Muscovy Feed to Gain Ratio

[Fordfunnyfarm]

I'm having a hard time finding details on raising Muscovy for meat. I added a few to our flock and I am looking to offering them processed as well.
What age do you normally process at?
What are your average Carcass/lives weight at process? Bonus points if you know weight differences in hens/drakes.
Feed to gain ratio?

 

[iwltfum]

I feed the ducklings wild game starter for the first 4 weeks. (protein around 20-22%) Then switch to a grower feed. (pellets if possible, protein 18-20%). There are several common strains of muscovy, but the ones I raise have a feed conversion rate of 2.7. This means that you should get about 27 lbs of feed into a 10 lb drake. By 10-12 weeks the males should weigh around 10-12 lbs. The females reach about 6-7 lbs in same time. Best time weve found to harvest is in 10-12 weeks, since that's when they peak in feed conversion efficiency. As far as I know, there are no weekly weight gain numbers or weekly feed consumption information about them like there is with broilers and I havent kept that info either. Duck industry generally just goes by the unit (ie per duck) Hope this helps!

 

[Fordfunnyfarm]

I feed the ducklings wild game starter for the first 4 weeks. (protein around 20-22%) Then switch to a grower feed. (pellets if possible, protein 18-20%). There are several common strains of muscovy, but the ones I raise have a feed conversion rate of 2.7. This means that you should get about 27 lbs of feed into a 10 lb drake. By 10-12 weeks the males should weigh around 10-12 lbs. The females reach about 6-7 lbs in same time. Best time weve found to harvest is in 10-12 weeks, since that's when they peak in feed conversion efficiency. As far as I know, there are no weekly weight gain numbers or weekly feed consumption information about them like there is with broilers and I havent kept that info either. Duck industry generally just goes by the unit (ie per duck) Hope this helps!

Thank you this does help!

 

[davidsmith653]

The feed conversion ratios did not vary significantly between the Pekin and Kunshan, however, the Muscovy ducks were more efficient in converting feed to live weight gain. There were no major differences among breeds or between sexes within breeds in most carcass traits, the exception being body fat which was lowest in the Muscovy. The mortality for Muscovy ducks was zero with the Pekin and Kunshan breeds recording a similar mortality rate of 4%.

 

[iwltfum]

The feed conversion ratios did not vary significantly between the Pekin and Kunshan, however, the Muscovy ducks were more efficient in converting feed to live weight gain. There were no major differences among breeds or between sexes within breeds in most carcass traits, the exception being body fat which was lowest in the Muscovy. The mortality for Muscovy ducks was zero with the Pekin and Kunshan breeds recording a similar mortality rate of 4%.

You really see no major size difference between sexes? My muscovy drakes are nearly twice as heavy as the.females across the board.

 

[Fordfunnyfarm]

You really see no major size difference between sexes? My muscovy drakes are nearly twice as heavy as the.females across the board.

Agreed. My two males are 18lbs each and my females are like 8-10lbs.