Goose/Duck question about what to feed before butchering

[DawnB]

Are ducks/geese like cattle? Do you finish them on a little extra grain before butchering? How much does what they eat overall affect the taste of the meat?

Just trying to get a little ahead of the game...


Thanks,
Dawn

 

[redsoxs]

I have heard on BYC that some folks finish their meat birds on corn. Not sure if it was a taste thing or a fattening them up thing....if the birds are Cornish X they are usually fat enough already!

 

[Mingming]

I was thinking of doing the same thing (with chickens, though). But then they're going to be about 70% organic when I'm done with them, and all I'm sure I can find is GMO-corn, so I'm thinking I'll just stick to organic scratch (which I ferment). But here's another article about this, too!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/221903/finishing-meat-birds

Let us know what you decide to do!

 

[jdywntr]

You can finish them for 2-3 weeks on free choice grain or finishing pellets. If you do this, it is recommended that you restrict free range birds to a yard, 10-25 sq ft per duck. It will fatten them up.