How old should ducks be to cull males????

[digger MN]

I have 12 mallards and want to cull males as so as I can. That is too many ducks for us here. I think I only have 5 to do. Thanks for any help. First time with ducks.

 

[indymom]

I would think you could do it any time you'd like. However if you mean butcher when you use the word cull, that is a different story. When we had ducks many yrs ago we would try a "test" duck after it got the curl in its tail feathers. If it was very pinny we'd wait a couple of weeks and try another. When their feathers were mature (not so many pin feathers), we would "cull" the rest.
Hope this helps

 

[DuckLover9138]

If you are going to kill them, you can always let them fly away if you don't want that many ducks.

 

[digger MN]

Yes I guess I meant butchering them. My just as well get food out of my work. Thank you

 

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

Quote:
Thats illegal in some states you have to be careful. And if you let them fly away something will easily pick them off.
Read this, about half way though it should explain why you shouldent do that http://www.duckrescuenetwork.org/duck_care.html

 

[FenDruadin]

A test run is a good idea if you're going to try to pluck them--butchering age is tricky in ducks because there is such a short period between molts that you often end up with lots of pin feathers. I believe 5 to 7 weeks is considered one good butchering time, but I've not done it myself so I'm not positive. Holderread's book has a section on this that is quite good, and worth checking out. Sorry I'm not more help. I have no problem with butchering, but I don't like to do it (just squeamish--I do eat meat, so I don't think there's anything wrong with butchering--may as well make use of what you've got) and I have good luck finding homes for my extras, so I haven't needed to do it. Good luck, anyhow. Hope you're able to find the info you need.

 

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

I think its a good idea to eat the extra males.

 

[DuckLover9138]

I don't mean to be rude at all and you are allowed to do anything with your mallards. You probably took care of them for months or years and know what you are doing so it can't really go wrong. I know the law doesn't charge you if your mallards willingly leave your farm or backyard as you are not mandated to cage them. Yes, they might be tasty, but you can get a wild mallard (farm raised) at a supermarket for $11.25 per duck. We probably waste $11.25 on cable every week for 50+ weeks every year. Just think about letting them fly away as a donation to your local area the wild. I mean, do you really want to butcher your own ducks? Its possible, but doesn't really settle the cost benefit equation. If they are mallards, there is no possible way that you will be held responsible if they choose to fly away on their own free will. They are voting with their feet and we cherish our right to move if the circumstances change.

I found the website advice are questionable as best. I know its attractive to throw the rescue label and every word turns true, but the website's underling logic is confusing at best. They prefer 100% fatality by steel instead of possible survival in the wild. If they are domestic ducks, this might be true and an attractive idea possibly, but they are wild mallards. They have learned to trust you and do not see you as a predator or themselves as food. If they didn't trust you, they would have flew away. They might have even imprinted on you. My ducks can fly (learned today) and they allowed me to pet them (they usually don't allow it and they run away from strangers). I think it would be the cruelest of ironies to be slaughter and butchered by someone that the mallards knew for all of their lives. I won't make your decisions, but I hope I was able to stimulate the topic a bit for you. There is a chance that a wild animal can get them, but it is vastly overstated by propaganda groups. The resident population of any Mallards, Canadian Geese, etc are the testament to their ability to survive in the wild if they are genetically a wild species. In some warm places in the South, even Pekins can surive in the wild! There is a Youtube video of it.

Ultimately, it is your choice. I wouldn't do it, but everyone lives under different circumstances.

 

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

Quote:
I'm sure the law wouldent mind if they flew away on there own but you said "you can let them fly away" I don't see them leaving if your keeping female mallards on the property and your feeding them etc. There not jut going to ditch the females

 

[DuckLover9138]

Quote:
I'm sure the law wouldent mind if they flew away on there own but you said "you can let them fly away" I don't see them leaving if your keeping female mallards on the property and your feeding them etc. There not jut going to ditch the females

Hi, I think you have a great idea! If you keep the males and females separate long enough, their hormones will tell them to find their mates. They will fly away naturally.

Edit: Unless your state law states it is specifically illegal to release Mallards (like in FL), it is legal to release them. Hunter organizations raise thousands if not hundreds of thousands of Mallards per year and release them into wide ranges. If anyone is going to be charged under animal abandonment laws, it would be them. Salmon ranchers who release millions of baby salmons would also be charged with animal abandon laws since they are throwing them out into the Ocean. Dumping domestically raised fish into the Ocean.