Muscovy!!

[Going Quackers]

It would seem that theres a problem with the main stream food supply as whole in the world. I saw something in the news today about horse meat labeled beef in england. As a chef I am interested in knowing where my animals come from. So my first babies come next wednesday I am soo super excited as I am an animal lover and have always liked animals but they are for the duel purpose of eggs and meat and fat and livers and mmmmmmm..... sorrry my fear is in the slaughtering as you are saying they are charming little buggers.

Oh i think you just made me ill.

(re; horse meat) i don't want to twist the topic of the thread but so against horse meat. Anyways, they are charming(ducks) mind you if you go in with A certain purpose i am sure you will manage just fine, i think most do keep some otherwise how would you get anymore? and then butcher extras/drakes.

We again only went into them with the intent for eggs and pest control that was actually the main one as they are well documented for that and commonly used on horse farms.

 

[Going Quackers]

Agreed. When I first got the ducklings I had no idea how much they would grow on me, it's very surprising...

Yes, funny little critters...

 

[Shellz]

I love the hens of the breed. They are just so beautiful & graceful! I loved watching them fly out of the duck house in the mornings. They always stayed on the property. Bribing helps!

 

[Going Quackers]

My very first slaughter was an aggressive Muscovy drake. He made it real easy for me. So worth it. So delicious. Best meat I ever ate! I understand Freakmonger, wanting to know where your food comes from. I am an animal lover as well & since moving to the country over 3 years ago, I see animals in a whole different way. I still love them, but I also appreciate them as food. The hens are lovely birds. Never got around to butchering a hen. If you get all drakes, should be easier to process. For whatever reason, they aren't as personable, at least to me. I ended up giving the rest away due to major landscaping work on our ponds. I can't wait to have them again! They will look fantastic on my ponds. I want to breed them to keep me in ducks for a long time!

Yes, i think many a Roo ends up that way lol My mother spoke of her granny accidentally killing a rooster when it went after her, it belonged to one of the cousins a sort of pet but granny wouldn't tolerate such nonsense and reacted promptly and accurately imo. I have little tolerance for that sort of behaviour myself.

Drakes are a funny beast, i have one who is a sweetheart the other? he's pesty but would never dare challenge me, he trips over himself to get out my way if i come near. Plus i had all those baby drakes last year, maintaining an authoritative stance is important. I learned that while working with a colt for several years, so i was easily able to transfer that over to the ducks.. i actually when we got into ducks SWORE we get rid of any drakes, i'd never own one lol a few years later.. i have owned more than i can count and still as i said maintain two.

 

[Shellz]

Isn't that funny, eh? My other drake was just fine. He'd hiss a bit, but not charge me. Hope I get one like him again for breeding. Did you see the magpie ducklings on the Easter Hatch-a-long thread? I thought muscovies would be it for me. Why, oh why did she have to post those pics? OMG! So cute - DON'T go there or you'll be wanting them too! Oh heck, I've got room & Performance has them. I'll get the minimum (4) of them next year, if they still have.

 

[Going Quackers]

Isn't that funny, eh? My other drake was just fine. He'd hiss a bit, but not charge me. Hope I get one like him again for breeding. Did you see the magpie ducklings on the Easter Hatch-a-long thread? I thought muscovies would be it for me. Why, oh why did she have to post those pics? OMG! So cute - DON'T go there or you'll be wanting them too! Oh heck, I've got room & Performance has them. I'll get the minimum (4) of them next year, if they still have.

er.. no? but with the two buffs coming and who knows what under dusty coming next month? they could be puke worthy cute and i'd still pass them up!

 

[Going Quackers]

I love the hens of the breed. They are just so beautiful & graceful! I loved watching them fly out of the duck house in the mornings. They always stayed on the property. Bribing helps!

They are quite pretty fliers, mine are all full flight, but don't leave... they just use the wings to hit up the playground or gain access to the horses trough!

 

[Shellz]

That's how you know you're taking really good care of them!
I was just thinking, maybe I should take the time & find a breeder. Or even hatching eggs? For muscovies.
I'm going to nix the idea of magpie ducks. I'm over it now. Seriously, I've gotta be practical. Too easy to get swept up in the cute factor. If I got all the cute, I'd have no room for anything else! I NEED bug & algae control. That's it. I may get a pair of geese for added flock protection, not sure yet.

 

[Going Quackers]

That's how you know you're taking really good care of them!
I was just thinking, maybe I should take the time & find a breeder. Or even hatching eggs? For muscovies.
I'm going to nix the idea of magpie ducks. I'm over it now. Seriously, I've gotta be practical. Too easy to get swept up in the cute factor. If I got all the cute, I'd have no room for anything else! I NEED bug & algae control. That's it. I may get a pair of geese for added flock protection, not sure yet.

Well, i maybe a distance but you know i always have some(hatching eggs) and seems i am always going to have a few hatch lings each year with the determined ladies i have.

 

[Shellz]

Well, i maybe a distance but you know i always have some(hatching eggs) and seems i am always going to have a few hatch lings each year with the determined ladies i have.

Would you be able to ship eggs to me someday? I'm hoping work will be done by summer. You never can tell with these things. They got a lot of work done today, but taking a week off next week. I'll have my new Genesis incubator too. Yay!