Surplus Ducks

[Bayard]

I'm posting this in General Discussion to try and get some ideas.

Is there any way I could donate live ducks to a food bank, or some other food distribution organization?

We have accumulated an excess of Muscovey's, and they've become a real problem. Not only is there duck poop all over the place, they eat up all the barn cats food, and keep getting in the water troughs for horses, donkeys, and goats (even though we have a big pond). THAT's scary because they can spread salmonella that way. They're also destroying my flowers.

I've called all over the place looking for poultry processing places, with no luck (plenty of red meat processors though). If I could take them somewhere, drop them off, and get them back in nice little packages to put in the freezer, I would do that (be great for feeding our dogs, instead of buying chicken). I've talked to people who say--its easy, just do it yourself. Ummm.....no experience, and I'd really rather not.

They are actually good egg layers too, if someone wanted to go that route. I'm going to keep a few, so we're talking maybe 15, drakes and hens.

I've sent out a few emails this evening to places that distribute excess Ag goods. I'll call some others tomor.

Other ideas or suggestions?

[Duppers]

1. No ideas here but a K&R.

Good luck!

[Phoenix61]

2. Maybe reach out to a local farmers market.

or a feed supply store.

[Rollo]

3. Get some coyotes... ;-)

[Hekate]

4. KnR! Best of luck.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. Send me a dozen.

I've been down to 4 drakes (some mixture, not Muscovey) for a couple of years. Everything in the woods thinks they're snacks and the ducks keep insisting on making their nests in the woods.

[woody44]

6. Do you have an Amish Community

near you? There is one not far from me and I know they do poultry processing.

I would love to have your ducks ready for the freezer, as I feed my dogs raw chicken and am sick of buying it all the time also.

[DFW]

7. Any Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood? n/t

[Recursion]

9. Wrong kind of duck

Muscovy ducks are too gamey and not fatty enough for the Peking duck-style recipes.

[coti]

8. It sounds like the duck stops here.

All that duck poop smells too...fowl?

[handmade34]

10. advertise locally to individuals?

public food banks and such unfortunately, won't take fresh meat that hasn't been processed by licensed facility... I take all my excess poultry that other people don't want to a local facility that works with wild bird rehab... good luck


https://vinsweb.org/

[Amishman]

11. probably not a good idea, Muscovy ducks are only good eating when they are young

as they get older they get really tough and stringy, and really gamey.

Ducks in the mallard family are much better eating.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. Got any good Canada Goose recipes? Asking for a friend. nt

[Bantamfancier]

13. As said before, food banks will

Not accept meat that was not processed in an inspected and approved processing facility.
Your local extension office may be able to provide you with a list of state approved processors. Remember that ducks require much more time to clean than a chicken and the cost is much higher.

Here in Ohio I can get a chicken done for 2 bucks. A duck is more like 12.
Right now it is very difficult to find a place willing to do small lots. And 15 is a small number.

On the plus side there are plenty of poultry fanciers that will be willing to take them off your hands. We have small animal livestock auctions here that can’t have sales, but are listing animals for people trying to sell. You might have something like that.

Of course, there’s always craigslist or Facebook. We have sold tons of birds that way.

Or just embrace the mess. I love my flock of ‘scovies. I call them my 2 legged beagles.

[Bayard]

14. Got this message from the Feed KY program

"Thank you for contacting us. I'll admit, we've never had an inquiry quite like this before".

They can't accept them, only beef or pork, and they will pay for processing those even.

So, looking at Craigslist. Thanks for the comments.