Butchering excess drakes

[Parront]

Holy Crap, I had to thin a few for a buddy and what a PITA they are. Peking Ducks. They go on vacation and before I get the text "Will you do me a favor" and it was get rid of all the drakes.

They are a lot tougher than I remembered. Those peking drakes necks were thicker and tougher than a full grown Canada Goose. I am not going to recommend a small woman that doesn't know how to do it try windmilling one. It definitely took some force to finish one. I could see it not working if you weren't forceful enough.

On plucking, that was a PITA also!! Back feather didn't want to come out and you have to be deliberately forceful plucking. Scalding did work either because they are waterproof. 30 seconds on 150° water doesn't loosen the feather as with chickens.

Lets just say, I would never raise ducks for meat after this.

With ducks, it is very important -- essential -- to process them at the right time. Pekin = 8 weeks, right after the first feathers are in fully. And you have to put some dish soap in the scalding water to get through the oil that makes them so waterproof. They are a gourmet item at that age, to me, and worth the extra work.

 

[Mosey2003]

That's exactly why I said to breast em, @archeryrob - they're miserable!

 

[archeryrob]

Yea, one drake got away from the first go around and my buddy said take him out. He was humping the Pekings, Khaki's and the mallards while I was there. I finished him and breasted and legged him. So much easier.

 

[Parront]

Yea, one drake got away from the first go around and my buddy said take him out. He was humping the Pekings, Khaki's and the mallards while I was there. I finished him and breasted and legged him. So much easier.

Especially for an older bird, which will be tougher, just the breast and legg is all most people will eat. There are some nice ways to cook boneless, skinless duck breast meat. Must order some ducks now!

 

[Tbird84]

Thank you all for your experience and advice on this poster's thread. I have a good few drakes to process through shortly. We will try at the couple of different recommended times to see what works best for future processing.

 

[Parront]

Thank you all for your experience and advice on this poster's thread. I have a good few drakes to process through shortly. We will try at the couple of different recommended times to see what works best for future processing.

Feel them for pin feathers. If you feel pins, wait!

 

[Tbird84]

So I've heard! I have two geese to do as well! That's going to be fun, but so yummy!

 

[Parront]

So I've heard! I have two geese to do as well! That's going to be fun, but so yummy!

I had an assistant when I did my geese. He got one for his help, we were both happy! Goose is a real treat for Christmas in my family, Grandparents from Germany.

 

[Bookworm0124]

I'm doing a 10 week old Drake on Monday. He's a Welsh Harlequin so not huge, but not needed in my breeding program. I have three others from a breeder I am letting grow out to maturity to see which I am keeping. They'll be bigger but no Pekin.