Mallards for Dinner (Warning Graphic Pics)

[sonew123]

Hello from 45 minutes away!

cant help much on this thread because I have 6 ducks I could never eat-I love them but messy is a nice term for them-they are housed with chickens in Winter-DH is making a seperate indoor pen for them so I dont have to clean majorly everyday! Just them

 

[Drk_Wlf]

Quote:
My husband's family had own ducks all his life, but they where kept free-range on their pond. They would start out with 25 and come winter after being prayed on all summer by various predators they would only be left with a hand full and then by next spring they would be left with none and start the whole process over agian. I never wanted ducks I knew they where messy, but my husband wanted ducks. So this spring when we went to get more chickens he decided that ducks would be fun as well. I wanted Khaki Campbells or Runners for eggs, but all they had where Pekins and Mallards.

We plan on getting more ducks in the future, because unlike me my husband thinks they are a blast (of course he doesn’t have to clean them). Hopefully next year we will be able to build a nice big fenced in pond on my family’s property, so if we get more they don't have to live with my chickens. Plus, if we have a big space to keep them I will be able to keep more therefore allowing me to bulk order them and get the breeds I want instead of having to rely on Tractor Supply.

My main gripe with my ducks now is that I wanted them for eggs and having 2 drake pekins, 1 drake mallard and only 3 female mallards, it is not worth the upkeep. I could just eat the Pekins but then the Mallards would probably fly off because I never bothered to clip their wings and I like watching them fly laps around the backyard.... and nearly run into my husbands head!

 

[Drk_Wlf]

Quote:
That is what we plan on doing if we get ducks again! My chickens really don't like them even though they free-range with them everyday, they just don't like them in their space. The girls have been there longer so they get to call the shots, they tell me when they are not happy by with holding eggs. So I must bown down to their demands if I want breakfast

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
That is what we plan on doing if we get ducks again! My chickens really don't like them even though they free-range with them everyday, they just don't like them in their space. The girls have been there longer so they get to call the shots, they tell me when they are not happy by with holding eggs. So I must bown down to their demands if I want breakfast

Are you coming to my festival Oct 3rd? huge BYC get together-you can try and sell your ducks there before winter-probably going to be about 100 people with LOTS of birds being sold!!!

 

[Drk_Wlf]

Quote:
I certainly will try! I don't plan on selling the duckies I am pretty set on having them for Thanksgiving!

 

[Drk_Wlf]

So I started with the pekins

I was going to pardon the mallard.... but I changed my mind!

Slaughtering them was easy, it was de-feathering them that was a pain.... Never again! I ended up skinning 3 of them, which is pretty good considering I had no idea what I was doing. They turned out pretty good. I am cooking two of the skinned mallards tomorrow for dinner and one of the pekins for thanksgiving, the pekin that kept its skin is going to a friend and the other 2 mallards will be dinner another day.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
Dang girl!!!

your brave I couldn't do that to my ducks-I have 3 call drakes

they chase the two runner girls around and accomplish nothing! Im getting them girls next Spring and they WILL have their own pen. DH never did build me the indoor duck pen but thats ok I did get 4 gorgeous chicken breeder pens the ducks sleep with the chickens in the big coop-you saw it when you were here? The big garage?? Anyhooo My runners have given me each an egg everyday for 6 months straight-I dont think they ever missed a day!!!

 

[dieselgrl48]

Sorry your mallard's didn't work out for you.I sold All of mine off but only due to possible move.I got this last run from TSC spring.+ 2 drakes my brother gave me last Nov.I had gotten 6 pekin's too I have had both before with no issue's.I had mallards and calls they would just fly around a bit but never went off.I didn't have any problem's at all with the newbie's getting them trained to go back to horse stall at night and the 2 drakes did stay out on our small pond all winter but after We got the newbie's and they started coming out they slept in there too.I suppose they can be eaten just like any other duck.I find the term Messy when it come's to ALL duck's raising the babie's but that come's with the territory and yes they love water.I just graduated my last 2 pekin out today

.I would NEVER eat one of mine but... Yikes remind's me of The Sarah Palin Turkey Pardon a couple of year's ago.

 

[speckledhen]

I have moved this to Meat Birds where I feel it fits better. Now, no one should be surprised to see processed birds, though those were not what I'd consider graphic pictures in the least. For our newer members who commented in a negative way, please use the report button if you think anything isn't in the right place or inappropriate rather than post argumentatively.

 

[EweSheep]

When is dinner?????? They look good for dinner! I've had duck once and I am not crazy about the greaseness. My Dad told me I should have put the roast in a rack instead of sitting in the pan while it was cooking.

Next time I will try again!