Pekins vs Cayugas

[protodon]

I was wondering if anyone here has kept Cayugas for meat. I am getting Pekins for meat and I plan to keep some as breeders but if could help it, I'd rather not ad a new breed to my flock. If I could use my cayugas as more multi-purpose, that might work better. From what I read, then only benefit of pekins vs cayugas is that the pekins have a cleaner carcass after plucking. Unlike the cornish of the chicken world, Pekins don't grow any faster than the other domestic duck breeds, right? I've never raised pekins but any ducks I have raised look to be full grown by 8 weeks. Can feather color be the only thing that makes them the best meat duck (these days anyway)?

 

[pringle]

Ohh no no no lol . Pekins are the fastest growing duck.They are like the cornish x compared to chickens.Ive raised them for years and believe me they grow much faster than any other duck breed.I have used them as dual purpose too they lay around 150-200 eggs a year and they dont have any problems like the cornish x.If you want to raise a decent dual purpose or meat duck I would go for the pekin or muscovy.

 

[Country Living Farm]

Yep. Pekin are the fastest. I have so many order for my eggs, I can not keep up with them. They go as fast as they lay........And yes they grow very fast!!!!

Here are some picutres of one I hatched and just never sold. I sell the babies pretty fast but once they get older, I keep them after a certain age and to the freezer. These are the first two that will go to the freeze as I normally sell everything that hatches. Lots of people want the dual purpose ducks.

 

[protodon]

Has anyone butchered ducks other than Pekins?

 

[pringle]

well this spring im going to cross a male muscovy with my pein and see what happens im hoping for a good foraging lean duck that grows out fast.Ill pm you the results but its gonna take atleast 4 months.

 

[protodon]

Quote:
I believe those are called moulards. I know some places sell them, I don't really like muscovies so I don't think I'd like their crosses either.

 

[pringle]

Well then if your still looking for a decent dual purpose duck I think the blue or black swedish is pretty good.They have calm temperments lay pretty good and have a good body for meat.

 

[protodon]

I actually have some blue swedish and I hatched some crosses. They kind of pets though, so I never butchered any. I guess it wouldn't be too hard to try them out once my ducks start laying again and I can hatch a few. But so far my cayugas and my blue swedish are the same size. Actually all my ducks are the same size except the female cayuga, khaki campbell and indian runner are all a bit smaller. I'll be interested to compare sizes and weights when I get my pekins and see them at 7-8 weeks.

 

[pringle]

Yep as long as you feed them correctly pekins can get up too 7 pounds in 7 weeks that has never happen to me though since I like to free range mine.