay small eggs that do not hatch.
The reciprocal cross of Mallard-derivative drake x Muscovy female produces offspring that take 5 weeks to hatch and have considerable size difference between the sexes, as well as unproductive females.
For the best fertility, use Muscovy drakes that have not been with Muscovy females since the age of 8 to12 weeks, with one Muscovy drake for every five to eight ducks. In general, fertility for this cross runs at 40 to 60 percent when eggs are candled on the 7th day of incubation. Some commercial producers use artificial insemination."

You will have to post how it goes.

Ha, Ha, I didn't look at the screen once!

 

[protodon]

Wow thanks chickboss! Concise and right to the point. Maybe I need to buy that Guide. I was hoping I could use a female muscovy on a pekin mallard since after processing I ended up with 2 pekin drakes and 1 female rather than the other way around. I already have too many drakes as it is. Looks like I have to get another one now.

 

[Srbenda]

Wow thanks chickboss! Concise and right to the point. Maybe I need to buy that Guide. I was hoping I could use a female muscovy on a pekin mallard since after processing I ended up with 2 pekin drakes and 1 female rather than the other way around. I already have too many drakes as it is. Looks like I have to get another one now.

Any news on how this turned out?

 

[Lute]

You can still get decent to eat ducks out of a Pekin Male/Scovy Female. The drakes will all be sterile and the hens won't lay eggs.

http://www.metzerfarms.com/MuleDucks.cfm

 

[AquaEyes]

You can still get decent to eat ducks out of a Pekin Male/Scovy Female. The drakes will all be sterile and the hens won't lay eggs.

http://www.metzerfarms.com/MuleDucks.cfm

Your link says otherwise about the females from that cross laying eggs.

 

[Lute]

D'oh! I get them turned around.