Has getting to know your ducks changed your mind about the freezer?

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I agree with this statement.

When I first started with ducks, I had no intention to process but after the years progressed and the flock grew 10 fold, I had no choice . I know part of that is my fault because I didn't pick their eggs. I allowed the girls to set and hatch ducklings. Ducklings are sooooooo cute! But those ducklings grow up to be adults and most of those adults were a terror to the girls as toadbriar has explained. So, with that in mind and because my girls hatched over 100 ducklings, I had no choice but to send some to freezer camp. It would have been impossible for me to keep and feed all of them in addition to the other animals that I have.

Next year, my plan is to become more responsible and either not let any of the girls hatch babies or only allow them to hatch 1 or 2. No more! It's too much of a headache and I don't want to send any to freezer camp anymore.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I am very fond of my ducks. I spend a lot of time with them. I have no trouble at all eating them. Not even plucking and processing. Once they are dead, they are simply table meat.

I know they've been raised with respect and had a good life and an easy death.

If you want a bird to start with, raise some Cornish cross chickens. They must be killed, or they will soon die an uncomfortable death. So slaughter is not optional. You must do it. That makes it easier to do because you must be fully committed before they even arrive.

With some experience with butchering and eating home raised birds, you can graduate to ducks.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I can do the plucking but I can't "do the deed". I have trouble with that.

Someone else has to come over to do it and I have to walk away or go inside. Still makes me sad.

I'm a whimp.

I was given a surprise gift of a few Cornish chickens years ago and I wasn't able to process them. They lived until the passed on. If I could get over the doing the deed part, then I would be ok. Any suggestions?

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Well, I went from having 4 Muscovies 70 since July...and now I AM thinking I need to process some of these drakes(nice and heavy), but I had a hard time just putting an ad up on the wall at the feed store to sell them..so I don't know anymore...

 

[al6517]

In the BYC yes they all get way too attached and have a huge problem with the next stage.................. perhaps you should think of a business that doesn't require you to ................ well you know. I think if a person starts out with a plan as easy as yours was that you should stick to your gun's, now that you find yourself incapable of doing the deed where will you go from here ??.

I think it's really pretty simple if a person such as your self thinks there may be a market for fresh duck meat in your area, before you even think a second thought find one, buy it, take it home, and butcher it right off. If this is a difficult task then choose another line of work.................... easy peezy. If you cannot !! then resign yourself to having several bazillion ducks with cute names that cost you a fortune to feed and you have no use for other than to sing to them over your morning coffee.

 

[Kelsey2017]

I am going to have to face that fact too. We didn't buy ducks to eat but we have been establishing our farm and ducks fit very well into a sustainable and enjoyable lifestyle. My ducks were not hand-raised ( I got them as adults from a farm where the ducks were overrunning), so they are not very tame. They are friendly, free range for most of their diet and entertain us immensely! They are also good parents and seem to be wired to do it well.

I do imagine I will be able to dispatch them (well their offspring) when the need arises. What actually worries me about the process is that because they are not tame enough to catch that they will be frightened when we handle them. I have not butchered a duck before. Only chickens, deer and grouse. That few last moments before I kill them is hard on me if I think they are scared. I also never process if I am emotional or hormonal. That helps as a mother, I love my animals and care for them everyday. I treat them all the same if not better when I know that their short life should be lived well if not long. That puts the health in our food. That is good energy from the place you call home and it will nourish the whole spirit of your family. Don't tease me because I am sensitive. I RAISE animals and eat them because I am sensitive. I think it's a wonderful thing to have qualms about killing and eating meat. If more people had qualms, more people would raise their own and get to enjoy them, too! If I find I can't (dispatch), the extra ducks could go be someone else's pets; that's how I got mine.

 

[DB_Tex]

Quote:
I'm not really pushing the duck meat market, but I have a big family and I'd love to have roasters in the freezer for my families consumption any old time. I wouldn't try too hard to sell meat this side of the Valley. We have a lot of people that want healthy, farm fresh ingredients, but at the same time these yuppy consumers are generally squeamish enough that they don't think meat is "safe" unless it's commercial. So, market for duck eggs for allergies, cancer patients and chefs-yes, meat--iffy. I would have a better time selling live birds for meat purposes-- but no profit in that unless I'm breeding and my ducklings are free.

I'm hoping my attitude will pan out to be more like oregonblues in actuality. I'm the kind of person that doesn't make a big deal at funerals because I believe when a person has passed the body isn't "them". I'll cry over my dog being sick, or hurt, but I won't be upset one whit after they've passed or I've had to put them down.

Yeesh, I just want to raise healthy food. Maybe we should set up a swap network with other families so neither home is eating a bird they named! LOL!!

 

[Kelsey2017]

Don't laugh thats how some of got used to the idea. We would switch birds, works like a charm.

 

[sourland]

Don't name them.

Realistically, I started life on a farm and grew up in a rural environment. GENERALLY animals were regarded as a source of food and as such were treated with kindness and respect - never losing sight of their purpose. Upon occassion due to circumstances an animal became regarded as a 'pet'. Pets were named and were not regarded as part of the food chain. You can have it both ways.

 

[mominoz]

I am the same way, if I were wealthy, I'd just breed for preservation. I am going to try and "Wo-Man UP" and do some dispatching all at once. I believe I have a Goose(gander) who was friendly as a baby, but like some raised in small flocks, has gotten aggressive, he hisses and will try and nip at feeding and breeding time, now he and his mate are biting at the ducks when they are near their "old house" (I moved them). So I am starting to think "Christmas Goose" I also have 9 Saxonys from Holderreads and they are very nice ducks, but I do like duck. It's trying to find the least tramatic way. I am thinking of sewing a "hood" for the butchering process, and am researching a way to stun them first.(wondering if a high voltage stun gun to the head would do it) They electrocute chickens before bleeding them and large animals. I would think knocking out, before butchering would be kindest, as the brain can process for a minute or more after....