Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
13
Waterfowl
RAISING WATERFOWL IS PERHAPS
the most rewarding and enjoyable of all the poultry
projects you might undertake. Waterfowl seem to have such a love for life; their zeal and
enthusiasm can make even the sternest individual crack a smile. Whether you are watch-
ing ducklings popping up and bobbing in a small pool of water, or geese protecting their
territory with their sassy scolding nature, waterfowl are a joy to raise.
Ducks and geese have been domesticated for many centuries. Early Egyptian hiero-
glyphics contain many examples of Egyptian geese. Although these geese are an entirely
different species from the more common farm goose, their domestication precedes the
more familiar breeds, whose ancestors can be traced to 390
BC
in Roman records. And of
course, ducks have long had a place on the farms of China and East Asia. The wet envir-
onment and agriculture of these areas was and is ideal for raising waterfowl.
Each year a growing percentage of the U.S. population has never tasted goose. The
age-old tradition of goose for Christmas seems to be fading fast. When I first purchased
my farm some 25 years ago I had no trouble finding a market for every extra goose my
breeding programs produced. At that time, the average age of my customers was over 70.
Each year one or two of them passed on, and sadly, not many of the next generation took
over the tradition. If people only knew what they were missing!
Appreciation for duck has also faltered, although more recently we've witnessed an
upturn in interest. As Asian restaurant offerings have become a recognized and enjoyed
aspect of U.S. food culture, the numbers of people tasting duck meat for the first time has
also grown. The result: ducks are being raised at a rate that has not been seen since the
1950s.
Waterfowl are also, by far, the best project choice for a poultry-raising beginner. Ducks
are the easiest, and most forgiving of common beginner mistakes. While they still need
proper care, they are a bit hardier than other poultry. Even if you don't have your heat per-
fectly adjusted, waterfowl will have a much better chance of survival than would chicks,
