how old should my ducks be?

[secretquail]

I'm incubating 17 appleyard ducks. I plan on keeping a few, and processing the rest. What is the ideal age to process the ducks? These are large meat ducks.

 

[rinmpit]

i used to have ducks, very easy to keep alive as chicks. ducks are usualy full grown around 3 to 4 months, so id butcher them at 4 months right when there nice and plump

 

[rinmpit]

plus ull know when there full grown

 

[Rod W]

What's the trick to plucking your ducks?? I've done plenty of wild ducks but no large, tame ducks!! Thank You, ROD

 

[Rod W]

What's the trick to plucking your ducks?? I've done plenty of wild ducks but no large, tame ducks!! Thank You, ROD

 

[jodief100]

I have no personal experience with ducks but Kentucky State has a processing facility that you can process birds yourself for resale. The man who runs it told me that under 8 weeks (I think) and they are easy to process. Over 8 weeks and it is much more difficult. Considering he has to schedule everyone he keeps good track of how long things take.

I am going off memory of a conversation 3 months ago. I can email to confirm if you wish.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

7 weeks - 12 weeks or 18 weeks if plucking. Older or when molting it is easier to skin them. I process my Muscovy males at 12 weeks and females at 17 weeks and I skin them. I may try plucking but I really don't like plucking anything around here. Stinky.

Check out Metzerfarms.com processing waterfowl section for more information about it.

 

[Rod W]

Buttercup, Thanks for the info on Metzer Farms, quite informative!!! ROD