Raise your own meat.

[handyman42]

I may go with them then instead of the Scovies. Just trying to figure out which is best for my purposes.

 

[Arielle]

In the past I've raised rabbits for meat and that was fun for a time and just about the healthiest meat you can eat. Highest in protein, lowest in calories and fat, and very good. This past year was my first to raise meat chickens though and I gotta say the difference in the taste was amazing. SO MUCH BETTER THAN STORE BOUGHT!! I'm looking into raising meat ducks next year and keeping enough for me to breed in the future but am torn between Muscovies and Pekins. Which breed do you think I should get?

I love my muscovy because they don't quack-- turkeys and chickens make enough noise. I like these ducks enough to try another duck to compare.

THe muscovy also don't need water the way other ducks do. THey can be limited to a small bowl: enough to dunk their heads. Though mine do love to jump into the horse's water trough and make a mess of it!! My suggestion is try a couple different one if you can-- get a variety pack and see what works for you.

 

[member 142084]

yes the pekins quack a lot. but I love it They just have a large horse bucket of water. And is they have a lot they get in and splash it all out. Its fill and run unless you want a shower ha haha.

 

[handyman42]

I have a creek on my property that would flow through the run I am mainly raising for meat purposes. I finally wore my wife down and got her to try duck and she loves it. But would also like to have some hens for a few eggs to eat cuz I've hear they're really good. I'm still thinking about it. Probably won't be able to afford em til late next year or spring of 2015 so I've got a while to figure it out.

I did think about getting one of each (Pekin and Scovie) and seeing how they grew and dressed out as far as meat goes.

 

[sandspoultry]

We have the garden to the right size now that it pretty much gives year round veggies, our area we can keep the garden going all year except for really cold winters and they aren't very often. Between chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail and pheasant we have plenty of variety there, we raise meat rabbits and get a couple deer every year. We haven't bought any beef in years now, we use venison in place of beef. Goats are coming in the future after we have a proper place set up for them. The only meat we buy is pork.

 

[member 142084]

I have a creek on my property that would flow through the run I am mainly raising for meat purposes. I finally wore my wife down and got her to try duck and she loves it. But would also like to have some hens for a few eggs to eat cuz I've hear they're really good. I'm still thinking about it. Probably won't be able to afford em til late next year or spring of 2015 so I've got a while to figure it out.

I did think about getting one of each (Pekin and Scovie) and seeing how they grew and dressed out as far as meat goes.

Go for it Try both


There are hatcheries that sell as little as 3 birds at a time if you want to start out small. Do you have an incubator?

 

[member 142084]

We have the garden to the right size now that it pretty much gives year round veggies, our area we can keep the garden going all year except for really cold winters and they aren't very often. Between chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail and pheasant we have plenty of variety there, we raise meat rabbits and get a couple deer every year. We haven't bought any beef in years now, we use venison in place of beef. Goats are coming in the future after we have a proper place set up for them. The only meat we buy is pork.

You are blessed!

I wish.... My 1.5 acres only supports so much. I am still working on getting good production for my efforts. I would love to live where the land would support some feed. But I am grateul for what I have.

 

[handyman42]

Go for it Try both


There are hatcheries that sell as little as 3 birds at a time if you want to start out small. Do you have an incubator?

I'm putting the finishing touches on a homemade bator. And I thought about the hatchery route just really not my speed. I prefer to buy from local guys at chicken swaps and stuff. So I'm hoping I can stumble into some Pekin or Scovie hatching eggs, ducklings or adult ducks.

The 2 downsides to Pekins that I'm seeing is the noise and lack of color.

Don't they out-lay Muscovies though?

 

[member 142084]

I have fertile duck eggs. But we are not too close.

Well they do quack a lot. But I like it And yes they are only white, but I like white ducks.

Mine lay all year long. I do have a light on a timer during short days. But it is a low energy bulb so it doesn't bother my bill. in the summer I was getting up to 2 eggs a day fro my girls. About 1 every 10 hours or so. Then on occasion they will skip a day. And once a year they stop laying for about a month. But I have more than one laying so I still get eggs.

 

[member 142084]

I made a raspberry orange sauce that was killer on my duck meat. I did a simple roast duck with salt and thyme. For the sauce I added some juice, about a cup, a small bag of organic frozen raspberries, A dallop of frozen OJ and a tiny splash of organic orange extract, roughly a tablespoon of agave (or sugar). I simmered until it was smooth. Then added a little flour and water to thicken it. It was great! Sorry I am no go for standard recipes since I am a toss together cook. It drives my husband nuts because he wants me to pass down the recipes, and I can't figure out the exact measurements. I try and it doesn't turn out. I use sight and scent to cook by. Then taste towards the end.