Help with getting started in a small duck operation.

[ohiobranchofchickenranch]

I have recently been approached by a co-worker who is of Phillipino decent. He raves about how much his friends and relatives will pay for a "delicacy" call Balute (not sure if this is the correct spelling) apparently this is preferably a fertilized duck egg (some will eat chicken eggs also) incubated for about 14-16 days then it is boiled and eaten. Sounds really nasty but he claims that certain groups eat it as a real treat. I am wondering what breed of duck would be good layers and what facilities I would need for them. Not a huge operation maybe 25-50 ducks which would include the drakes. Thanks for the help.

 

[Sweetfolly]

Ah, Balut. I remember growing up watching "Fear Factor" - they once made the contestants eat balut.

Anywho, Khaki Campbells are good layers, and they're common enough to be easily obtained at a reasonable price. Ducks only need very simple, predator-proof pens, access to clean, fresh water (which is MUCH harder than it sounds; they are, after all, "waterfowl", masters of fouling their water!), and - of course, you're going to need incubators - the ducks aren't going to do that part of the job for you!

I'd be careful though, I'm not sure if you'd need any sort of permits or licensing to sell partially incubated eggs for eating. Being that they're partially incubated and kept at a warm temperature for so long, I'd think they'd be far more susceptible to bacteria.

 

[pringle]

Well if your just mainly looking for egg production I would just go for the good ol khaki cambell they lay nice medium sized eggs and a whole let of them I guess you will need to invest in some incubators also.

 

[CityChicker]

You would have to talk in more detail to your friend about what they need. Some people for Balut want a certain color egg shell and a certain color embryo. There is a little information about Balut on the Metzer website. That might be a good place to start as well.

 

[ohiobranchofchickenranch]

Thanks for all the information as of our last conversation my friend didn't say anything about a specific color egg or embryo but perhaps that would be something that we would have to pay more attention to if our customers were specific about that kind of stuff. So I have a brand new sportsman 1502 incubator all I need to do is obtain some breeding stock of khaki cambells I was considering having half my flock of ducks khaki cambells and have runners of assorted color they are supposed to lay well too or so I have read in the hatchery catalogs.

Will khaki cambells fly or will I have to clip certain feathers or put a roof of some kind over their run area I'm a little clueless or over protective I guess. Also have any of you found that a small kids swimming pool is good to use for them them or more hassle than it's worth since they mess their water up so much?

Thanks Again

 

[pringle]

Khaki cambells can fly so if your not going to have a roof over the run make sure to clip the feathers on one of there wings.Also I think if you offer your ducks an area to swim in atleast once every 2-4 days they will be happier birds and there plumage wont be dirty.