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DUCK (Anus platyrhinchos)

RAISING DUCKS FOR PROFIT

WATERFOWALS: DOMESTIC DUCK FARMING

•Domestic ducks

(Platyrhynchos domesticus) are decedents of wild mallard ducks.

Lightweight Breeds • High egg production • Excellent foragers • Poor to Fair mothers • Flightier & Fliers

• Campbell • Welsh Harlequin • Runner

Welsh Harlequin • 250 – 340 eggs per year • White eggs • Campbells weigh 5 – 5 ½ • Very adaptable to a range

of climates

Indian Runner • Comes in many colors • Most active foragers • 150 – 300 eggs per year • Adapted to harse

conditions

Medium-weight Breeds Dual purpose – eggs & meat • Moderately fast growth rate • Good foragers • Fair to Good mothers

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• Ancona • Cayuga • Orpington • Swedish

Ancona • 210 – 290 eggs per year • Eggs white, tinted, blue, green

or spotted • Magpie weighs 6 – 7 pounds • Best foragers and best layers of this group

Cayuga • American breed • Dual purpose farm duck • 100 – 150 eggs per year • Eggs light grey, blue, green, or

white • Weighs 7 – 8 pounds

Orpington • a.k.a “Buff” • Excellent dual purpose

bird • 150 – 220 eggs per year • Eggs white or tinted • Weighs 7 – 8 pounds

Swedish • 100 – 150 eggs per year • Eggs white, tinted, blue, or

green • Weighs 7 – 8 pounds

Heavy-weight Breeds – Meat production – Rapid weight gain – Moderate layers – Calm temperaments – Home bodies if well fed – Variable mothering ability

• Appleyard • Aylesbury • Muscovy • Pekin • Rouen • Saxony

Silver Appleyard • Most active foragers and best layers of the

Heavyweight breeds • Produce more flavored meat with less fat

• 200 – 270 eggs per year • Eggs white • Weighs 8 – 9 pounds

Aylesbury • 35 – 125 eggs per year • Eggs white, tinted, or green • 9 – 10 pounds • White skinned

Muscovy • 50 – 125 eggs per year • Weight: 7 – 12 • Fly and roost • Quiet breed – don’t quack • Broody • Aggressive in crowded conditions;

claws. • Meat is lean; can resemble beef or ham • Living wild relatives, native to Mexico, Central & South America.

Pekin • 125 – 225 eggs per year • 9 – 10 pounds • Popular market duck

since arriving from China • Hardy, rapid growth rate, high feed efficiency • Calm temperament

Rouen • 35 – 125 eggs per year • 9 – 10 pounds • Excellent roaster • Production & exhibition

strains

Important Duck breeds • Khaki Campbell • Indian Runner • White Pekin • Muscovy

KHAKI CAMPBELL

INDIAN RUNNUR

WHITE PEKIN

28-d

MUSKOVY DUCK

35-d

Important varieties • Chara and Chembali (Kuttanad ducks of Kerala) • Sythet mete and Nageswari (Eastern region) • Aarani ducks (Tamil Nadu) • Desi variety of West Bengal • Pati, Deo, Cinahabh and Raj Hanh verities (Assam)

Sex identification

Sex ident,

Commercial broiler Ducks •Broiler duck are fast growing

birds they attain their adult body weight by 6 – 8 weeks. •It is observed that even up to 3 kg body weight in possible at 8 weeks in ideal condition. • In China and Korea the farming is very intensive similar to broiler chicken

Choices of Breeds The table varieties like White Pekin and Minicos grow fast and attain 3 to 3.5 kg body weight at weeks of age 18 wks with feed conversion of 3 to 3.5 kg gain. • The Khaki Campbell and Indian Runner are efficient egg – laying varieties producing 250 to 300 eggs per year. They weight between 2 – 2.5 kg on maturity. • Farmer can choose from these varieties depending on type of production (meat and egg) required. •

General Care and Management • Brooding • Rearing of adult ducks • Housing • Feeding • Health care • Male Female Ratio(1:6) • Normal life (8 years)

Male Duck

Ducklings to 3 weeks - 20-22% protein, non-medicated starter mash or crumbles Adolescents 3 to 6 weeks - 16% protein, non-medicated mash, crumbles or pellets Females over 6 weeks - 16-18% when laying Males over 6 weeks of females not laying - 14-16% protein

• Never use medicated chicken or duck feed or feed created for other birds • Cracked corn is not high enough in protein and will harm pond fish • Lay mash is excellent for adult ducks • Crumbles and pellets are easy to use and less messy • Seeds and nuts are a no-no!!! • ALWAYS PROVIDE FRESH DRINKING WATER WHILE FEEDING

Duck Housing

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Duck ECH

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Duck chicks .

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