California farm migrates its duck dynasty, selling millions of baby birds, to Cordova
By Jacob Steimer – Lead Reporter, Memphis Business Journal
The Peabody is about to get competition for the title of local duckmaster.
California-based Metzer Farms is moving the bulk of its huge commercial hatchery operations to Cordova, with plans to sell 1.75 million baby birds from the new facility next year, according to owner John Metzer.
Currently, all 2 million Metzer-hatched birds fly to Memphis to be sorted at the FedEx World Hub before finishing their migration to customers across the country.
The problem with this system, Metzer said, is that it takes 2–3 days to get the ducklings and goslings to customers, who want "fresh" birds. With a hatchery in Memphis, he hopes to give his company — which was founded in the 1970s — an advantage over competitors, decrease the mortality risk for the birds, and lower the (duck) bill for shipping.
"We can cut off that travel time from California to Memphis, plus any potential mistakes or oversights along the way," Metzer said.
To source eggs for the facility, Metzer is working with a former large-scale turkey farmer in Missouri and with Amish communities across the region. Those eggs — from 15 breeds of goose and 18 breeds of duck — will then be incubated in machines in a new, 21,000-square-foot facility on Cordova Park Road just east of Forest Hill Irene Road. Then, when a (pecking) order is received and the birds are one-day old, they will be driven to the World Hub and take flight from there.
From average Americans ordering a pair of birds for pets, for show, or forage, to companies buying thousands to raise for meat or eggs, there are (ducks) unlimited number of reasons customers may buy.
For locals interested in spending $15 or so on a couple ducks, Metzer said the company will offer on-site pickup.
Grinder, Taber & Grinder Inc. is building the $1.6 million building for Metzer.
MILLIONS OF QUACKS
15
Breeds of goose Metzer Farms will hatch in Memphis
1.75M
Number of ducklings and goslings Metzer plans to hatch in Memphis in 2022
3M
Number of ducklings and goslings Metzer plans to hatch in Memphis in five years
$15
Approx. cost of a pair of baby ducks
