[johnnyt93]

Hi there,

My dad was thinking of keeping some ducks for eggs/meat and I wondered what breeds would be best, he says aylesbury. How long does it take for a duck to reach maturity for eating?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Kate and her Ducks]

Any of the heavy breeds can be raised for meat and aylesbury's are a popular choice. Look around though as there are lots of choices.

Depends on what you are planning on doing. Are you planning on buying in some day olds and raising them up to weight and then slaughtering them all or would you be thinking of keeping the girls for eggs. There are some nice duel purpose breeds like Silver Appleyards which are beautiful birds with a nice active disposition and the girls lay better than any of the other heavy breeds. Rouens and Saxony's are big meat ducks but I have no experience of them.

Generally takes about 12 - 16 weeks to reach full weight.

[johnnyt93]

Thanks for the advice,

I think it will be boys for the table, keep the girls for their eggs. My dad always raves about how nice duck eggs are, have never tried them myself. Hopefully I will sometime soon!

[Kate and her Ducks]

Duck eggs are fab!

[Foxy]

love 'em hard boiled in salads yummm!!! (oh the eggs that is...)

[joyfull]

the eggs are supposed to be great in cakes 

[Kate and her Ducks]

They are amazing to bake with and great scrambled and poached and...