National Duckling Month is celebrated every May to appreciate the delicacy of duckling meat. Duck meat offers us lean, high-protein food low in saturated fat. Ducklings are a delicacy in many parts of the world. Countries like Egypt, America, and China, amongst a host of others, take this delicacy seriously as it has a lot of health benefits. You may be sure to receive lean meat that is high in protein and low in saturated fat when you follow a duckling diet. The situation benefits everyone.
History of National Duckling Month
The existence of ducks dates back a long time. Most varieties of domesticated duck are the descendants of the Mallard. Another very common domestic duck is the Muscovy duck. The Mandarin Duck and its relative, the Wood Duck, are also domesticated but far less common than Mallards or Muscovies. The Mallard duck is wild in many areas of Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa. They are known for having a distinctive curled feather on the back of the male and were domesticated in 4000 B.C. by Egyptians, Chinese, and Europeans.Muscovy Ducks do not make the quacking sound of the Mallard, except when chased or caught. They were domesticated in Central and South America before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Western Hemisphere in 1492. Over the years, as ducks became more popular, many countries used them as food. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, over 30 million ducks are raised for meat in the U.S. each year. Many of these ducks are grown on small farms and in back yards, but the majority of ducks are raised on large commercial duck farms in California, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.Sometime back, Long Island, New York, was the epicenter for commercial duck raising. In 1873, one Pekin drake and three hens of massive sizes were imported from China. As conditions were favorable for the ducking market in New York City, the industry peaked with over 16 million ducks raised on Long Island farms. The increase in the duck population led to Senator Jesse Helms introducing a bill in 1988 to make May the National Duckling Month. The first celebration of National Duckling Month was held in 1989.
National Duckling Month timeline
The Egyptians, Chinese, and Europeans domesticate Mallard Ducks.
Muscovy Ducks are domesticated in Central and South America.
One Pekin drake and three huge hens are smuggled onto Long Island, New York, causing a boom in industrial duck farming.
Senator Jesse Helms introduces a bill to celebrate National Duckling Month.
National Duckling Month is celebrated for the first time in May.
National Duckling Month FAQs
Who discovered ducks?
The discovery of ducks can be traced back to the Egyptians’ use of ducks in religious sacrifice.
Is a Duck a bird?
Yes, ducks are birds.
How long do ducks live?
The Mallard ducks’ lifespan is between five to 10 years.
National Duckling Month Activities
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Prepare a duckling meal
Prepare a meal made from duckling meat to celebrate the day. Supporting the day this way helps boost the industry.
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Take a cooking class
Learn how to make some duckling dishes. This way, you don't have to wait for ducking day to treat yourself to excellent meals.
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Order a duckling dish at a restaurant
Visit a decent restaurant and order dishes made from duckling meat. Additionally, this assists in increasing duckling growers' visibility and financial gain.
5 Amazing Facts About Ducks
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Ducks have accents
City ducks have different accents than country ducks and are typically louder.
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Ducklings communicate before hatching
Ducklings learn to communicate with each other in the eggs and try hatching simultaneously.
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Ducks have great vision
Ducks can notice more important details of objects in the distance than humans.
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Ducks are clean animals
Ducks not only preen their feathers to keep them clean but also keep their nests free of debris and waste.
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Ducks can sleep with one eye open
Ducks can watch out for predators by sleeping with one eye open.
Why We Love National Duckling Month
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It boosts economy
Ducklings as food are given extra consideration during National Duckling Month. As more ducklings are sold during that time, this supports the economy.
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It makes us healthy
Ducklings are one of the healthiest meat to consume. Not only do they have a good amount of protein, but they're also low in saturated fat.
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The food is delicious
If you've ever had a meal made of duckling meat, you will know how delicious it is. If you haven't, now's the time to check what you've missed.
National Duckling Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 1 | Monday |
| 2024 | May 1 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | May 1 | Thursday |
| 2026 | May 1 | Friday |
| 2027 | May 1 | Saturday |
