metzer catalog 2005 · 2018. 5. 4. · 2 metzer farms, inc. • 26000 old stage road • gonzales,...

26000 OLD STAGE ROAD, GONZALES, CALIFORNIA 939261-800-424-7755 • FAX 1-831-679-2711

blog: http://blog.metzerfarms.com • website: www.metzerfarms.com

2014FOR HOBBYISTS, FEED STORES AND

COMMERCIAL GROWERS

DUCKS, GEESE, GUINEAS, WILD TURKEYS,RINGNECK PHEASANTS, BOOKS!

Metzer Farms, Inc. • 26000 Old Stage Road • Gonzales, CA 939262

GroGelDo you want

to almost guaran-tee your babieswill arrive inexcellent condi-tion? Ask us to include GroGel in your ship-ment so they will have something to eatalong the way. GroGel has the consistencyof green, chopped Jello but is composed ofthe water, protein, probiotics and carbohy-drates needed for a safe trip. It is also a greatinsurance in case there are any delays duringshipping.

1-6 $.85 7-24 $.55 25+ $.35

Get the Sexes You Want For YourDucklings and Goslings.If you want specific sexes for your duck-

lings and goslings, we can do it for only $1.85per bird! We can send any sexes you want forthe ducklings. For the goslings there are somerestrictions - see page 15 for more details. Allsexed birds are marked with colored, maskingtape on their legs for easy identification.

We Can ShipAs Few As Two Ducklings!We can ship you as few as two ducklings

and/or goslings! If you order fewer than 10ducklings, we insert a special 60 hour heatpack, use a special box and insert a foamliner on the box bottom for extra insulation.By doing this, losses are extremely rare dur-ing shipping. For small orders such as this,we charge $39 for the duckling themselves,plus postage ($7-$11) and $12 for the heatpack. Call us if you have any questions.

On the cover are pictures submitted in our Facebook Photo contest. Photographers are,starting in the center, going straight up and then clockwise, are Heather Spaet, SethEads, Amanda Eurich of Key West Koop (two pictures), Alex Devoy, Zach Beres, JessyGaffen, Robert Wilcox and Barbara Mullinix.

Advantages of DucksNo crowing roostersWill not fly over fencesHandle cold/wet weather betterMore disease resistantEggs laid in early morning so less searching foreggs after letting them out in the morning

No freezing combsLess aggressiveEggs better for bakingDo not scratch and tear up a gardenEasier to herd

Comparing Ducks and Chickens

Advantages of ChickensThey keep a cleaner nest – therefore cleanereggs

Less manure outputA chicken drinks water - there is no playingeating or mating in it

Water puddles do not become mud puddles

“I just wanted you to know that wejust completed the District InternationalWaterfowl Breeders Show at theCoombs Fair in British Columbia. Ayoung Pekin duck that I got from youthis Spring won the Show Champion.The judge was extremely impressed withall the birds in their composition. I havebeen competing for 5 years in the APAand this is the first time I have ever seena standard duck place in either ShowChampion or Reserve.”

– Suzin from BC, Canada

DUCK MEAT PRODUCTION

PRICE* 1-59 60-119 120-299 300-749 750-1199 1200-1999 2000+ Grimaud Hybrid Pekin $5.10 $3.53 $3.02 $2.15 $1.95 $1.82 $1.74Duclair $5.65 $4.08 $3.57

3

Metzer Farms emphasizes the breedingand hatching of quality Pekin ducklings forour customers that grow ducks for meatproduction. We hatch every Mondaythrough out the year for these customers.Whether you need 100 or 5000, we shouldbe able to meet your needs.

The Pekin we use is the GrimaudHybrid, a large, fast growing duck. All of

our breeding stockis imported fromGrim aud Freres,an internationalpoultry breedingcompany in France.

Grimaud Hy -brid ducklings arepure Pekin ducksand can reproduceon their own. They are called a hybrid as amale from a high meat producing Pekinstrain is crossed with a female from a highegg producing Pekin strain to produce theducklings we sell you.

We will send you a Commercial DuckManagement Guide with your first order of120 or more ducklings – just ask for it whenyou place your order.

Standard Production Performanceof our Grimaud Hybrid

Age at slaughter, days 49Live weight, lbs. 8.2Eviscerated weight, lbs. 5.7Feed conversion 2.35Mortality, % 2.5Breast filet, % 21.2Skin & fat in carcass, % 30.2

Phone 1-800-424-7755 • Website www.metzerfarms.com

DuclairIn association with Stonechurch Farms in upstate

New York, we have developed our own strain ofDuclair duck - a French Heritage breed of duck orig-inally grown in Normandy, France. The Duclairs areused by some of the most discerning chefs becauseof their complex, rich, and earthy-yet-elegant flavor.Most of the meat in the Duclair is concentrated in alarge breast. The Duclair resembles no other duck onthe market. The Duclair is smaller than a Pekin orMuscovy - we recommend they be grown to twelveweeks of age when they will be about 5-5.5 pounds liveweight. We are the only breeders inNorth America with these Duclair. If you have an interest in growing them commercially, con-tact Stonechurch Farms at 845-658-3243. Quantities are limited.

Pasture Grown DucksWe have experienced a tremendous growth in cus-

tomers purchasing our Grimaud Hybrid ducklings ona regular basis to grow for their local restaurants,meat markets and CSA's (Community SupportedAgriculture). Some buy on a weekly basis and othersevery two or three weeks. Quantities vary from 30 to3500. Many of them grow their ducks on pasture foras much of the year as possible. In this way, the birdsare out in the fresh air, their manure is spread natu-rally on the pasture, there is a slight increase in meat content from the exercise, it is a morenatural life for the ducks and it is a production method preferred by many consumers. In addi-tion, with the growing desire by restaurants and consumers for locally produced food, you willhave a real advantage competing with ducks that are frozen and may travel hundreds to thou-sands of miles to your market.

“Healthy birds, great service and tech support, we couldn't ask for better partnersin the duck business! If only all the facets of our farm were as easy to deal with asyou guys, everyone would be in the duck business.”

– Chappepeela Farms from Amite, LA

DUCKLING PRICE 1-24 25-59 60-119 120-299 AvailableRouen $5.38 $4.45 $3.78 $3.05 Feb. - Nov.Buff 5.58 4.60 3.93 3.20 Feb. - Nov.Blue Swedish 5.58 4.60 3.93 3.20 Feb. - Nov.Jumbo Pekin 6.50 5.48 4.03 3.45 Year roundWhite Crested 6.50 5.48 4.45 3.95 Feb. - Nov.Sexing - You can choose the sex and we will identify it with colored tape on their leg for$1.85/duckling. See page 15 for ordering and shipping information.

The beautiful Buff duck, also called theBuff Orpington, originated in England. It isoften considered a dual purpose breed, layinggood quantities of eggs and giving a cleanappearing carcass because of their light col-ored feathers. They are the inner two ducksshown in the picture above.

The Blue Swedish duck is similar in sizeto a Rouen and is also very hardy and calm.All the ducklings we send are the blue/graycolor. As with all blue poultry, however, theirprogeny will hatch in blues, blacks andsilvers.

The White Crested duck is a beautiful,unique breed with its tuft of feathers on thetop of their head. The ducklings we shipwill all have good crests on them. All ourbreeders undergo the tests suggested bythe Wissenschaftlicher Geflugelhof Institutein Germany to ensure complete geneticintegrity.

Rouen ducks were originally bred inFrance and retain the coloring of our nativeMallard. They are second to only Pekins andMuscovy in size and are said to have veryflavorful meat. They are moderate layers withmany of their eggs being greenish in color.

Jumbo Pekin This is our largest Pekinduck. It should be the biggest Pekin in the showcompared to similar aged birds. Males are 11-13+ lbs. and females 10-12 lbs. by 18 weeks.

All ducklings shipped the Easter weeks of April 7 and 14 are $7.69 each.


DUCKLINGS

“Great place for ducks. It's where I send everyone for ducks that call me. ThanksJohn for your commitment to excellent ducks and great customer service.”

– Elijah, Facebook

Phone 1-800-424-7755 • Website www.metzerfarms.com 5

DUCKLINGS

The black Cayuga breed is thought to havebeen developed from ducks in the region ofLake Cayuga in New York. It is a hardy andquiet breed. Initially this breed has a deepgreen, iridescent shine but as they age, theygrow more white feathers (just as we humansgray with age!). Many of their eggs’ shells aregreenish or blackish in color.

The Pekin is by far the most commonbreed of duck in North America. TheAFLAC duck and those cute, yellow duck-lings you think of at Easter are Pekins. Theywere introduced into the United States fromChina in the 1870’s. It is the main breedused for commercial meat productionbecause of its exceptionally fast growth rateand good feed conversion. They are ex -tremely hardy and one of the calmest breeds.See page 3 for more detailed information onusing our Pekins for meat production.

The Khaki Campbell duck was devel-oped in England at the turn of the century foregg production. In small, undisturbed flocksthey are very good layers. Khaki Campbellsare excellent foragers and capable of hatch-ing their own eggs.

DUCKLING PRICE 1-24 25-59 60-119 120-299 300-599 AvailableMixed - our choice $4.30 $3.90 $3.28 $2.80 $2.15 Year roundPekin 5.10 4.30 3.50 3.00 2.25 Year roundKhaki Campbell 5.40 4.60 3.75 3.25 2.45 Feb. - Nov.Cayuga 5.85 4.60 3.93 3.20 Feb. - Nov.Mallard 5.63 4.65 3.93 3.20 2.75 Year roundSexing - You can choose the sex and we will identify it with colored tape on their leg for$1.85/duckling. See page 15 for ordering and shipping information.

The Mallard is the breed from which alldomestic ducks, except the Muscovy,originate. They can fly extremely well andcan consistently hatch and raise a brood ofducklings. They are prized because of theirdelicate flavor. For orders of 600-999,duckling are $2.25. For 1000 or more, theyare $2.00. If 4000+ are purchased in aseason, they are $1.85.


“I just wanted to thank you for theexcellent ducks you sent! I picked themup this morning and they were all per-fectly healthy and alive. I will most def-initely be buying ducks from you nextyear and for years to come!”

– Jeff from Reno, NV


DUCKLINGS

GOLDEN 300 HYBRID/WHITE LAYER KHAKI CAMPBELL

Egg Production – In 40 Weeks of Lay 230 195In 52 Weeks of Lay 290 240

Egg Weight 82 grams, 2.9 oz. 76 grams, 2.7 oz.Fertility, Candling at 10 Days 93% 90%Mortality During Lay 3% 4%Pounds Feed/Duck/Day During Lay .40 .36Temperament calm excitableAge at 5% Production 22 weeks 20 weeks Number of Females for one Male 5.75 6.0Weight of Female at 23 Weeks 2.25 kg, 5.0 lbs 1.89 kg, 4.15 lbs

DUCKLING PRICE 1-24 25-59 60-119 120+Black Swedish $5.58 $4.60 $3.93 $3.20Golden 300 Hybrid 5.75 4.85 4.45 3.85White Layer 5.85 4.95 4.55 3.95Welsh Harlequin 6.10 5.30The following only applies to the Golden 300 Hybrid and White Layer breeds:1) If 60-119 females are purchased, there will be a $1.85 sexing charge per female but thereis no charge for an equal number of males. 2) If 120 or more females are purchased, therewill be no charge for an equal number of males or for any sexing.

Golden 300 Hybrid & White Layer DucksThe Golden 300 Hybrid and White Layer are two strains of

ducks we have bred for high egg production. Since we sell about10,000 eggs per week for eating, we need efficient, quality egg pro-ducers for both the fresh and balut (partially incubated duck egg)market. As you can see from the chart, these strains lay more andlarger eggs than the Khaki Campbell. They are also calmer andmore consistent from flock to flock in their production.The Golden 300 Hybrid ducks we send you can be sexed at any

age by their color. The males are shades of black and the femalesare shades of brown. The picture is not representative of all birdsas the males are sometimes all black or resemble Rouen males.Sometimes the females are dark brown or have white on them. Theydo not retain this sex-linked characteristic in future generations,however. Both sexes of the White Layer are white. Therefore,they must be vent sexed like other ducks and geese.


The Welsh Harlequin is a handsome birdand an excellent multipurpose breed as theyare good egg producers and they make a verynice appearing meat carcass as their under-feathers are white. They were developed in1949 in England and came to the USA in1968. We have found them to be the calmestduck breed we have.

The Black Swedish is very similar to theBlue Swedish in terms of their size and har-diness. Unlike the Blue Swedish, however,the Black Swedish will breed true gener -ation after generation. All Swedish duckswere developed in the Pomerania region ofEurope – which is now northwest Poland andnortheast Germany.


The unique aspect of Runner ducks is theirslender, upright stance. This enables them tomove around much more quickly than mostother breeds of ducks. They originally camefrom Southeast Asia where they are used foregg production and in rice fields to eat snails,insects and waste grain. They have a strongherding instinct.

DUCKLINGS & HERITAGE BREEDS

Fawn & White Runners

Black Runners

Blue Runner

Chocolate Runners

DUCKLING PRICE 1-24 25-59 60-119 120+Fawn & White Runner $5.85 $4.95 $4.55 $3.95Black, Blue & Chocolate 6.10 5.20 4.80 4.15

1-14 15-29 30+Assorted Runners 5.55 4.75 4.20


Special Heritage Duck OfferHow would you like to have ducks identi-

fied by The Livestock Conservancy asCritical, Threatened or On Watch? Thesebreeds are the Welsh Harlequin, Cayuga,Buff, and Swedish. We are offering a package of these breeds

as eggs or ducklings to help build awarenessof the Livestock Conservancy. The purposeof this organization is to preserve and protectrare breeds of livestock and poultry. Since wefeel the Livestock Conservancy is so valuableto our poultry community, we are giving youa $20 off coupon on a first year membershipwith your Heritage Duck order!!

Heritage Hatching Egg Package12 eggs for $35.95

Heritage Duckling Package6 ducklings for $38.9515 ducklings for $83.95

To visit the Livestock Conservancy web-site go to www.livestockconservancy.comBenefits of a membership include:• Your participation in preserving rare breeds• Subscription to their quarterly publication• Printed directory of members and theirbreeds

• Technical support for your rare breedenterprise

See page 13 for a new book on Heritage Breeds.

“I just wanted to let you know that wereceived our duck and goose ordertoday. They arrived happy and healthy.Thank you so much for your highquality birds.”

– Susan from Lincoln, CA

The Tufted Buff geese originate from theAmerican Buff geese. Their unique character-istic is a tuft of feathers on the top of theirhead much like the Tufted Roman goose. Thisis a very hardy and unique breed of goose.


GOSLINGS

The White and Brown Chinese geeseoriginate from China and are related toAfrican geese. They are the smallest of thecommon domestic geese and are oftenreferred to as “Swan Geese” because of theircarriage, grace and ancestry. They are themost talkative of our goose breeds. Thoughall geese love grass, many people prefer usingthe Chinese for weeding purposes because oftheir small size and active nature.

The African goose is descended from thewild Chinese Swan Goose of China. The onlyexplanation for the name African is that it wascustomary in earlier times to give newlyintroduced breeds of poultry exotic names.The African goose is intermediate in sizebetween the Super African and BrownChinese.

The Toulouse was originally bred inFrance and is one of the most common andpopular barnyard geese. They are beautiful,prolific and can be grown for meat, too.

The Pilgrim goose was developed in theearly 1900’s in Iowa. It is one of the fewAmerican bred geese and is very calm. Aunique characteristic of the Pilgrim goose isthat its sex can be determined from its feath-er color. The males are white with touchesof gray on them. The females look muchlike a Toulouse though their color is lighterand they often have white faces.

“Your birds are all wonderful. YourTufted Buff geese are my favorite (I haveone pair now but will be adding more!)and your Welsh Harlequin and Cayugaducks have always impressed me! I showthem every year and they continue toplace first!”

– Alison from Saco, ME


GOSLINGS

We offer the Maxima strain of Canadagoose which weighs 9-13 pounds. Manycustomers have told us it is the best pet theyhave ever had - very calm, curious andfriendly. A free permit is supplied but if yousell or give away Canada geese a breeder’slicense must be obtained from the US Fishand Wildlife Service. We cannot sex theCanada goslings and the minimum order issix. They are shipped by Express Mail whichcosts $35.00 for six goslings. Shipping isfrom early May through mid June. If inter-ested, phone us and put your name on ourwaiting list as we always sell out of theCanada geese.

GOSLING PRICE 1-15 16-63 64-299 300+Mixed - Our choice $7.95 $7.45 $6.90 $5.95White Chinese 10.15 8.50 7.40 6.40Embden 10.75 9.10 7.85 6.60African 10.40 8.75 7.65 6.50Toulouse 10.95 9.40 7.75Brown Chinese* 11.50 10.25 8.60French Toulouse 12.25 11.00 9.35Buff* 15.65 12.95 11.45Roman Tufted* 15.65 12.95 11.45Tufted Buff* 15.65 12.95 11.45Pilgrim* 19.95 17.75 15.95Super African* 22.95 16.85Dewlap Buff 25.95 17.85Canada 45.95Sebastopol* 59.95

*Fancy Goose Package - Our choice of breeds from those breeds marked with an asterisk.Minimum of 3 breeds for 8-15, four breeds for the 16+.1 to 15 – $12.95 each 16 or more – $10.95 each

Available - Geese available from March or April through June or July.Sexing - Sexing is $1.85 per gosling and we will identify it with colored tape on its leg.See page 15 for sexing limitations plus ordering and shipping information.

“From the research to ordering toshipment to now enjoying these littleducklings, it's been a great experiencewith Metzer Farms- Thanks!”

– Sara from Lexington, KY

The Embden is the exclusive goose breedgrown commercially for meat in NorthAmerica due to its large size, white feather-ing and rapid growth. Most agree that theywere originally developed in Germany withsubsequent breeding in England.

This is a young male Dewlap Buff goose.They have the beautiful coloring and disposi-tion of Buffs, but have the bigger size anddewlap of the Large Dewlap Toulouse.


GOSLINGS

The Roman Tufted is a smaller whitegoose weighing between 10 and 12 poundswith a small tuft of feathers on its head. It is avery friendly, prolific and noble goose.

A flock of Sebastopol geese is a fasci-nating sight as no other waterfowl have theircurly, twisted feathers. They appear to haveoriginated in Southeastern Europe and arevery quiet and amiable. We have the largestbreeding flock of Sebastopols in NorthAmerica - over 350 geese. Order yourSebastopols early as our largest hatches arein late March and they drop off rapidly afterthat.

The Buff is one of only two breeds of geesedeveloped in the United States. It is a veryfriendly and prolific goose that has a reputationfor being very calm.

The Super African is an impressive,regal breed of goose. They are large with awell developed dewlap. In fact, they areprobably the first breed of geese to havebeen selected for dewlaps.

We imported the French Toulouse formeat purposes. They are not an exhibitionToulouse as some have extra white featherson them, but they are especially hardy, growquickly with a minimum of care, are verycalm, very fertile and lay the most eggs ofany goose breed we have. Not many peoplehave a Toulouse goose directly from France!

“The first stop we made after openingthe box at the post office was our localavian vet, who was shocked at how spryand active they were and how littlestress they seemed to have been underduring their cross country trek.”

– Alex from Lansdowne, PA

“I like to make it a point to tell a businesswhen I am pleased with their service. Ireally appreciate your focus on customerservice and I will not only order manymore birds from you, I will refer otherpeople to your company.”

– Blake from Roseburg, OR

GAME BIRDS & DUCK HATCHING EGGS

Chinese Ringneck Pheasants are beau-tiful birds for hunting or just to see aroundyour property. They are very hardy andstrong flyers if released at 10-14 weeks ofage in the wild. Their meat is delicious andfound in the finest restaurants. These areshipped on Wednesdays and cannot bemixed with any other waterfowl or gamebirds for shipping. Call us for quotes forquantities over 360.

Our Wild Turkeys are the Eastern strain.Since they are very hardy and excellent flyersthey are making a major comeback throughoutthe United States. They are handsome, statelybirds to raise. Wild Turkeys are not as large asdomestic turkeys but will still make a verymemorable, historical Thanks giving meal.

PRICE PER BIRD AVAILABLE

Ringneck Pheasants 30 @ $3.25 60 @ $2.80 120 @ $2.45 May 19 to June 30Pearl Guineas 20 @ $4.65 40 @ $3.70 80 @ $3.40 February 17 to July 7Wild Turkeys 10 @ $12.35 20 @ $10.20 40 @ $9.70 April 7 to August 25All the game birds are sold straight run and cannot be sexed. Wild turkeys should be orderedin multiples of 10 (10, 20, 30, etc.), Guineas in multiples of 20 and Pheasants in multiplesof 30s. Before placing your order, you should check with the regulatory agency that over-sees wildlife management in your state for any requirements they may have.

Hatching duck eggsis an excellent projectfor those wanting toexperience the entirerearing process. Duckhatching eggs are avail-able most of the yearand are half the price ofthe ducklings. Theminimum purchase is$28 plus packaging andpostage. We guarantee fertility of at least80% but cannot guarantee hatchability asthat is entirely dependent on your incuba-tor. Custom made foam packaging is usedfor shipping. Please visit our website forincubation instructions and pictures of thehatching process.

Guineas originate from Africa and areexcellent foragers. After starting, they growand thrive on bugs (they love ticks), insectsand weed seeds. Guineas are also greatwatch dogs as they call out at the approach ofany strangers. Not only will they alert you ofvisiting humans but any type of dogs or pred-ators. Their meat is all dark and highly prizedby many restaurants. All our Guinea eggs arefrom breeding stock imported from GrimaudFreres of France and are certified diseasefree. They have been bred for excellentgrowth rate, 4.1 lbs. in 70 days, and feed con-version. These will be hatched every twoweeks starting February 17. Contact us forpricing for quantities over 240.


“I wanted to take the time out to thankyou for our recent purchase. I am asecond grade teacher in the Bronx and Iordered 16 fertile Pekin eggs from you 2months ago. I am SO pleased to tell youthat out of the 17 eggs that you sent,ALL 17 were fertile and 16 hatched!!!!”

– Victoria from Cross River, NY


GROWING INSTRUCTIONS & SUPPLIES

Prior to their arrival:You need to

prepare a placefor them thatprovides theprotection andwarmth theyneed. Usuallythis is in abarn, out-building or garage. It is best toclean and disinfect the pen prior to using it.Initially baby ducklings need about 1/3square foot per bird. Start with 2 inches ofwood shavings or straw for bedding. Placethe water in the pen a day in advance so it isnot too cold for them initially. For the firstseveral days you can add our Poult Vitaminpack or sugar (1/2 cup sugar: 1 qt. water) tothe water. If you cannot get a waterfowlstarter feed, use a game bird or chicken starterof at least 20% protein. Turn the heat on theday before you expect them so the bedding iswarm for their arrival. One heat lamp canhandle about 40 ducklings or 20 goslings. Thelamp is normally hung about 18" from thebedding where it should be 90-95 degrees.There should be some type of solid wall orpartition around them to prevent drafts.Make sure dogs, cats and rats are kept out.

They havearrived!Normal ly

the post officephones whenyour birds ar -rive and asksyou to pickthem up. Whenyou get themhome, it isvery impor-tant you dip the beak of each bird in the waterto ensure they get their first drink. Make surethey tip their head back to drink. If they havehad a rough journey and seem weak, you mayneed to check them every 30-60 minutes togive them another drink. If you do have a fewthat are weaker than the others, it is best toseparate them until they regain their strength.Make sure they can’t get in the water and getchilled.The best way to judge the comfort of the

birds is to watch them. If they are huddledunder the lamp, they need more heat. If theyare all bedded down away from the lamp, thelamp is too low or it is too warm in the room.They should be spread throughout the penwith some eating, some drinking, some sleep-ing and some playing.

Waterfowl Starter FeedFor those of you that havedifficulty finding water -fowl start er feed locally,we offer small bags of thesame feed we use for our

ducklings and goslings. A duckling willeat about .5 pounds the first week and agosling about .8 lbs.

2 lbs. $3.95 5 lbs. $6.25 10 lbs. $10.95

Starter Kit This kithas all the equipmentyou need to start youryoung birds: PoultVitamin pack, onegallon waterer, baby

feeder, brooder lamp and bulb,thermometer and 15 feet of cardboardbrooder guard. Good for up to 40ducklings/turkeys or 20 geese. $52.49

As they grow.... Poultry (and especially waterfowl) grow

very fast. Make sure you enlarge their pen asthey grow and add clean bedding as neces-sary. Typically it is better to add clean bed-ding on top of the old than to clean it outevery day. Usually the temperature can be dropped

about 5 degrees a week and turned off after2-3 weeks. As they grow and add weight youcan allow them to venture outdoors for briefperiods during the day. Once they are fullyfeathered they can stay outside all the time(7-9 weeks) though they should still havesome shelter from the sun and heavy rains.Ducklings and goslings can be introduced

to swimming water as early as one week ofage but you must be careful. They must beable to walk in and out of the water very eas-ily. The water should not be too cold and theymust be able to find their heat lamp forrewarming without difficulty. Do not allowthem to become soaked and chilled!Waterfowl can also be very messy with

their water. For them it is best to make awire platform on which the waterer sits. Forbabies it can be 1/2" hardware cloth and foradults it can be 1" welded wire nailed on towood cross pieces. This can be placed overa pan for the babies or over a pit for adults.The platform should be large enough toextend at least 6" out from the edge of thewaterer for the babies and 30" for adults.With this plat form, any spilled water goesthrough the wire and out of reach. They can-not track it back to the bedding or make amud puddle with it.

NEW BOOKS

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is a brand new book that shows howto get started in selecting and raising a her-itage breed. Farmers around the worldhave developed hundreds of breeds of live-stock and poultry to thrive in particularplaces and situations. Unfortunately in thepast fifty years, the livestock industry has

become dominated by just a few breeds.Many traditional breeds have disappeared;others are close to extinction. This bookshows you how to find, raise and profitfrom these rare and unique breeds of poul-try and livestock.240 pages

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS Waterfowl Guineas, Turkeys & PheasantsSee our website for Starter Grower Developer Breeder Starter Grower Finisher Breedermore details 0-2 wks. 3-8 wks. 9-20 wks. 1-4 wks. 5-8 wks. 9-17 wks.

Crude Protein % 20.00 16.00 13.00 16.00 28.00 24.00 18.00 15.00Energy Kcal/kg 2750 2750 2625 2750 2800 2800 2400 2800Linoleic Acid % 1.00 .90 .70 1.10 1.07 1.04 1.34 1.26Avail. Phosphorous % .45 .40 .30 .40 .55 .50 .45 .40Calcium % 1.00 .90 .80 2.60 1.00 .85 .60 2.50Niacin ppm 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00 33.00 33.00 33.00 33.00

MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTSSquare feet/bird 1-3 weeks 4-8 weeks 9-17 weeks Breeders

Pheasant .2 1.5 4.0 20.00Duck 1.0 3.0 3.5 4.0Turkey, Geese 1.5 4.5 6.0 9.0


Raising Ducks $18.95

A recently revised, highly recommend-ed book on selecting breeds, behavior,incubation, raising, sexing, butchering,health, etc. It has many fine picturesand drawings. 316 pages

The Book of Geese $17.95

An extremely comprehensive book ex -clu sively on geese by a lifelong water-fowl enthusiast and successful exhib -itor. It will answer 99% of your goosequestions – the standard of goosebooks. 209 pages

Though this book only has “Chicks” in itstitle, we can forgive the author as it doesan excellent job of covering all types ofpoultry. It gives great detail, personalinsights and fantastic pictures on how tohatch eggs and brood young poultry. It is

the best book I have seen on incubationand hatching for the hobbyist. It alsoshows how to handle the special require-ments of hatching and brooding waterfowl– especially their unique watering needs.239 pages

This book is written by a commercialduck egg producer who avoids technicaljargon and takes a hands-on approach tothe subject. He discusses the duck eggsthemselves, how they compare to chickeneggs and how to use them in recipes.

Also included are instructions on sellingduck eggs to farmers' markets, retailstores, high-end bakeries and restaurants– along with sections on raising, feeding,lighting and sheltering layer ducks.109 pages

Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks $24.95

This is the first book we have ever soldthat is exclusively about chickens... soyou know it must be good! The approachtaken enables it to be used for all poultry.The sections include The HealthyChicken, Recognizing Signs of Illness, AClose-Up Examination of Woes and

Diseases, and Your Chicken RepairManual. It is written by a veterinarian(that also owns some of our geese!) in theclarity of a typical “... For Dummies”style. If you want a book on poultryhealth, this is it.320 pages

Chicken Health for Dummies $18.99

An Introduction to Heritage Breeds:Saving and Raising Rare-Breed Livestock and Poultry $19.95

Duck Egg Production for Beginners:A practical guide for producing duck eggs for the hobby farmer $12.95

BOOKS

BOOK POSTAGE First Book Each AdditionalBook Rate (1-2 weeks) $3.30 +$1.10Priority (2-4 days) $5.60 +$1.40

The Ultimate Pet Duck Guidebook $34.99All the things you need to know before andafter bringing home your feathered friend.Excellent health section. Proceeds benefitthe Majestic Waterfowl Rescue. 222 pages

DUCK! There’s a Goosein the House! $29.95An absolute must have book for anyonewanting to keep a duck or goose as a housepet. It has wonderful stories and describestheir intelligence and tenderness.251 pages

Youth’s Guide to Worldof Waterfowl $15.25An excellent beginner’s work book, idealfor 4H members and their leaders. Strongsections on exhibiting and showmanship.59 pages

Choosing and KeepingDucks and Geese $15.95A beginner’s guide to breeds, care andhusbandry. A color picture on every page!208 pages

Poultry House Construction $22.95A do-it-yourself guide to building poultryhouses and related equipment, over 70pages of detailed drawings. 92 pages

Domestic Geese $29.95This English book has very good informa-tion on management and breeding and alsogoes into detail on the origin and develop-ment of goose breeds - along with manybeautiful color pictures. 192 pages

The Domestic Duck $29.95This book from England includes agreat section on the origin and evolutionof the many breeds followed by wonder-ful color pictures - an excellent allaround book. 192 pages

Poultry and Waterfowl Problems $19.95This book covers all poultry and waterfowldiseases and outlines signs, causes, pre-vention and treatment. Injuries, parasites,paralysis, angel wing and other problemsof waterfowl are covered. 96 pages

Gardening With Guineas $16.75An excellent down home, practical bookon guineas. It covers everything you needto know about guineas for a home flock.131 pages

A Guide to Better Hatching $10.45It discusses formation, structure and fer-tility of the egg. How to check fertility bycandling, troubleshooting advice and 10Commandments for Successful Hatching.100 pages

Nutrition and Managementof Ducks $18.95An excellent book for the commercialduck grower. Some is on management butthe majority is on the nutritional needs ofbreeding and growing ducks. 177 pages

Wing Disorders in Waterfowl $7.95Causes, prevention and treating wing dis-orders in waterfowl, including angel wing.35 pages

Modern Vermin Control $18.75This book gives practical advice on fenc-ing and trapping foxes, weasels, rats, owls,etc. to protect your poultry. Pictures showthe predators, their tracks and trap sets.56 pages

The New Duck Handbook $19.95A superb book written by a veterinarianand director of the Zoological Garden ofBerlin, Germany. Valuable information onboth domestic and ornamental (wild) ducksand their care. 96 pages, 34 color pictures

The Ultimate Pet GooseGuidebook $34.99Very similar to the book above, but exclu-sively on geese and their unique attributesand needs. Proceeds benefit the MajesticWaterfowl Rescue. 242 pages

Domestic Duck Production $109.95This book is written for commercial duckmeat and egg producers. It covers housingsystems, ventilation, flooring, nutrition,temperatures, lighting, weight control inbreeders, fertility and more. 239 pages


“Thank you, Kelly and all at Metzer Farms for our happy and healthy ducklingsthat just arrived! Everyone was eager to stretch their legs after the trip :) TheCayugas are just beautiful. The Pekins are very friendly and the Khaki Campbellsare quite sprite and playful already!” – Sara from Lexington, KY


ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS & SHIPPING

How To Order

Ordering is easy. You can...

Phone us at 1-800-424-7755

Email us at [email protected]

Order on our website at

www.metzerfarms.com

Minimum Order Size

You must order at least two ducklings orgoslings. There is no minimum per breed ofthe ducklings and goslings in your order –you can mix them any way you want. If youorder fewer than 10 ducklings, there is a min-imum fee explained on page two.

If You Want To Order Specific SexesAll sexed birds are identified with colored

masking tape on their leg. Look on the backof your invoice for the color key. The tapecan be removed at any time. The cost is $1.85per bird.

Ducks – For ducklings you can order anycombination of sexes you want.

Geese – For the White Chinese, Embden,Toulouse and African you can order up totwo more females than males but no more.The remaining breeds (marked with anasterisk in the price section) can only besold as pairs or straight run. Call if youhave a question.

Guineas, Turkeys, PheasantsSexing is not available.

Determining Postage Charges

If you phone us, we will tell you yourpostage charges. If you order online, thepostage will be computed automatically foryou.

Methods of Shipping & Timing

All birds are sent Priority Mail unless yourequest Express Mail which does provide atracking number. However, Express Mailadds about $20 for postage and rarely pro-vides faster service. All birds are shipped onMonday except pheasants which are shippedon Wednesday. They normally arrive the firstor second day after shipping. Unless yourequest the GroGel supplement, they are notshipped with food or water as they absorbtheir yolk immediately before hatching andthis provides the necessary nutrition for thefirst 60 hours.

Delivery Confirmation NumberEvery shipment will be given a Delivery

Confirmation Number after mailing. Thisnumber will always give you the shipday/time and receiving day/time. Often, butnot always, it will give you tracking infor-mation between mailing and delivery. Youwill need to phone us after Monday to getyour Delivery Confirmation Number. Youcan then go to www.usps.gov to attempt tolocate your shipment.

PaymentIf you place your order by phone, we will

need a VISA or Mastercard number. Yourcard will be charged the week before yourorder is shipped. If you prefer to pay bycheck, place your order by phone and we willbook it once we receive your check. Pricesmay change at any time.

Our Satisfaction GuaranteeIf you are not satisfied with our service or

products, write, phone or email us with yourconcerns and we will rectify it to your satis-faction.

What about deaths?Rarely do we have problems with mortali-

ty. If you do have any deaths, it is importantyou count the live birds, as extras are oftenincluded. We never include extras in orders

less than 10. Forlarger orders, weinclude extras ifwe have plentyof the breed youare ordering. Ifthe extras do notcover the losses,however, youmust call us with-in 24 hours so wecan arrange acredit or replace-ment.

“Most of your testimonials are from newowners, but we wanted you to know thatyears later, we still appreciate the helpand advice on breed selection and if Icould convince my partner to get a thirdgoose, you will have our business again.”

– Alex from Lansdowne, PA

2014FOR HOBBYIST

S, FEED ST

ORES A

ND

COMMERCIAL GROWERS H

ANDLING

WATERFOWL AND GAME BIRDS

National P

oultry Improvem

ent Plan 93-248

Metzer Farm

s, Inc.26000 O

ld Stage R

oadGonzales, C

A 93926 U

SA

Phone: 800-424-7755

Blog: http://blog.m

etzerfarms.com

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

SAN JO

SE, CA 95131

PERMIT NO.8888

Salmonella – W

hat should I know?

There are over tw

o thousand types of salmonella

bacteria. A few

of these types can harm people. A

ndsom

e of these types that can harm people live in the

intestinal tract of poultry - but not harm the poultry.

Your poultry m

ay have these bacteria but appear per-fectly healthy. T

herefore you should always w

ashyour hands after handling poultry, their equipm

ent, orany other anim

als you touch.Who is m

ost susceptible to salmonella infections?

The very young, the elderly and those w

ith a weak-

ened immune system

.What are the sym

ptoms? It can cause

diarrhea in

people that

can be

mild,

severe or even life threatening. Many

people do not become ill but for those

that do, the symptom

s last from 6-72

hours.What can I do to prevent a salm

onellainfection? A

lways refrigerate m

eats andeggs and cook them

completely. A

voidunpasteurizedmilk

products.Always w

ash your hands with soap and w

arm water

before and after handling food, using the toilet, changingdiapers, or handling any of your anim

als. Do not allow

your children to snuggle or kiss animals.

What is M

etzer Farms doing to prevent salm

onella intheir birds? W

e maintain an extrem

ely clean environment

for our birds, work diligently on rodent control, vaccinate

all young breeders three times, include probiotics in all

their feed, maintain tight biosecurity and test m

onthly forsalm

onella in our birds and their environment.

Now you can alsovisit us on

metzer catalog 2005 · 2018. 5. 4. · 2 metzer farms, inc. • 26000 old stage road • gonzales,...

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