Mallards for Dinner (Warning Graphic Pics)

[bufforp89]

good job! I wish I had the guts to do ducks....they seem so much harder to pluck then chickens...and I didnt think the pics were graphic

Iv seen much worse on the side of the road...

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

To the OP, don't worry about the other comments. Some people have pet birds others like you and me raise them for a purpose. It may come to a quite a shock to some but alot of people raise them as farm animals for a purpose. That purpose is food. If they don't like it the grocery stores are full to the brim of meat raised in conditions that will make a strong person puke. I know, I have been inside a comercial chicken, turkey and pig house house. That's why I raise and eat my own..... just my 2 cents.

Steve

 

[purr]

My ducks and chickens all sleep in the coop. I just don't keep water in the coop and that way there is no messes to worry about. Everyone free-ranges during the day. sometimes they hang together sometimes they don't.But my ducks are much more aware and have called the hawk alarm and thereby saving my flock on more than one occasion

As far as the duck eggs, I wouldn't bake without them.They make all of my baked goods richer and they rise higher.I have 3 females and they more than keep
us in eggs and I bake all the time.I have 2 males that are rouens and the females are pekin/mallard mixes.

As I cook a turkey for the family on thanksgiving I am seriously considering raising some for next year. But my dh doesn't like killing anything so I have to talk to my dad about doing the deed becuase I'm not as brave as Drk Wlf

If your going to eat the ducks. Go to foodnetwork.com and look at their recipes cause ducks are very greasy. But cooked right my daughter tells me they are delicious. I am a pescatarian (no meat just fish). Just never liked meat and now I'm too old for my mother to make me eat it.

 

[desertdarlene]

Those photos weren't that bad, though it was sad to see their feet sticking up like that and tied to a fence in my eyes. I am considering that I might raise some ducks or chickens for meat one of these days (especially "spare" drakes and roosters), but don't have the guts to slaughter them (and may be too attached to them, especially if I raise them from babies). Are there places you can take your animals to be slaughtered for you? Is it expensive to pay someone else to process them?

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
It does rot to see but it is life-it is very sad when you have to butcher chickens or ducks or any living creature for that matter especially if you have raised from hatchlings-I never thought I could do it-ever! But a couple years later and alot of roos under my belt and just did 24 turkeys Sat-you sort of look at your livestcok differently. Just like the folks who butcher their old laying hens-I just cannot and will not do it-IMO ONLY folks those girls have given me alot of beautiful gifts for so long -they have become pets to me. They can live out their lives in retirement not having to be my dinner

. The extra roos go for food-my family will NOT eat them-so I cook them down and use the stock for cooking the meat I make a huge rice veggie recycled meat meal for my chickens in Winter on those freezing mornings-high protein warmer upper You can advertise on CL for free so someone else can butcher them and do the deed for themselves-I do know of traveling butchering units-they charge anywhere from 1.75-3.50 per bird and return them to you all clean processed and vacuum sealed...You can call your local TSC or feed store and give roosters to-I know alot of people who do that and they sell them to people! I just dont have ANYTHING like what I mentioned above near me so I have to do it or else I would have had 30+ roosters heading into winter! I cannot take on anymore male ducks ,so as much as I want to hatch some Im going to buy females instead and save me the heartache of wondering what the heck I will do with extra duck boys..

 

[desertdarlene]

Thanks! I was wondering that for when I start up my duck flock (I don't know when or where that will happen, but I am planning). I plan to start out with all girls because I figure that it's easy to pick up a boy somewhere nearby, later. But, if I decide to breed, then I may have to make that decision. And I kinda like the idea of raising my own food.

 

[emjay]

I agree, I didn't find the pictures over the top graphic. I guess I'd rather not see them in 'that way' (upside down so to speak). My ducks are my pets and egg providers and I adore them. It's sad to see the other buggers in that predicament. And I do realize many meet it.
I hope I didn't offend you, was just giving two cents on a subject that is always going to be a touchy one in some way or another. I wish I could process my own chickens for eating, but, as a young child having to help butcher, I've now not got the stomach for it . My birds will be brought to a processing place I'm afraid, better for me, but , maybe not as pleasant for the birds. The stress of that. I think it's better to process at home, minimal stress for the most part, when done quickly , humanely and efficiently. So, kudos to all who can do it themselves.

oh.......I just went back to an earlier page. apparently I did offend you. I did say I am glad people are being more sufficient. I'm not offended by you eating your mallards. And I'm not daft, I read the title, Mallards for Dinner. I figured it was about eating them , as people often are comparing the greasiness of one breed etc to another breed. It was either a topic of eating them........ or them coming into your house for dinner. Some people do let their pets in the house........I know this to be true.......as I've seen pictures in this forum of all kinds of birds and other things in the household.

and I agree with you 100 % the commercial industry is not a pleasant one, and like I said, I'm glad people are being self sufficient, this means animals that are being eaten by many, have been loved, cared for, lived in the sunlight and had a non stressful end.
I am not a vegetarian, but, do not eat factory raised anything. I buy local meats .
and like the saying goes, a happy chicken is a tasty chicken !!! which is very true.

I hope you enjoy your mallard dinners. with lots of gravy.

 

[Drk_Wlf]

Quote:
There are very few poultry slaughter houses, find a farmer and ask if u can watch its not that bad.

 

[cheri222]

I live in an area with a lot of deer hunters. You see many deer hanging from trees in front yards so a couple of birds doesn't shock me. Bloody deer hanging out of the back of trucks and even tied into car trunks. I couldn't do the deed (also don't like duck meat) but enjoy! I do love venison and even have several trees but sadly no hunters in the family.

 

[Ema]

I find nothing wrong with those pics, if I liked duck I would say they look yummy enough to eat, unfortunately I have never ever liked the taste of duck, and it sure don't matter which way it is prepared, yet my family loves it!!

as of now I have a flock of chickens, they are my egg producers for now, in a couple years they will go to freezer camp where they will make great crockpot stews or roasts. I think raising your own meat is a very responsible thing. Which is exactly what we plan on doing too, good for you for having the ability to process your own meat.