I raise Muscovy Ducks. They are my most profitable enterprise when it comes to amount of feed/amount of meat produced. Mine get a very small amount of grain everday and free range my property. My four hens have hatched six batches so far this year ranging from 15 to 25 ducks a piece. They also keep my ticks, flies, and even my chigger population down. They also taste wonderful! Here is a recipe I found somewhere.

Roast Muscovy Duck with Cumberland Sauce

Serves 4

1 Muscovy Duck (whole hen)

1 tsp. Tabasco sauce divided

Salt

3/4 cup currant jelly

3/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1 TBS cornstarch

2 TBS water

Rinse duck in cool tap water and pat dry. Pierce skin of duck with a fork and rub duck with 1/2 tsp. of Tabasco sauce, and dust lightly with salt. Place bird on rack in roasting pan and roast at 375 degrees for 1-1/2 hours or until meat thermometer reaches 190 degrees. Meanwhile, prepare sauce. Melt jelly in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in orange and lemon juice and ginger then add remaining 1/2 tsp. of Tabasco. In a small bowl dissolve cornstarch in water then stir into jelly mixture, Bring to a boil stirring constantly until sauce thickens. Serve with sauce over meat.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brightok.net), July 20, 2003

Answers

GOOD MORNING: I LIVE AT SIX THOUSAND FEET IN COLORADO ON THE WESTERN SLOPE. I HAVE AN ACRE OF GROUND AND A NICE GARDEN SOME 17 FRUIT TREES AND AM,, IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A GREENHOUSE 20 BY 60 FEET. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOME FORM OF NATURAL PEST CONTROL AND RECENTLY READ ABOUT THIS BREED OF DUCK IN THE COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE. I WAS INTERESTED IN FINDING ABOUT THE COST AND AVALIBILTY OF THEM. THE TOWN I LIVE IN IS COLLBRAN, WHICH IS 50 MILES EAST OF GRAND JUNCTION AND 15 MILES SOUTH OF I-70. THANKS SO MUCH FOR PUTTING YOUR ATRICAL ON THE INTERNET. RESPECTFULLAY YOURS GORDON GIDDINGS

-- gordon giddings (gordongidd@cs.com), August 16, 2003.

Well I sell mine for between $4-$10 a piece, depending on their age. As to availability, there are a few hatcheries hatching them, but not many. Muscovies are a wonderful addition to any farm. For more info contact me @ littlebit@brightok.net I am in Oklahoma, by the way.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brighterok.net), August 16, 2003.