The search for the perfect (for me) meat duck!

[DB_Tex]

Oh, I understood, I was just waxing philosophical on the reason as to why they can be tough to move.

 

[TDM]

Quote:
We have muscovies, Some are great mothers, good meat birds, lousy layers. Others will kill their young. If you want to feed ducks with few eggs in return, muscovies fit the bill.

 

[DB_Tex]

I don't think muscovies are for my needs the more I've read, the sterile hybrids just make them un-sustainable. In theory, meat ducks don't matter, but I can't seem to shake my unease with the idea. Maybe it's because I'll have fewer excuses to keep my favorite feather-puppies out of the plucker!

 

[m.kitchengirl]

Anconas.
They are great layers, good lean meat, good foragers, nice, mellow, pretty, critically endangered.
Or Welsh Harlequins.
I have heard great things about them as roasters.

I think if you have to clean it's poop everyday you can be a little shallow.

 

[chamoisee]

Have you considered Rouens? They are pretty docile and dress out nicely. I don't remember how they are as mothers, but they did lay to some degree.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

I have rouens! They are very pretty. The drake get very big! As big as a pekin believe it or not! my full grown female hasnt started laying yet. I cant wait till she does! I heard they dont lay lots, but I heard they a fairly good mothers and lay a pretty good amount of eggs. But I didnt get my rouens for eggs, thats why I got some welsh harlequin, they are beautul, lay a eggs a day from what I heard of, VERY good mothers, and a very soical bird. They sound like the perfect bird for me. So if you want ducks for eggs and meat and broodieness get some rouens, or scovys. I heard rouens meat taste much better to. Hope this helped somewhat

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
we use them for training herding dogs, and herd dog trials...
they stand up to the running (waddling) around bettter than other ducks because they're designed for land travel (in their home countries, they commute daily from pen to field for weeding and bug control, sometimes long distances, by foot) and because they're light.

ducks are extremely responsive to pressure, much more so than most sheep breeds. when you're fine-tuning a herding dog, ducks are the tool to use, and runners are the best breed for it.

besides that, I find the fact that they look like duck-handled umbrellas when the stand highly entertaining.

 

[jdywntr]

Quote:
we use them for training herding dogs, and herd dog trials...
they stand up to the running (waddling) around bettter than other ducks because they're designed for land travel (in their home countries, they commute daily from pen to field for weeding and bug control, sometimes long distances, by foot) and because they're light.

ducks are extremely responsive to pressure, much more so than most sheep breeds. when you're fine-tuning a herding dog, ducks are the tool to use, and runners are the best breed for it.

besides that, I find the fact that they look like duck-handled umbrellas when the stand highly entertaining.

X2

I didn't train dogs but runners have got to be the easiest ducks to get back in the run whenever you need to and quickly. Arm raised here an arm raised there and their in.

 

[Oregon Blues]

The best dual purpose breed by far is the Silver Appleyard. They are heavy layers. As many as 300-320 eggs per year.

They are heavy and fast growing. Mine were 9 pounds by 10 weeks. So you can dress your culls young and not have to feed them for a long time. They are gorgeous to look at and have nice calm temperaments.

You simply can not beat Pekin as a meat breed. Mine were supposed to be 7 pounds at 7 weeks. All were that and the large ones were 9 pounds. They have excellent feed conversion rates and grow large on very little feed. Temperaments are really nice. Egg laying depends upon what strain you buy. They aren't considered to be egg layers, but some strains have been carefully bred to produce good egg layers.

If you don't allow your Pekins to exercise, they will be fatty. If they get to range like a normal duck, the meat will be just fine. The Appleyards don't seem to put on much fat; their weight is all meat, but I haven't raised them in close confinement, so that might make a difference.

 

[DB_Tex]

I am backyard free ranging my birds and they love it, and I love my lack of bugs. Just wish they didn't poop up my shaded back porch so much! LOL

I did get an answer from Metzer, he suggested that I either get an egg type drake and order heavy females with a decent laying capacity for the meaty birds, or get a dual purpose mid-size drake to bulk up the hens I have and keep up good laying. He also mentioned that he has the "female line" of pekins that he breeds for use as breeders in his hybrid program for laying, but that they are sort of "off menu" (no pun intended) because when it comes to pekins most people feel bigger is better and want the breed as meat birds, not layers. But, they are available and he will sell the ducklings on request.

I've seen pictures of the appleyards and anconas and they're gorgeous! You guys are going to talk me into 3-5 of everything! LOL