Growing ducks at home for meat. Breeding and raising ducks at home for beginners

Among poultry species, duck is the most precocious, its young grow faster than chickens and goslings. Already a month after hatching, the ducks increase their weight by 15-20 times (up to 2 kg), depending on the breed. By this time, they can already be slaughtered for personal use, and for meat, for commercial sale, the optimal slaughter age is 55 days, when the weight of the bird is maximum and is equal to the size of broiler chickens (4-5 kg).

Further maintenance of ducks becomes economically unprofitable, as the bird survives the first molt and loses valuable down, and body weight stops increasing.

For the growth of a new feather, the bird needs an increase in the diet. Therefore, the cost of feeding ducks increases almost three times. For this reason, in the future it is best to leave only the parent flock: laying ducks and 1-2 drakes of producers.

Growing ducklings for meat is still preferable because the consumption per kilogram of weight is less than for chickens and geese, since in the presence of pasture and a reservoir, they find almost 50% of their food for themselves.

Of the special requirements that ducks need at home - any body of water. It can be a lake, a natural or artificial pool, even just a dug-in trough or an old bathtub.

Although, now the closed keeping of ducklings without walking is gaining popularity. To do this, special cages with mesh floors or aviaries with deep litter are built in the barn. In the summer, ducklings are kept on feedlots with shelter for the night and from bad weather. In this case, an intensive technology for fattening ducks of meat breeds is used, which makes it possible to obtain an elite bird of 5-6 kg in live weight by the 50th day. Restaurants buy such carcasses at a high price - because of the high quality of the breast and liver.

Brief overview of breeds

Not all breeds are suitable for growing ducklings for meat. The greatest increase in weight is given by white Moscow, Peking, Ukrainian ducks, as well as some crosses - ducklings old 53, mulard, medeo, black and white breast, Blagovarsky, super M4, agidel, cherry valley and Indian runners.

Muscovy ducks and mulards

Ducklings mulards and indouts differ from other breeds in that they do not have a voice - they can only hiss. Another advantage of this French cross is a quick weight gain: at two months, the bird's weight is always above 4 kg. Moulards are unpretentious, feel good on pasture, it is enough for them to build a small pool right in the courtyard.

Of the minuses, only one can be named - it is impossible to breed mulards on their own (they are self-infertile), hatching eggs or day old ducklings must be bought in nurseries, and their price is quite high. The cost of a mulard egg is from 50 rubles, a duckling is over 200 rubles.

Peking ducks

Bred more than 200 years ago in China, the breed was improved in the USA and received the name Cross Star 53. Ducklings gain weight faster than other broiler breeds - by day 50, the carcass weighs up to 4 kg, about 30% of them are dietary brisket.

White Moscow ducks

The breed was bred on the basis of the Beijing breed, the weight of the bird for slaughter reaches 3.5 kg of very valuable, dietary meat. In addition, laying hens can produce up to 150 eggs per year. They are the most delicious among ducks.

Broilers Agidel

Two new, very promising crosses of domestic selection - Agidel 34 and Agidel 345, have already won over many farmers and private traders. Duck meat is lean, the carcass reaches 3 kg of weight, a laying hen produces up to 120 dietary eggs per year. The ducks of this cross are excellent mother hens, they can breed 2 times a year, the hatchability of chicks is almost 60%, which is an excellent indicator for ducks. The bird is completely unpretentious, adapted to our climatic conditions. A big plus is that this cross is not focused on predominant feeding with compound feeds, like foreign breeds. Already from 3 weeks they can be transferred to whole grains.

Duckling care

The easiest way to grow with a hen. But most breeds of meat ducks do not sit well on eggs, so incubation or the acquisition of day old chicks is more often used. Regardless of the breeding method, the feeding period is divided into two stages: up to 30 days and up to 50-60 (before slaughter). And since the growth rate of ducklings is very high, there should be no errors in care - this will lead to weight loss or diseases.

Cultivation of young ducks up to 30 days

From the day of hatching until 10 days old, ducklings should only be kept in brooders or multi-tiered cages in a heated room. And further, at least up to 20-25 days they should sleep in a warm place.

Minimum box dimensions:

• width and length 65x65 cm;
• height 45 cm.

The following indicators testify to the health of the chicks:

• mobility and energy;
• healed umbilical cord;
• soft small belly;
• even smooth fluff;
• fast response to sound;
• a good appetite.

The first feeding must be done no later than the first 18-24 hours of life. The first time to feed ducklings is to give a hard-boiled egg, and then cook wet mash with the addition of cereals and fresh herbs. And if you are going to feed the bird with ready-made feed, then you can immediately take a complete starter feed.

Table. Feeding rates and weight of ducklings - average indicators

The diet for the first month should include the following components:

• wholemeal flour and small cereals from 3-5 grains - 30-40%;
• bran - at least 10% by weight;
• crushed green vitamin feed (clover, nettle, alfalfa) - 30-35%;
• hay flour - 5%;
• ground chalk or shells - up to 1%;
• grated carrots - 3-5%;
• beer (or baker's) yeast - 3-5%;
• up to 1.5% fish oil.

Such a diet should be followed up to 10 days, then the amount of green fodder can be increased up to 40%. And from day 16, ducklings can be transferred to adult duck food, in which the corn content can reach half the amount of grain. It is strongly not recommended to give bread to ducklings and adult ducks - they get bloating and indigestion from this, which inhibits weight gain.

The first 3 days you need to feed ducklings 5-6 a day, then they should have constant access to food and they themselves will regulate the number of feedings.

Chicks should have fresh water at all times. The first days of the drinker should be such that the ducklings reach the bottom with a key, otherwise they may choke. For the first week, it is recommended to add a pinch of sugar to the water - this will increase the vitality of the chicks.

The fact that ducks are water birds does not mean that they will immediately swim - this is what their mother duck teaches them. And if it is not, then you can take on this role. To do this, you need to make a pool next to a brooder from a shallow basin and let the ducklings swim several times a day. They should not be left alone, as they may drown. It is necessary to pour water into the pool at about 28-30 degrees, run the chicks for a few minutes, then take them out, wipe them with a towel and send them to the brooder again. The fact is that down to 9 weeks the ducklings get wet and if they are left wet, they can catch a cold.

In order for the chicks to grow strong and healthy, they should be given prophylactic drugs and vitamins. Schedule and names of drugs - in the table:

Growing ducklings up to 60 days

At the second stage, the chicks can be transferred to adult content. In winter, it is better to do this from 30, and in summer it is possible from 20 days. Winter maintenance is mandatory in a warm and heated room. In summer, you can transfer ducklings to pens with canopies.

Important point! Ducklings are very vulnerable to predators. Enclosures must be carefully strengthened, including from cats and dogs, and from above - from birds of prey, which can easily catch them.

Even crows prey on small ducklings. During the day, chicks can be let out for walks, even taken to a pond (preferably under supervision). Often strange old ducks try to attack the young and can injure the chicks.

The diet for ducklings of the second month of life is presented in the table. There should always be enough water near the food - the chicks constantly drink food to swallow it. Without water, they can even choke.

Ducklings should not be given:

• bread;
• dairy products (except cottage cheese);
• flour;
• boiled cereals (except oatmeal);
• berries (strawberries, raspberries, any others);
• grape;
• silage;
• fresh nettle (it must be dried or doused with boiling water);
• cabbage;
• sunflower seeds;
• chicken feed;
• maple leaves (causes intestinal blockage and death of chicks).

You can feed corn, peas, legumes, oats, cake, meal, wheat, rye, barley, tomatoes, carrots, grass, give mineral supplements (chalk, shell rock, bone meal, coarse sand, crushed shells). Vegetables must be crushed and it is best to fill with water. The bird also loves aquatic vegetation, insects and worms. Small fish can only be given after the ducklings have swum in open water.

Breeding ducks begins with the choice of breed and the collection of information on the care of livestock. Each breed has its own characteristics. Individuals of meat productivity grow rapidly. Downhole weight they reach by the age of 2 months. From a bird of the egg direction, you can get a table and hatching egg. Egg production in laying hens begins to develop from 5-6 months. Individuals do not differ in weight.

Separately, you can consider ducks that have a decorative plumage color. Such livestock is bred to decorate the estate. For ducks, a poultry house is being built, and a walking area is being equipped. It is necessary to provide a food base that will correspond to the characteristics of the breed. To rejuvenate the herd, an incubator is purchased. How to start a newbie in poultry farming? What are the points to consider? How are ducks bred in farmsteads?

Before you start breeding ducks as a business, you need to try your hand at a small number of birds. It is recommended to purchase several breeds of ducks at once. Each livestock is placed in its own enclosure. In this case, it will be possible to compare a bird of a different species, with individual productive features:

• to obtain lean but juicy meat, mulards or musky ducks (indoutok) are bred. Mulards are barren, they do not receive offspring from them. Young growth at 2 months is gaining 4 kg of weight. It begins to be used at the age of 50-60 days. This is a good option for summer residents, but courtyards warn that young animals are expensive. Moulards show good productivity when fattening on combined feeds. From breeding mulard ducks, profits are received not only from the sale of meat, but also from the sale of the liver;
• young indochka at 2 months gaining weight of 3.5 kg. Individuals are unpretentious, prolific. Drakes and females are selected from the livestock to make up the parent herd. You can save on the purchase of ducklings. The eggs are incubated by a mother hen or the material is laid for maturation in an incubator. Ducks do not sit well on nests;
• A popular breed is Peking duck, but its meat does not differ in leanness. At 60 days, individuals weigh 3.5 kg. When mating a Peking duck and an Indo-duck, mulards are obtained, but breeding ducks at home requires a breeding skill. Individuals are unpretentious. They gain weight well when using traditional food;
• the courtyards respond well to the Bashkir and White Moscow breed. By the age of 2 months, ducklings can weigh more than 4 kg. The meat is tender, juicy. The proportion of fat is 20%. Ducks produce 200 eggs per year. Chicks hatch from hatching eggs. Table eggs are sold to food enterprises that bake bakery products. It is forbidden to put them on sale. You can only sell fertilized eggs for incubation;
• look original on the farmstead ducks of the blue pharaoh breed. Their plumage is blue, the tail of the males is a curl. Ducklings reach more than 4 kg in 3 months. Breeding livestock does not require a lot of money. Only gourmets can sell the carcass. It has the appearance of game: gray skin, red meat. The meat has no specific smell and taste. It is juicy, tender and non-greasy. The bird is unpretentious, grows quickly;
• for keeping livestock on the pond, the duck of the black white-breasted, Ukrainian breed is well suited. Young growth is released to the pond from a week of age. The ducklings will be able to get their own food. If there is duckweed in the pond, then this is the best food for the chicks. It contains a lot of protein and microelements. Ducklings will quickly gain weight. Downhole weight 3.5 kg.

In many courtyards, an artificial pond is built, which is decorated with exotic vegetation and beautiful waterfowl. Breeding and selling a decorative breed of ducks will bring a good profit to the entrepreneur. Among the breeds, domesticated species of mandarin ducks, shelducks, and teals are distinguished. Crested birds with downy pom-poms on the back of their heads will look beautiful on the pond.

It is recommended to purchase daily or week-old young animals. Chicks can also be hatched using an incubator if you buy duck eggs, but there is a risk that hatchability will be low. The funds will be spent inefficiently.

Ducklings need a brooder. This is a spacious cage with an infrared lamp. For the chicks, it will be both a source of light and heating. A thermometer and a hygrometer are installed in the cage. The optimum temperature in the cage in the first days is 35 C. Later on, it is gradually reduced to 20-25 C. Humidity is maintained at 60%. Up to 15 ducklings are placed per 1 m 2. They are seated every week, reducing crowding.

When raising ducks at home, you need to decide where they will live. At 15-20 days old, the chicks are moved to large cages for fattening or to an aviary for bedding. Young animals need a house, a poultry house. The poultry house is built from a wooden beam, a greenhouse is adapted or a barn is equipped.

Ventilation must be provided in the room to provide individuals with fresh air. There should be no drafts in it. The windows are made large, but they are painted over with white dye, protecting the ducklings from direct sunlight. A wooden house is placed on poles so that rodents do not get inside, excess moisture does not enter, and dirt does not get inside.

With a cellular content per 1 m 2, no more than 3 individuals are located. Cells are built from a wooden or metal frame, covered with a mesh with a small cell. A tray for litter and dirt is installed below. In the poultry house, the cages are arranged in multi-story rows. Feeders and drinkers are often taken out of the cage so that it is always dry and clean in it.

If the young animals are on the litter, then there can be no more than 5 heads per 1m 2. The litter is made deep. Slaked lime is scattered on the floor, 0.5 kg per 1 m 2. Hay or large wood shavings are laid on lime. It is not recommended to use sawdust as bedding.

Feeders and drinkers are installed in a certain place. There should be free access to them, but at the same time, food and water should not contaminate the floor. For equipment, it is better to adapt a separate platform.

The poultry house is divided into pens. Individuals of the same age and the same breed are placed in each paddock. A separate paddock is required for the parent stock. From the equipped areas they make an exit to the open-air cages, which are located in the open air. Birds need to exercise. Sometimes livestock is taken to grazing.

Ducks need to install a container with water in the house or in the aviary. Birds take baths to wash away dirt and small insects. Ducklings can swim from birth. In some courtyards, artificial reservoirs are built in which algae are found. For decorative birds, they are necessary. With the cellular content of ducks, baths are not taken.

The walls of the house are insulated. The insulation material will keep the interior warm in winter and cool in summer. In cold regions, they additionally equip the heating system, insulate the roof. The optimum air temperature in winter is 8-10 C. If it is planned to get eggs from females in winter, then the temperature is raised to 15-18 C.

You also need to take care of lighting fixtures. The length of daylight hours for chicks is 24 hours. Starting from 2 weeks, the day is reduced. They begin to turn off the lighting for 1 hour. The reduction in daylight hours occurs gradually.

After 30 days, it is brought to normal, 14-16 hours. Fluorescent lamps are used as lamps. They do not give bright radiation, do not irritate birds.

The floor in the poultry house is recommended to be made of concrete. The material is durable, moisture resistant, does not react with chemicals that are in antiseptics. After the slaughter of the birds, the room is completely disinfected. All surfaces are irrigated with an antiseptic. After 4 hours, the dirt is removed. The room is ventilated, new bedding is laid.

It is necessary to carefully choose a place for the poultry house. It should not be located near a source of drinking water, with a garden, with a dwelling. Ducks are shy birds. They scream a lot. The place is chosen away from neighboring houses. Moulards and Indians are quiet. They won't disturb the neighbors.

For fattening ducks of meat productivity, combined dry feeds or traditional nutrition with grain mixtures, vegetables and green grass are used. More effective, but more expensive, is the use of concentrates than grain mixtures. For purposeful fattening, the bird is kept in cages. After 2 months, the young are used for meat. From each individual you can get up to 4 kg:

• from birth to 7 days, ducklings are fed concentrates of the starter version. For 20 heads, 32 kg will be required;
• then the young are transferred to mixtures for adolescence. For 20 heads it is necessary to prepare 124 kg. Fattening lasts 6 weeks;
• the last month they use finishing feeds. They will be required for a livestock of 34 kg.

Concentrated mixtures are balanced in nutrients and minerals, in vitamin supplements. Additionally, you do not need to purchase premixes, give chalk and gravel. Starter mixes are finely ground. Feed for teenagers is also crushed, but not into flour. It is produced in the form of small granules. For finishing fattening, feed in granules, coarse grains are used.

If it is not possible to purchase combined feeds, traditional nutrition is used. For ducklings make up a certain diet. Mixes consist of the following ingredients:

The ration is designed for 20 heads. For a feeding period of 2 months. All ingredients are mixed, stored in a cool and dry place. Barrels made of plastic or stainless steel are used as containers. Barrels must be closed so that moisture, insects and rodents do not get into the feed. Part of the feed can be replaced with vegetables.

The first week, the chicks are fed every 3 hours. Later, the ducklings are transferred to 3 meals a day. This mode is maintained until the end of fattening. Grain mixtures are divided into 3 equal parts. When using succulent feeds, which include grass and vegetables, reduce the supply of grain mixtures. In the morning, ducks are given chopped hay and juicy grass. At lunchtime and in the evening they are fed with grain.

Beginners in poultry farming need to describe how much money they will have to invest in duck stock, and what income will be received from this enterprise. If there are outbuildings in the courtyard, there is enough space for walking, then the costs will be minimal. What expenses should be provided:

• acquisition of young. The cost of a duckling depends on the breed. Daily chicks of mularda cost about 250 rubles, Star-53 - 120 rubles, indo-ducks - 230 rubles, blue favorite - 120 rubles. If you breed mulards, then 5 thousand rubles will be required for 20 heads;
• buying feed. For the livestock of indoutok or mulards, concentrates are purchased. Expenses for 2 months - about 3 thousand rubles;
• poultry house equipment should be provided: cages, feeders, drinkers, a bathing tank, but it is optional if the livestock is kept in cages. All this can be done with your own hands from improvised materials;
• for meat, you should buy a refrigerator.

The cost of 1 kg of duck on the market is 250-300 rubles. The price depends on the region. If the duckling gains 4 kg, then the gutted carcass will weigh 3.5 kg. If the ducklings develop normally, then from 20 heads you can get 70 kg of meat. This will cost an average of about 18 thousand rubles.

Breeding ducks at home does not require any professional training. Such birds are completely unpretentious in their care, in addition, they do not have to build a spacious aviary for walking. Because some breeds feel great even under conditions of limited space.

Duck breeding is fast. Females incubate eggs on their own, and chicks gain impressive weight in a short period of time. Therefore, the maintenance of a duck farm quickly pays off. Today we will tell you which breeds of ducks are good for home breeding, where to start a beginner in this business, how to care for birds.

First you need to decide on the choice of breed. The most popular among Russian poultry farmers are:

• mulard ducks;
• Peking ducks;
• indos;
• Bashkir ducks;
• blue ducks.

The choice of breed, first of all, depends on the purpose of their further maintenance. The bird is bred for meat products, eggs and valuable fluff. There are meat and egg breeds. However, breeders also bred intermediate species.

Ducks mularda

Such ducks are often raised in large poultry farms. Because they are rapidly gaining mass. A particularly valuable product is duck liver, which is used to prepare gourmet dishes.

This breed was obtained as a result of the work of breeders. Therefore, as further breeding in subsidiary farms, birds are unsuitable. Some individuals may show sexual instincts. However, these birds are bred exclusively for slaughter. They are considered completely sterile.

Muscovy ducks

Breeding such ducks is not difficult, and besides, it is quite a profitable business. Poultry meat is dietary, has a pleasant taste. Females can incubate, in addition to their own, eggs from other birds, including chickens.

They were brought back under the USSR in the 80s. They have excellent egg production, they can produce up to 100-120 eggs per year. Such ducks are the forerunners of the well-known mulards. They differ only in their smaller size.

Bashkir ducks

This is a relatively new breed that was bred in Bashkiria in the early 2000s. After that, large poultry farms and owners of small subsidiary farms began to breed such ducks.

Distinctive features of the Bashkir ducks:

1. Birds move through the snow without any problems.
2. The feathers of such ducks are moisture resistant.

A bird of this breed is grown in order to obtain meat and eggs. Individuals are resistant to various diseases, have high productivity. For a year, more than 200 eggs can be obtained from such a meat-and-egg duck. The exact amount will depend on the conditions of the house.

Peking duck

This is the most common breed in the world, it was bred by breeders from China. Such birds are characterized by a restless character, constantly making noise. Ducks are raised for eggs and meat. On average, one female gives up to 200 eggs per year.

Such ducks quickly adapt to cold climates. With proper feeding, they rapidly gain weight. An adult drake grows up to 4 kg, and sometimes more. However, they are prone to various diseases in conditions of constant dampness.

blue ducks

Ducks of the blue favorite breed were bred back in the 90s by Bashkir breeders. They are bred both in the conditions of large agricultural farms and in household farms. This breed is most often grown for the purpose of obtaining meat, because it has a pleasant taste. An adult drake reaches a mass of 4 kg. For a year, about 200-210 eggs are obtained from such a duck.

Individuals tolerate hot and cold climates without any difficulty. In the presence of special feeding, in 3 months the drake reaches its maximum mass.

Raising ducks for meat

Duck meat is not always very popular because of its fat content. Therefore, when raising poultry for slaughter, it is required to responsibly choose the breed. The most suitable breeds of ducks are: mulards, indo-ducks, blue. Such birds have more dietary and juicy meat.

The difference is the breeding of individuals in order to obtain a delicious liver. Such birds have to be kept in barbaric, cramped conditions. They receive food specially several times a day, which greatly exceeds the norm. As a result, after a short period of time, they grow a large liver.

Raising ducks for meat is a fairly lucrative business. For the whole year, up to four broods can be grown for slaughter. Because such birds are slaughtered under the condition of proper feeding after 2-3 months. Duck carcasses are in high demand due to the absence of stumps (new, tough feathers that grow back, which make the duck difficult to pluck). In addition, during this period, ducks consume a small amount of feed. Therefore, it is not advisable for any farmer to keep poultry for more than 60-70 days. It is possible to grow ducks for meat only in a large-sized room. Therefore, it is recommended to equip the barn in advance.

How to equip a duck shed: step by step instructions

To build a duck house, you need to have the following tools and materials at hand:

1. Cement, gravel, sand.
2. Boards.
3. Insulation (polystyrene, sawdust, straw).
4. Reinforcing mesh.
5. Lining (plywood or chipboard) for finishing.
6. Roofing material (for example, slate).
7. Ruberoid sheets.
8. Drill, grinder, hammer, nails.
9. Screwdriver.
10. Shovel.

Table 1. Duckling device

Illustration	Description
	At the selected site, a foundation pit is dug about 30 centimeters deep, the dimensions (width and length) must correspond to the selected dimensions of the future building. Gravel and sand are mixed together and laid in a pit so that the layer is 10 centimeters. Then we tamp well.
	We make a formwork frame for the foundation pit from boards and reinforcing mesh. The frame structure should rise above the ground by thirty to forty centimeters. The resulting pit is filled with concrete, left for two weeks, then we cover the hardened concrete with roofing sheets.
	Collecting the floor Every meter, wooden logs are laid on the floor, plywood is hemmed from below, and insulation is laid between them. Floor boards (plywood, chipboard) are laid on the insulation and nailed to the logs.
	The walls of the duck house are assembled from wooden beams (section from five centimeters). The walls are built with openings for windows and doors. Next, the structure is upholstered with plywood or clapboard (outside and inside), insulation is laid between the layers, closing the gaps.
	Beams for a gable roof are installed. Plywood is hemmed from below, from above - insulating material (roofing material), then roofing material (siding, slate sheets, tiles or other).
	Installation of windows and doors. They must be sliding so that the house can be ventilated. Small metal mesh-lattice is installed in the windows to protect against predators. A door is also installed, it is better that it opens outward - it is more convenient to take water and food containers out of the duck house and do the cleaning.

Growing ducks at home for beginners

Raising ducks will differ depending on the breed. Therefore, it is important for the poultry farmer to learn a few basic rules before buying and breeding ducklings.

Table 2. Growing ducks of various breeds

Regardless of the breed of ducks, it is necessary to regularly sanitize the house and aviary. Otherwise, individuals may become infected due to constant dampness and dirt. Bedding, nests, a place for walking need processing.

Ducks will need to change their bedding frequently. Because unlike chickens, they don't sit on perches. And also all waterfowl have a rather liquid droppings. As a result, the litter quickly becomes dirty, smells unpleasant.

Breeding ducks at home: details for beginners

Each poultry farmer decides for himself which method of breeding ducks to stop on. After the eggs hatch, it is recommended to immediately pick up the ducklings from the mother hen. Then the female will again begin to lay eggs for new offspring. This process is the most productive. During the season, she can make up to three or four clutches.

Periodically, you will have to put hay in the house, because the females build nests on their own. The advantage of breeding ducklings with a mother hen is that you do not need to closely monitor the condition of the eggs. An adult female is able to hatch no more than 15 eggs, this should be taken into account by beginner poultry farmers.

To breed ducklings in an incubator, you will have to purchase high-quality equipment. Since the eggs are large, a higher degree of indoor humidity will be required. Turn them over about 5-6 times a day. In addition, for ducklings to hatch, it is required to maintain the necessary thermal conditions for the eggs at different stages. The incubator should have a built-in timer and heat control system. Premature eggs die immediately.

For the purpose of incubation, eggs no older than 4-5 days are selected. However, eggs can be used to hatch Muscovy ducks even after 7 days. It is recommended to store them at a temperature of 9-12 degrees, turning 3-4 times a day.

On the surface of each egg there is a greenish fatty coating, usually it is not removed. In the case of indoo breeding, it will need to be removed with a stiff brush for 2 weeks after the start of incubation. Before laying the eggs in the incubator, excess dirt will need to be removed from their surface. It is advisable to disinfect the entire masonry in a solution of manganese.

Upon reaching a certain time, the duckling itself will hatch from the egg without outside help. You should not do this yourself, otherwise you can damage the thin blood vessels.

Video - the process of growing ducks

Summing up

Self-breeding of such a bird requires preliminary preparation of the premises for their maintenance. However, even beginners in the field of poultry farming without any experience will cope with such a process.

Breeding ducks is one of the least troublesome (compared to keeping other poultry) ways to provide a family with delicious nutritious meat, and in some cases also make good money. The demand for duck has always been high due to the high nutritional qualities of meat, and duck liver is considered a delicacy. There are other advantages to keeping ducks: duck down is in demand as a natural filler for outerwear, blankets and pillows, and the droppings of these birds are used as fertilizer.

Due to the specific taste, duck eggs are not eaten, but they are useful for hatching chickens. Boiled duck eggs mixed with cottage cheese are excellent food for young animals.

The profitability of keeping ducks depends on the choice of breed. All of them are divided into three types:

• meat;
• meat and egg;
• egg.

For home breeding, meat breeds are preferable, i.e. those that are characterized by rapid weight gain. In Russia, the following meat breeds of ducks are common:

• Beijing;
• black white-breasted;
• Moscow white.

Peking ducks are the most unpretentious in nutrition, they consume almost everything, from algae to offal. Peking duck females gain weight up to 3.5 kg, drakes - 4. This breed belongs to early maturing: young animals are very quickly fattened to slaughter weight. Peking ducks are very hardy: they do not get sick when cold weather sets in and are resistant to major bird viruses. The minuses of the breed include their “talkiness”: the birds react violently to any noise in the courtyard with a deafening quack.

Black white-breasted - a hybrid bred specifically for breeding in the middle lane. The female weighs 3.6-3.6 kg, the drake - 4 or more. Black white breasts are valued for their fatty and very tender meat. The meat of ducks of the Moscow white breed is also distinguished by high palatability, besides, these are quite large birds: males gain weight up to 4.5 kg, and sometimes up to 5.

Requirements for the premises

Ducks are not as demanding on the conditions of detention as pheasants or quails, but the provision of minimal amenities is mandatory. Any utility room can be converted into a poultry house, as long as it is dry, well ventilated and adequately lit. If you plan to keep a small (up to 10 heads) herd, you can equip a duck pen in a room where other poultry or livestock are kept. If a separate room is being built under the duck house, then it is advisable to choose a place on the south side, on a small hill. The land under the duck house should be dry, not flooded by groundwater: although ducks are waterfowl, they do not like to live in a swamp. In a corral with bare log walls, ducks will be uncomfortable, it is advisable to insulate them with foam or plywood sheets.

When building a poultry house, they are guided by the number of birds in the herd. For 1 sq.m. area can accommodate no more than three adults. In addition, it is necessary to provide a place for feeders and drinkers (calculated + 1.5-2 sq.m. to the area).

Video - Poultry house from the greenhouse. Keeping ducks in winter

Arrangement of nests

Unlike chickens, ducks do not need perches and can be kept on the floor. The need for nests depends on the method of breeding ducks. If you keep “seasonal” livestock under slaughter, then it is not necessary to equip separate nests, it is enough to provide the birds with good bedding, but when keeping laying ducks, they are needed. At the same time, it is not necessary to allocate one for each head: there should be half as many nests as laying hens.

Under the nests, you can adapt wooden boxes or pallets, or knock them out of plywood yourself. Recommended dimensions of "seats":

• width - 60-70 cm;
• height - 25 cm;
• threshold height - 7-10 cm.

If parts of boxes are used as nests, they should be separated by partitions. It is impossible to put nests back to back - ducks will pinch each other. Arrange places for laying hens along the wall, opposite the feeders. It is undesirable to place nests opposite the entrance - ducks do not like to be "in sight" when they lay eggs. Nests are filled with bedding, which is changed as it gets dirty.

Litter selection

The main requirement for duck bedding is good moisture absorption. Dampness and moisture affect the plumage of ducks: their feathers are ruffled, losing their heat-saving properties. As a result, the birds freeze and start to get sick. To keep the room dry, deep bedding is best, which involves regularly adding fresh material on top of the already compacted material. In the cold season, the deep litter is changed 2-3 times a month, in the warm season, when the birds are out for part of the day - 1-2 times. The frequency of bedding change also depends on the material used (sawdust, straw, peat).

Peat bedding is considered the most convenient: the absorbing properties of peat are twice as high as those of sawdust, and three times those of straw. Another advantage of peat flooring is that it absorbs well the ammonia smell that occurs during the decay of bird excrement.

The density of the litter depends on the temperature outside the window. In summer and spring, you can add less bedding material, in the cold months it is better not to save it. The thickness of the flooring in the cold season should be at least 25-30 cm, in the warm months - up to 20. Average consumption per 1 adult duck per season:

• sawdust - 12 kg;
• peat - 12-15 kg;
• hay, straw - 16 kg.

In winter, the consumption of bedding material increases, because. it is necessary to line not only the duck house, but also the walking area so that the birds do not freeze their paws.

To prolong the life of the deep litter, it must be turned regularly to prevent the formation of a litter crust on top. The litter that has begun to become damp can be saved by adding slaked lime (0.5 kg per sq.m.) to it, and pouring a new layer on top, thicker.

The deep litter laid in compliance with all the rules is an additional source of heat in winter and autumn. In its upper layers, the temperature remains at 12-17°C, and in the deep layers - up to 28°C.

Heating and ventilation

Most meat and meat and egg breeds of ducks normally tolerate a decrease in temperature, but cold indoors affects weight gain. You can heat the corral with a potbelly stove or electric lamps. When heating with a furnace, the furnace must be separated by a heat-resistant partition. At an external temperature of up to -5 ° C, the duckling is heated once every 2 days; in case of severe frosts, the stove will have to be lit daily. Ducks do not need the "tropics" - it is enough that in winter the temperature in the room does not fall below -5 ° C. For the convenience of monitoring the temperature regime, it is advisable to hang a thermometer on the wall.

To heat the duck house with electricity, LED lamps of the blue spectrum with a power of 50 W are mounted on the wall at a height of 2 m. To ensure the desired temperature in the corral for 10 heads, 5 such lamps are enough.

A separate ventilation system in the duck house is not needed. It is important that there are no drafts in the room, so if possible, windows should be located as high as possible. It is desirable that the window could open in two positions: fully and for ventilation. Slots near windows and doors should be carefully caulked. When keeping livestock on a deep non-replaceable litter, daily airing of the room is necessary. In winter, it is done while walking the bird. At the end of the ventilation, it is necessary to bring the temperature in the room to the desired level by turning on the stove or LED lamps.

Feeders and drinkers

The design of the “dishes” for ducks used for wet mash should be as simple as possible so that it is easy not only to fill it with food, but also to clean it. The optimal format for a duck feeder is a trough divided into sections. The height of the walls of the trough should be sufficient so that the birds cannot climb into it with their feet.

For dry food, bulk feeders mounted on the wall are well suited. Bunker models that provide feed dosage will also be a convenient option. There are also automatic feeders, which help to consume feed as economically as possible, but are also more expensive than others.

Birds must have access to water around the clock, so along with feeders in the pen for keeping ducks, there should be drinkers. They can be made from improvised means or bought ready-made. The most convenient are nipple drinkers, which provide for automatic water supply. Buckets or basins are not suitable as drinking bowls, because. birds can get in there and turn it over.

If ordinary (not nipple or vacuum) drinkers are used, water should be changed in them at least 2 times a day. It is necessary to ensure that the bottom of the container is not overgrown with algae. Once every 1-2 weeks, it is advisable to disinfect the drinkers with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Video - Automatic drinker for poultry

diet

Despite the unpretentiousness of ducks in nutrition, their diet should be properly formed in order to achieve good weight gain. The main types of feed consumed by domestic ducks include:

1. Cereals (corn, wheat, oats, barley, legumes). Cereals are the basis of the duck diet, they guarantee the stable growth and development of birds.
2. Green mass (clover, alfalfa). In the warm season, chopped green mixtures are an affordable way to provide livestock with vitamins.
3. Algae (ryast, elodea). They contain special proteins necessary for the formation of immunity.
4. Vegetables (pumpkin, cabbage, carrots, zucchini). Like green mixtures, they are sources of vitamins. Grated vegetables are added to wet mixers.

If possible, waste from the processing of oil crops (cake and meal) should be included in the diet. They contain high concentrations of potassium and phosphorus, which are important for the formation of the skeleton in young animals. Feed of animal origin (meat or fish meal), dairy products will help to fill the microelement deficiency.

Significantly save on feed for duck herds will allow the presence of nearby ponds with a slow current or meadows where birds can pluck grass. Thus, the herd receives up to 50% of the required daily menu. Feed ducks in the morning and evening. If the birds are constantly in the pen, they are fed 4 times a day, while alternating feeding with wet mash with dry food. In the warm season, it is necessary to monitor the quality of wet mixers: they tend to turn sour quickly.

In winter, when green mixtures and algae are excluded from the diet, the birds are fed 2 times a day, once with a wet mash, the second time with grain and flour mixtures.

Video - How to raise a healthy duckling

Video - How to feed ducks. How to make feed

Breeding ducks at home is a simple task. These birds are so unpretentious and undemanding that even a beginner can cope with their content. Ducks do not need huge areas for walking and spacious poultry houses - up to 150 birds can be grown in a small summer cottage with an area of ​​60–70 m2. Birds breed quickly, hatch their offspring well and rapidly gain weight. That is why the duck farm will become a very profitable business.

To get the maximum benefit from duck breeding, you need to know all the features of their keeping and breeding.

Creating a duck farm is worth doing for a person who lives in a rural area and owns a large plot of land (at least 1500 m2).

To implement this idea, a city dweller will need to buy or rent a plot and move to the countryside. The farm needs constant attention, so you should prepare for hard and hard work.

The project will require large investments at the first stage: the equipment of poultry houses and the purchase of ducklings are not cheap. However, after 2 months, when the first batch of birds goes for slaughter, the farmer will receive income. After 1–1.5 years, the costs will pay off, and the farm will begin to bring a large income.

Farm products and their demand

The main product obtained from the duck farm is delicious dietary meat. It is much healthier than chicken, so it is popular with consumers. It is bought by supermarkets, restaurants and markets.

The duck farm also produces other products:

• down and feather (used as a filler for pillows and blankets);
• eggs (purchased for subsequent incubation);
• chicks (purchased by novice farmers for fattening and breeding);
• manure (used as fertilizer for the soil).

Thus, a duck farm is a non-waste production.

Breed selection

Before you buy ducklings, you should decide on the breed. The most popular are:

• Peking duck;
• Muscovy duck (Indo-duck);
• mulard duck.

The choice of breed depends on what goal you set for your farm.

Domestic mallards (Peking ducks)

Pictured are wild mallards. But domestics often do not differ at all in color. So if a domestic mallard joins a herd of wild ducks, it will be impossible to find it there. Unless the escaped duck will be piebald or white.

Domestic outbreds, although these ducks are often called Peking ducks, ducks can be piebald or white, as a person retains a color that is very undesirable in natural conditions.

Attention! When crossing a white duck with a wild-colored drake, very interesting color combinations are obtained.

The maximum weight of a wild mallard is 2 kg. The “noblewoman” has the same weight and dimensions.

The advantage of outbred mallards is that they have an excellently developed incubation instinct. From 6 ducks and 2 drakes without human intervention per season, you can get 150 heads of young animals weighing 1 - 1.5 kg in 2 months.

But the incubation of duck eggs is a troublesome business not only for beginners. And not even every incubator is suitable for this business. You will have to buy an automatic one with the ability to control temperature and humidity.

Muscovy duck (Indo-duck)

Its other name is Indian. And this is not a hybrid of a turkey and a duck, but also a wild species native to South America. Breeding at home has affected the variability of colors and sizes, but left intact their ability to breed offspring without the help of people.

A domesticated Indian duck weighs twice as much as a wild one. The Indian females have well-developed sexual dimorphism, the weight of the male is twice that of the female. If the weight of wild individuals is 1.3 and 3 kg, then in domestic animals the corresponding sizes are 1.8 - 3 and 4 - 6 kg.

The preservation of the wild habits of the Indochka is also manifested in the behavior of the drake. A two-year-old drake begins to chase outsiders from its territory, surpassing the gander in aggressiveness. And it pinches no worse than a goose.

In terms of meat qualities, the musky duck loses to the Beijing duck (mallard). And the plus side of musky ducks is that they don't yell like Peking ducks.

Breeding ducks at home for beginners is best practiced on these two species.

Mulard

Perhaps this hybrid is not for beginners, but if a beginner gets mallards and indoouts without separating them, then mulard can turn out by itself.

Mulard is a product of crossing a mallard with an Indo-duck. Usually, female mallards and musky drakes are crossed. The result is larger than the parent forms and well gaining weight.

On the Internet, you can find the statement that mulard is suitable for breeding at home. Don't believe!

Warning! Mulard is the result of interspecific crossing. Such animals are sterile all without exception! Ranging from mammals to fish.

Therefore, mulards are suitable only for meat. You can also get food eggs from ducks. Don't even try to breed.

Although there may be confusion in the names. In Russian, "mulard" is an interspecific hybrid between a mallard and an Indo-duck, and in English a mallard sounds like mallard.

The cost of buying a herd

In order for the farm to function properly and quickly bring income, the herd must have at least 1560 ducks(1500 fattening birds, 50 breeding females and 10 drakes). Since the survival rate of ducklings is 95%, you will have to purchase 1640 ducklings.

The cost of a daily duckling depends on the breed and averages 100 rubles. The purchase of 1640 ducklings will have to spend 164 thousand rubles.

Farm arrangement

A duck farm should have a poultry house with two sections (for fattening ducks and for keeping breeding birds), a pasture for walking and a utility room in which inventory is stored. All these facilities are located on an area of ​​about 1500 m 2 . The poultry house will occupy 700 m2.

poultry house for fattening ducklings

The area of ​​​​the poultry house for fattening ducklings is calculated taking into account the number of birds: no more than 3 individuals can be accommodated per 1 m 2. For 1500 birds, a room of 500-600 m 2 will be needed.

To save materials, the walls of the house are made different in height: the front wall should have a height of 1.8–2 m, the rear one - 1 m. Ducks do not need high ceilings, since, unlike chickens, they can do without perches. At the far wall there should be nests for laying hens.

Bird house requirements:

• protection from moisture and drafts;
• good ventilation;
• heating in winter;
• electric lighting;
• ease of cleaning and disinfection.

On the south side, at a height of 5–10 cm from the ground, a vertical hole 35 × 45 cm in size is cut through, which leads to an open-air cage.

Breeding poultry house

The section intended for breeding birds should be equipped in the same way as the section for fattening young animals. However, its area is calculated differently: no more than 2 breeding birds can be located per 1 m 2. For 50 females and 10 drakes, 30–50 m 2 of space will be required.

Particular attention should be paid to the arrangement of nests. They are made of boards and are boxes 40 × 50 cm in size and 25–30 cm high. The front wall should be lower - only 7–10 cm - so that it is convenient for the bird to climb inside. It is advisable to place the nests at the far wall of the house. Their number should be equal to the number of females. Nests are covered with sawdust, moss or straw.

Warmer boxes for little ducklings can also be placed in the house. They must be heated from below, and illuminated from above by lamps with red light.

Poultry equipment

Each poultry house should have the following equipment:

1. Lamps with red light. Even if there are windows in the house, natural light in the autumn-winter period will not be enough. Therefore, it is necessary to install lamps in the room that will provide a lighting intensity of 5 watts per 1 m 2.
2. Heaters. Birds do not tolerate cold well. To prevent the temperature in the house from dropping below 11ºС, it will have to be equipped with heaters. The most economical option would be to install a potbelly stove with a water circuit and radiators. Heating the house with infrared lamps or electric convectors will cost much more.
3. Litter. Poultry house should be covered with straw, shavings or sawdust; this bedding will be changed as needed. For 1 bird per year, it will take up to 6 kg of litter.
4. Ventilation. In order to simultaneously ensure ventilation and heating of the poultry house, it should be equipped not with conventional supply and exhaust ventilation, but with ventilation with forced warm air supply.
5. Feeders for food. Birds should have portable feeders for dry food and wet mash. The feeders have the shape of an elongated trough 25 cm wide and 1–1.5 m long. Their depth is 15–20 cm. They are equipped with a bar on top that prevents the birds from climbing inside and scattering food.
6. Feeder for mineral supplements. It looks like a regular feeder, divided into 3 sections: for chalk, gravel and shells. Attached to the wall at a height of 20 cm.
7. Drinkers. The drinkers are made of wood in the same dimensions as the feeders. So that moisture does not deform the wood, it must be tarred and painted. If there is water supply on the site, you can install flow-through drinkers from a metal pipe sawn into two parts. It is also possible to equip the house with nipple or drip drinkers, and the young boxes with automatic drinkers.

Aviary for walking

There can be 2 individuals per 1 m 2 of open space. Therefore, for a herd of 1560 birds, an aviary with a size of 800 m 2 will be needed. In order for the birds not to scatter, the pasture must be fenced with a high fence, and covered with a net on top, which will protect the ducks from the attack of predatory animals and birds. Part of the enclosure (approximately 200 m 2) should be under a canopy so that the birds can hide from the sun.

If there is a natural reservoir on the site, the birds will be happy to splash in the water. This will reduce the cost of feed: after all, birds will receive almost the entire daily allowance of food in a natural way. If there is no natural reservoir, there is no need to equip an artificial reservoir: it will quickly become dirty.

The cost of equipping the premises

The arrangement of the poultry house and aviaries will require large investments:

• construction of poultry houses - 1 million rubles;
• installation of a ventilation and heating system - 100 thousand rubles;
• installation of lighting fixtures - 100 thousand rubles;
• purchase of heating boxes for chicks - 50 thousand rubles;
• purchase of drinkers and feeders - 100 thousand rubles.

Costs can be reduced if you make drinkers and feeders yourself.

Equipment

The farm should have the following equipment:

1. Incubators. If it is planned to breed ducklings artificially on the farm, you will need to purchase at least 10 universal incubators. In a device designed for 100 chicken eggs, 70 duck eggs will fit. The purchase of incubators will cost 100 thousand rubles.
2. Feather plucking machine. Manually processing a large number of carcasses will not work, so a large farm should have a feather plucking machine. Its cost is low - only 15 thousand rubles.
3. Freezing installations. It will not be possible to immediately sell the finished product, and so that it does not deteriorate, it will be necessary to store it in freezers. An industrial freezer with a capacity of 4.7 m 3 will cost 60 thousand rubles.

Breeding ducks and the principles of the formation of a breeding herd

A duck farm requires regular replenishment of the herd. After the slaughter of the first batch of young animals, it will be necessary to purchase another 1,500 day old ducklings for fattening. In order not to spend money on young animals, it is worth taking care of the self-reproducibility of the farm resources.

To maintain a herd of 1,500 birds, 50 females and 10 drakes will be required. For the year they will give about 7500 ducklings. For the best fertilization of eggs, 5 females should have 1 drake.

Breeding birds must meet the breed standard. For breeding, large, but lean individuals with smooth, shiny plumage and a strong physique are selected. Ducks reach sexual maturity by 5-6 months.

How can I raise ducklings in an incubator and how long does it take

The main advantage of growing ducklings in an incubator is the ability to get a brood at any time convenient for you. In addition, you do not need to take care of the hen, and you can make an incubator with your own hands. Modern home incubators are equipped with temperature and humidity controls. Therefore, you just have to follow the process, turn the eggs over (if this is not automatically provided for by the design of the incubator) and occasionally open the device for a small short-term cooling of them and to remove accumulated gases.

Before laying, the incubator is heated, setting the temperature 1-2 degrees higher than necessary for the incubation of eggs at the very beginning of the process. Besides, it is recommended to make high humidity. To do this, several trays of water are installed on the pallet.

Due to the fact that the shell of duck eggs is stronger than chickens and they are larger in size, somewhat different in chemical composition, the brood appears later.

Duck eggs need more care than chicken eggs and require high humidity.

In the first week after laying, the temperature in the incubator should be at the level of 38 degrees (the first 3 days - 38.2, the next 4 - 37.8). Humidity needs to be kept at 60%. After two weeks of eggs in the incubator, it is worth opening the incubator door twice a day for 30 minutes, lowering the temperature to 32 degrees. Then the temperature regime is resumed.

If there is an ovoscope, you need to check the eggs for the presence of embryos after 9-10 days. Do not allow a sharp drop in air temperature. Chicks appear on the 27-28th day within one or two days. Humidity is maintained at 55%. After the chicks dry, they are transferred to a box, basket, box, after putting dry sawdust, chaff, straw on the bottom.

Install an additional heating source so that the ambient temperature at the bedding level does not fall below 28 degrees and the air humidity does not fall below 80%.

Proper maintenance and care

In the first 20 days of life, ducklings need increased attention in relation to compliance with the temperature regime. If they are next to a duck, you should not worry about an additional source of heating - the duck itself is able to protect them from low temperatures. In the first week of life, the temperature should be maintained at the level of the litter at 27-30 degrees; in the second week - 23-26, in the third - 19-22. Then they get used to the natural air temperature.
As it was said before, bedding must be dry. Otherwise, the ducklings freeze and get sick.

The length of daylight hours at the beginning of life should be at the level of 20 hours with a gradual decrease to 12 hours at the age of one month.

Ducklings with a duck in the morning and afternoon are released for a walk after five days of age. In the evening they close in a room with additional heating if the air temperature is below the above marks. And after three weeks of age, you can leave them outside the room around the clock.

The presence of a reservoir is very good for raising ducklings. With an adult bird, they are released into the water after three weeks of life. Independently - after a month. You can keep ducklings in cages for the first two weeks. Then they are given more freedom. That is, partially walk. Monthly young animals are transferred completely to the contents of the paddock.

What feeders should be installed for birds?

Duck feeders can be placed directly on the floor as they are a type of bird with very low legs. In this case, it will be very convenient for them to eat. However, to prevent ducks from scattering food around, Don't put too much food in the feeders at one time., but exactly as much as the flock will be able to eat at a time.

Also, among all the birds there are often one or two individuals who like to climb into the feeder with their feet, trampling food and preventing other relatives from eating. Therefore, it is important to make something similar to a handle above the feeder, which would prevent the ducks from climbing inside.

Requirements for duck drinkers

The role of a drinking bowl for these birds can also be performed by a reservoir, but they also need to be installed in a dwelling.

It is best to choose wooden, with narrow walls. Ideally, if the water in them will flow through, that is, constantly fresh. For little ducklings, it is convenient to install vacuum drinkers.

How to feed ducklings: compound feed, mash and do-it-yourself vitamins

The scheme for feeding ducklings at home for beginners is simple. Young growth quickly gets used to receiving food at one time. Therefore, you do not have to accustom them additionally to a specific diet. In ducklings, growth and weight gain is fast. At the age of three weeks, it weighs about half a kilogram, after six weeks its weight averages one and a half kilograms, and at 2.5 months it can already be slaughtered, since its weight reaches two and a half kilograms.

But it is better to kill them before the onset of frost, since in summer and autumn the main diet of ducks is greens and everything that they themselves find on the pond. That is, you have to spend a little on food.

You may also be interested in these helpful articles:

• All about the incubation of duck eggs at home.
• How to raise broiler ducks at home.
• How to breed Peking ducks on your farm.
• Description, characteristics and advantages of agidel ducks.

Feeding in the first days of life

Feeding ducks at home in the first week occurs 6-8 times a day. You can make a schedule so that the first feeding is early in the morning, the last before dusk. Finely chopped boiled eggs, fat-free cottage cheese, and other milk-based products are the main diet of ducklings during this period.
It is advisable to give food from narrow troughs, since wide dishes in the form of a brazier contribute to the fact that the ducklings simply trample the bulk of the food. Drinkers should not be placed next to food, since the latter quickly becomes wet, and the water becomes dirty.

The fact is that the duck is a waterfowl. At a very young age, she shows an instinct to eat food that is either in water, or to drink it immediately after falling into her beak. Thus, if the drinker is placed away from the food, the duckling, by the time it reaches the drinker after eating, will already swallow the bulk of it. Thus, clean water can be preserved. By the way, it is recommended to dilute a little potassium permanganate in it, but in such a dosage that it cannot color the water pink.

After five days, they begin to prepare mash for ducklings from the above products with the addition of ground corn and wheat turd.

As always, it is required to ensure that the water in the drinkers is fresh and clean. This is important because dirty and stagnant water is a carrier of many diseases.

What food to give to individuals from one to three weeks?

How to feed small ducks at home? After a week of life, ducklings are accustomed to greenery, because in the future it will become the main food in the diet of these birds. At this age, the duckling eats about 40 grams of various feeds. Gradually reduces the proportion of boiled eggs and dairy products, replacing them with large portions of wheat and corn grist. Feed of animal origin is added to the diet: fish and meat and bone meal.

By the age of two weeks, the duckling needs about 60 grams per head. By this period, a boiled egg, cottage cheese and other dairy products are completely excluded from the diet. Instead, more greens are given. Ideally, if it is duckweed. This bird eats it with pleasure in almost unlimited quantities. At the same time, intensive growth and mass gain begin.

It should not be forgotten that a growing duck eats much less. After 20 days of age, the ducklings are released into the pond along with the mother duck.

You can use "dry" feeding, in which the main diet will be purchased compound feed for ducklings. In this case, their cultivation will be more expensive, but ducklings grow faster.

Mixers are prepared immediately before feeding the birds, as moist pre-cooked food quickly turns sour.

How to care for ducks to prevent obesity and disease

• Be attentive to the diet of your pets, try to make it as varied and nutritious as possible. Add minerals to it regularly.
• Provide the birds with as much space as possible to roam. This rule must also be observed in winter, since at this time the birds are especially prone to obesity.
• The behavior of ducks is the most important symptom of the onset of diseases. Therefore, if you notice lethargy in birds, or vice versa, incomprehensible activity, immediately carefully examine the individual, protect them from possible interaction with the flock and proceed to treatment.
• In order for the eggs to be fertilized, be sure to keep a few drakes in a flock of ducks.
• Be attentive to the characteristics of the breed you breed. After all, those recommendations that may be mandatory for some ducks may be categorically unacceptable for others.

Diseases of ducks and their prevention

Among ducks, diseases such as oviduct pathologies, colibacillosis, salmonellosis, coccidiosis, typhoid, cholera can develop.

The development of diseases in ducks negatively affects not only the health of the livestock, but also the business as a whole, since one sick duck can infect all the others (chicks are most susceptible to diseases).

To reduce the risk of developing diseases, it is necessary to take preventive measures. Should:

• carry out regular cleaning in the premises using manganese and lime, carry out disinfection measures;
• include in the diet of ducks feed rich in various vitamins, which is especially important for young animals;
• make sure that individuals of different ages are in different rooms;
• treat working equipment with disinfectants;
• add garlic and onion to the feed.

These measures will help keep the ducks clean and protect them from various kinds of diseases.

Business registration

To start breeding ducks, you will need to register an IP (individual entrepreneur) or a peasant farm (peasant farm). You will also need to pass a special certification of products and the duck breeding farm itself.

If the production is at the initial stage of development (the volumes are small), then it will be enough to register this type of activity as a personal subsidiary plot (PSP). Such a design requires a minimum of paperwork. Another advantage of this type of registration is the absence of taxes.

Watch the episode of the program "Own Farm" about the personal experience of breeding ducks for sale:

Breeding ducks as a business is a profitable activity, since you can sell not only meat, but also eggs, as well as feathers and down. When doing this, it is important to remember the need for quality bird feed and decent conditions for keeping it.

What are the costs of breeding ducks

It is worth mentioning the financial side of breeding ducks. There will be expenses, and, at the initial stage, significant ... But if you apply simple arithmetic and compare expenses and profits, it is noticeable that they will pay off in a short time.

What you need to successfully breed ducks:

1. Quality feeders and drinkers located throughout the barn. They should not leak and create dampness. Of course, you can make drinkers with your own hands, but this will also require financial investments.
2. Repellers of insects, rodents and predatory animals that can threaten your business with spreading infections and destroying the entire herd.
3. Plucking machine for fast processing during slaughter.
4. Refrigeration equipment. When choosing, it is worth considering the number of birds that is planned, and not the one that is currently available.
5. Incubator.