What is the best age for processing?

Crickett

Songster
10 Years
Apr 9, 2009
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Heart of Dixie
I have two mallard hens, and two others, and a brown runner hen.
I also have 12 Muscovy ducklings. The mallards are fully grown, I think, though they haven't laid any eggs yet. At least, I haven't found any. If I want to process them, what is the best age for it? The mallards are about 12 weeks old.
 
Quote:
Most of the commercial ducklings are in the 7-8 week age, thats when they stop growing fast and the name of the commercial game is to turn as little feed as possible to as much meat as possible. Usually as ducks get older they have stronger flavor and tougher meat. The breasts get tough if they spend much time flapping wings and the drumsticks the same from walking.
 
I think they wait a little longer on muscovies, I think they are usually done at about 90 days old, commercially in europe anyway. I don't think they are used commercially in the US. It is the preferred duck meat over there.
 

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