So, why cornish x and not pekins?

[Red Maple Farms]

Here is a good professional trade article on processing, marketing and storing ducks:

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/poultry/species/duck-raising/processing-marketing

It also addresses waxing:

Waxing carcases to remove the remaining feathers is recommended where many ducks are to be processed, because remaining feathers are removed quickly and a better carcase appearance results. Waxing carcases to remove remaining feathers is common overseas, and more Australian processors are now using this method. The carcase is covered with molten wax and placed in cold water to harden the wax; when the wax is peeled off the carcase, any feathers come with it. The wax can be used again by remelting it and pouring it through a screen to separate the wax from the feathers. Commercial blended wax can be obtained for this purpose.

 

[bja105]

I got Pekins and Cornish Rocks the same day last year. The pekins were slower to grow, messier, and had more leg problems than the meat chickens (sample size 4 ducks, 30 chickens.) Biggest food problem, they were too cute to eat, we gave them away. The ducks also had some night vision, they alerted us to the owl trying to eat layer chicks. I will try ducks again when i have a bigger yard and a pond. We all liked them.