In 2020, the United States massacred almost 10 billion land animals. About 22.5 million ducks.
Pekin ducks, like Dobie and Rad, are often raised for meat. They were also bred with Muscovy ducks to produce the (infertile) Moulard which was exploited for foie gras manufacture. Rouen ducks, like Macka and Milo, are also commonly raised for meat.
Many people spend their lives confined to the factory farms of our nation. Domestic ducks can live from five to ten years — and even into their teens and early 20s. On farms, broodstock are usually killed as young as 7 weeks old; duck foie gras is about 100 days.
Some people keep herds in the backyard to help treat these animals with kindness. But these ducks have more in common with factory-raised birds than many realize. Like chickens and turkeys, ducks destined for backyard farms come from hatcheries that supply animals to factory farms. They also shipping by post only a day old to feed stores and homes across the country. Most are packed without food or water — they will at first absorb nutrients from the yolk sac — but any shipping delay or postage error could be fatal if The shipping process took more than three days.
Every spring, every spring, pet stores have a baby boom — bunnies, chicks, and chicks. duck precious. They’re irresistibly cute, leading to lots of enticing shoppers. Some gift them to their children to celebrate the season. But like the cats and dogs we welcome into our homes, farm animals are a Lifetime responsibility. Unfortunately, few people pay attention to their long-term needs. Once these kids start to outgrow their living space, some will try to remodel their homes. Others may leave them as unwanted toys. And still others may try to “return” them to the wilds they never knew existed.
