I think one reason Pekins grow so fast is they were bred as meat ducks, so growing them out fast was good so they could be butchered at a young age. who knew they would become a family pet but those precious faces and sweet disposition have changed the way alot of folks look at them. Which I like the idea of being family pets much better.
Yes, it definitely is i think there fully done by 8wks or something like that.. there is a huge pekin duck farm about an hour from me.. but yeah, it's all meat. Actually mine came from there as they own the feed mill i bought them from.
any animal being able to be raised on a farm even just for meat production is awesome. They get to actually live and walk, that makes me happy. I've read so many books and articles on the way chickens and cows are kept cages where they are smushed and don't even have room to turn around 
if I could afford to buy pure organic and free ranged that would be ideal. We are not going to have to buy eggs anymore so that will be great
Going quackers I agree there is nothing like seeing it for yourself, you have a beautiful little flock right thereany animal being able to be raised on a farm even just for meat production is awesome. They get to actually live and walk, that makes me happy. I've read so many books and articles on the way chickens and cows are kept cages where they are smushed and don't even have room to turn around
if I could afford to buy pure organic and free ranged that would be ideal. We are not going to have to buy eggs anymore so that will be great
@Going Quackers that's so awesome, I can actually see Pekins being bullys my girl is quite addimate about what she wants and if she doesn't like something she'll also make a point of letting you know not mean but she does seem to think she's the boss of all of our animals it's kind of funny sometimes. I couldn't imagine having any other kinds of ducks I would like to but 2 are enough for us where we live I do like the muscovy because I have heard they are somewhat quiet and friendly and I like their faces and the magpies are just gorgeous all around especially when they have the black beak. My dad has either a mallord or Rouen I don't know she's brownish but kind of small and she's not too nice to me I assume to my dad's lady she is kind but she's chased me away from a chicken nest before I know it's being protective but I just wanted to seehaha
mine is a female a loud loud female haha most of the time.she is quiet unless she is hungry wants to go in the night house or just wants me to stare at her haha, such a weirdo. I didn't really want a male duck wouldn't have been too upset if she did be a male but I read that they will hump your leg more awkward than a dog and my runner is female so I didn't want a boy trying to over mate her and I couldn't get another my husband would surely hate me then haha I'm very happy with 2 girls, now a little scared for when they lay eggs but I hear these breeds aren't very Brody anyways so maybe she won't get aggressive? I would love a muscovy but I don't think they have those at the store I got these ducks, also what do you mean when you say Ballard derived pekin? There are different ones?
