meat ducks, can you grow them not-too-fatty?

[sandspoultry]

Quote:
That makes sense and why store bought duck is soooooo greasy, you know they raise them just as fast as they can.

Steve in NC

 

[patandchickens]

Lower protein? I would have thought that would make them *more* fatty (because if the diet has less protein then it has proportionately more carbohydrates). Limiting food does make sense though.

I will have to check the book out -- this is the Storey Guide to Raising Ducks (which my library has), or is it something else?

Thanks,

Pat

 

[ChickenToes]

Look into Cayugas. They were developed as a meat bird before the Pekin came along.

 

[patandchickens]

Funny you should say that, as they are the only ducks I find aesthetically appealing. I am not sure I really want a breeding flock though, just one more thing to feed over the winter, so I am not sure how practical it'd be for me.

I will have to think about it, though!

Pat

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
you wouldn't have to keep too many over winter as a breeding flock,,

another thing you could do is get rid of all of them in the fall and go to an early swap/auction in the spring and buy some adult ducks.

I like to keep just a few over winter
then I know what kind and what shape and how old my breeders are.. besides our closest auction is 57 miles away..

 

[Judy]

VERY informative thread. Thanks to patandchickens for asking, and thanks for the thoughtful replies.

 

[al6517]

I prefer more fat on the ducks, really helps in cooking them and the taste is so much better, If you buy a leaner duck you will have to wrap it a fat net to keep it from drying out, because most people will almost always over cook duck meat.

AL

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
I agree with AL..

another thing you can do with ducks and geese is put a rack of some sort under them in the pot to raise them off the bottom and out of the drippings.. then the fat will cook out of them and they will not be greasy,, then I make gravy with he drippings..... now I am making myself hungry,,,where did I put that ax??

....jiminwisc.........

 

[Wifezilla]

What produces body fat is not protein but carbohydrates. The more corn, the fattier the meat will be. I would try feeding them lots of greens and higher protein with no to little corn.

 

[patandchickens]

Thanks to everybody for all the thought-provoking advice! You've brought up a number of things I hadn't considered before. I will have to mull it all over, but I really appreciate the help!

Thanks again,

Pat