Process age on Muscovy ducks

[vfem]

I was planning on buying Ranger chicks to do some meat birds this year, then my muscovy goes and sits on some eggs unexpectedly so I think we're going to wait on the rangers and raise the ducklings for meat. I don't have room for anymore ducks to just eat and forage the property, plus I was told muscovy/pekin cross birds will be sterile and I won't get any eggs to make it worth it.

So, at what age would I process these ducks for a good tender meat? (I don't know how many will hatch, but she's sitting on what appears to be 9 eggs. Hard to tell since she's under my neighbor's deck and I can barely get my head under to look.)

 

[srsmith69]

I don't know the answer but I'm interested also. I currently have 42 Muscovy ducklings from 3 days old to 4 1/2 weeks old running around. Way too many.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
They will lay eggs like any duck you just can't hatch them, I have a few crosses and they are very good layers.

 

[17roses]

Heres some info on the crossbreed

http://www.metzerfarms.com/MuleDucks.cfm

 

[vfem]

Thank you for that info, looks like I will have Hinnies then... and will probably end up in the freezer anyways. I only have the 1 muscovy female and all my other ducks and drakes are pekins. They do free range 24/7 so that's a good thing to know I can possibly get more eggs, and no more babies. But since I have to 'easter hunt' for eggs anyways.... I prefer to know the one's I find are fertile for when I want to hatch.

So I will be catching these little ducklings (probably in the next few days as we're at about 30 days, give or take a day) and housing them to fatten up!

I guess I will just have to watch breast size to determine the time to process.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

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[vfem]