Meat ducks

[DrumstickRanchTex]

At what age can Golden 300 drakes be butchered for the table?
Thanks

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Well, Metzer gives them away if you buy a large amount of the hens because they just aren't economical enough for most growers.

The only thing I do know, aside from it being a young butchering age... is that it is at VERY specific points when it should be done in order to avoid certain times when there will be lots of pin feathers making it almost impossible to pluck the bird. They might have some info on their site as it has been VERY useful to me, www.metzerfarms.com I think.

Good luck, hope they are tasty!

 

[DrumstickRanchTex]

Thankyou so much for your response. I really appreciate it. Happy holidays!!

 

[lomine]

I haven’t done my Cayuga drakes yet but I read you should do it at 7, 12.5, or 18 weeks. I’m going for 18 weeks.

 

[Hamaarahof]

I haven’t done my Cayuga drakes yet but I read you should do it at 7, 12.5, or 18 weeks. I’m going for 18 weeks.

Do Cayugas have enough meat to warrant the work? We like them as an ornamental bird,
just have not thought of them as meat ducks. I know the carcass is less appealing than
the other breeds. But good to get feedback if you have used them that way;00

 

[Welshies]

Do Cayugas have enough meat to warrant the work? We like them as an ornamental bird,
just have not thought of them as meat ducks. I know the carcass is less appealing than
the other breeds. But good to get feedback if you have used them that way;00

I had cayuga crosses (Cayuga x Rouen) butchered at 16 weeks.

 

[Hamaarahof]

Ah that would explain a bigger size, Thanks!

 

[lomine]

Do Cayugas have enough meat to warrant the work? We like them as an ornamental bird,
just have not thought of them as meat ducks. I know the carcass is less appealing than
the other breeds. But good to get feedback if you have used them that way;00

I plan to butcher on Sunday. I can post a picture if you like.

 

[Welshies]

Personally, I find slow-grown versus broiler birds actually taste far better than true broilers.

 

[Welshies]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ion-thread-ducks-geese-and-muscovies.1097752/