processing pekin ducks

[ladyfarmer10]

I hope this is the right place for this.
What age do most of you process your pekins,I would like to wait so I can tell drake from hens(age?)
Thanks

 

[ourflockof4]

I vent sexed our pekins at about a week old, it's fairly easy it do, much easier then chickens. It was probably about 6-7 weeks when we could voice sex them.

As far as butcher age, I don't know but I thought that I heard 7-8 weeks somewhere. Hopefully someone else can help you more

 

[Red Maple Farms]

From http://www.metzerfarms.com/ProcessingWaterfowl.cfm?CustID=40751

As waterfowl have so many feathers, you want to pluck them when it is the easiest to get them all out. This is when the feathers are all mature and there are no pin (or immature) feathers. For ducks this is at about 7, 12.5 or 18 weeks of age. For geese it is normally at 9, 15 or 20 weeks of age. If you try to process between these "windows of opportunity" you will encounter large numbers of pin feathers that may double or triple your processing time and effort.