Duck Farming

Duck farming is very popular and a lucrative business. All ducks of world comes from the wild birds. Those wild birds wonder around our country once upon a time. Those birds like other Asian wild birds wonder around the water and forest of our country. Those wild birds are from mallard species. Incidentally, all hen of the world comes from red wild hen, which scientific name is garaus banbinda. Everyone knows that duck is an aquatic organism. Duck without water and pond without fish are considered as same. But it is wrong. You can’t imagine pond without water, but duck can be raised without water. Thousands of ducks can be raised without water by keeping them in house like chickens and other poultry birds. But, keep in mind that in this system the ducks will lays unfertilized egg. It is not possible to hatch and produce baby ducks from this egg. If you want fertilize egg, male ducks and water is essential. As ducks can rise easily without water, they need water only for reproduction or mating purposes.

 Advantages of Duck Rearing

 There are a number of advantages of duck rearing over chicken or other poultry birds. They are the following.

1. Ducks lay on an average 40-50 more eggs than the layers of chicken.

2. Duck eggs are about 15to 20 grams heavier than chicken eggs.

3. They require less care and attention compared to other birds.

4. They are good foragers and are able to meet part of their feed requirements.

5. Ducks have longer economically laying period than chicken.

6. They are hardy and more easily resistant to many avian

7. Ducks flourish well in marshy and wet land where most other domestic animals can not survive.

8. Ducks are free from cannibalism and other objectionable tendencies.

9. Ducks lay their eggs before 9.00 a.m. and hence egg collection is easy for the keeper.

10. They are easily trained to manage themselves.

11. They live longer than chicken.

12. They are suitable to integrated farming systems such as duck cum fish farming, duck cum pig cum fish and duck cum kitchen garden.

13. They are resistant to a number of diseases that are usually found among chicken.

14. Ducklings are easily sexed compared to chicks.

15. They are good predators of insect pests.

16. Ducks do not need elaborate housing

Peculiarity of Ducks:

The bodies of the ducks are covered with oily feather so that water can't touch its body easily. It has a layer of fat under its skin which helps it not to get wet. For this reason if the ducks spend a couple of hours in water their bodies do not get wet. Another peculiarity of duck is its leg. Three fingers of its leg is covered with thin skin, which is called 'web'. It works as the paddle of boat. Finger ends in nail. Some species of ducks use this nail for defense purpose. Generally the lip of the ducks is red or orange colored and very strong. With this lip they can eat moss, insects, fish egg, hard snail etc. They send all to the stomach which they found between their lips. It also used to defend to enemies. Hen lays egg all over the day. But ducks start laying from night to morning. For this reason, farmers don't release their ducks before 9 am. If you observe ducks very closely, you will find that they are very clever and intelligent. You can spent your leisure time easily by watching their activities.

Duck Breeds:

There are many types of duck breeds.

• Meat productive duck breeds

• Egg productive duck breeds

• Famous for both meat and egg production.

Famous for Meat:

There are many breeds of ducks famous for meat production. Peking, Ayleshbari, Maskovi, Ruel Kagua and the Swiden ducks are most popular for meat production. The male ducks famous for meat production weights about 5 kg and female weights about 4 kg.

Famous for Egg:

Indian Runner is a breed famous for laying eggs. There are three types of Indian runner. White, greyish and like pencil over the back. Khaki Campbell is also very highly egg productive duck breed.

Famous for Both Meat and Egg:

Khaki Campbell ducks are of this species. They comes from Indian Runner and Ruel Kagua. First one is famous for laying egg and the second one is for meat. Its color is khaki or brown ash.

Brief characteristics of important Duck breed

Egg Laying Duck Breeds

Some duck breeds are very popular for egg production. Egg laying duck breeds become medium sized. Feathers, lips and legs are of various colored. Feather always get disarranged. Crop seems bigger than their body. Bones of chest become very thin and soft. Contain less fat in their body. Indian Runner, Khaki Campbell, Zending etc. are highly egg productive duck breeds. Characteristics of some egg laying duck breeds are described bellow.

Indian Runner:

• Indian runner duck originated form India.
• They are small sized duck.
• Feather color is white like milk.
• They stay in both water and ground.
• The beauty of their feather gets damaged if they can't swim in the water.
• They have three variant. Among them white one is most popular.
• The color of their egg is white.
• Lay about 250 eggs per year.
• Neck is very lustrous.
• They walk straightly.
• Adult male duck weights about 2-2.5 kg and female duck 1.5-2 kg.
• Their body is light, long and globular.
• Head is small and flat.
• Lips are orange or yellow colored.
• Wings are comparatively smaller than body.
• Feathers are well arranged and tight.

Khaki Campbell:

• Khaki Campbell duck originated from England.
• Mrs. Campbell, queen of England first introduced khaki Campbell duck.
• They are of medium sized.
• They gain about 1.5-2 kg weight within two months of age.
• Adult male duck weights about 2-2.5 kg.
• Adult female weights about 1-1.5 kg.
• Lay white colored eggs.
• Body is deep, wide, light and front side globular.
• Tail is comparatively short and skate.
• Head is globular.
• Lips are medium sized and greenly blue colored.
• Neck is short, straight, smooth and medium long.
• Lay about 250-300 eggs per year.

Zending:

• Zending duck originated form Zending of China.
• Their size is like Campbell duck.
• Their feather slightly khaki, brown and full with numerous black spots.
• Legs and lips are brown colored.
• They lay about 200-250 eggs per year.
• Their eggs are slightly green colored.
• Adult male duck weights about 1.5-2 kg and female duck weights about 1 kg.
• Zending duck is very suitable for farming in salted area.
• Feather of head and neck is bright green colored.
• They gain maturity within 110 days.

Deshi Egg Laying Duck Breeds:

• This breed originated from Bangladesh.
• There are about 95% of deshi ducks among the all ducks of Bangladesh.
• Their meat is very tasty.
• Neck is comparatively smaller than their body.
• They are of various colored.
• They weights about 1 kg on an average.
• Lay about 60-70 eggs per year.
• Small sized and expert in baby rearing.
• They incubate their eggs.
• They love to stay in water.
• Egg producing efficiency is very low.
• Very suitable for the weather of Bangladesh and other Asiatic countries.

Meat Duck Breeds

Ducks are very suitable for meat production. Because they can't lay much eggs like chicken. There are many highly productive meat duck breeds around the world. Meat productive ducks become very fast growing. Feather and lips become bright and shiny. Wings are arranged well with their body. Lay less eggs but big sized.Fat is very high in their body. Chest is wide and fleshy. Meat duck breeds loves to eat vegetables leaf. Name and characteristics of some highly productive meat duck breeds are described bellow.

Peking:

• Peking is one of the highly productive  meat duck breeds originated form China.
• Feather of Peking duck become white colored.
• Lay white colored eggs.
• In proper care and management they can lay about 160 eggs per year.
• They lay big sized eggs.
• They become 3.5 kg weights within two months.
• Adult male duck weights about 4.5 kg and female duck 4 kg.
• Their eyes, lips are of yellow colored.
• They don't take care of their baby.
• They don't incubate eggs.
• Their body is wide and globular.
• This is the world’s most popular productive meat duck breeds.
• Their meat is very tasty.
• Their heat is big, globular, wide and very strong.

Muscovy:

• Muscovy duck originated from South America.
• They have many variant.
• There are many red spots around their eyes.
• Food to meat converting efficiency is very high.
• They lay about 80-100 eggs per year.
• Adult male duck weights about 5 kg and female 3.5-4 kg.
• Their comb is red colored.
• They don't incubate eggs.
• They take care of their baby.
• Their body is big sized, long and wide.
• Feather color is mixed with black and white.
• White breeds feather become white colored.
• They don't make noise like other ducks.

Aylesbury:

• Aylesbury is one of the another famous meat duck breeds originated form England.
• Head is big, straight and long.
• Body is deep and keeps their body and head straight.
• Legs are short and very strong.
• Their legs are orange colored.
• Feather is white colored.
• Lips become yellow colored.
• Adult male duck weights between 4-4.5 kg and female 3-4 kg.
• Female ducks lay about 100-110 eggs per year.
• Don't incubate their eggs.
• The color of their eggs is white.
• Gain about 3-3.5 kg weight within two months of age.

Rouen:

• Rouen duck originated from France.
• They are very beautiful.
• Head is big sized.
• Lips are long and wide.
• Their body is wide.
• Feather of wings is gray colored.
• Feather of tail, head and neck become green colored.
• Lips of male duck are bright red and greenly black.
• Female ducks lips become bright orange colored with black spots.
• Lay about 80-100 eggs per year.
• Adult male duck weights about 4-4.5 kg and female weights 3.5-4 kg.

Egg Production in Ducks

Annual rate of egg production varies with breed. Ducks normally begin to lay at about 6 month of age. Indigenous duck produce 90-130eggs per bird per year. Muscovy breed known for meat production in the world lays only 40-45 eggs per bird per year. Indian Runner breed is a good layer having an average record of more than 250 eggs per annum. Khakhi Campbell breed is highly prolific and its ducklings start laying of eggs when they are 120 days of age and produce about 300 eggs per bird per year. They also produce eggs during second year. About 95% of eggs are laid in the morning. Ducks can live for about ten years but the effective laying period is about 4 years. For the commercial egg producers, it is advantageous that eggs are laid during morning between 6-9 a.m. can be collected on paddy straw spread in the field within a temporary fence.

 

A. Egg for hatching

Egg for hatching must be fertilized. A duck normally starts laying eggs at the age of 16 weeks. For the purpose of producing  fertilized eggs, one drake (male) is used for mating 5-6 ducks. During early periods of breeding this ratio can be one male to four females and similarly at the older age the number of males is increased since during these times the drakes are less active.

Drakes should be kept with ducks all the time and eggs produced after one month, from the day, ducks and drakes were kept together, are collected for hatching. Both sexes are allowed to mate till the requirement for the fertilized eggs stands. It is a mistaken belief that effective copulation can only take place in water. Matings are successful on dry ground. The role of water in the vicinity is that ducks keep themselves clean and they keep their eggs at a place having correct humidity and temperature.

 B. Incubation of eggs

Ducks of the improved laying breeds are for all practical purposes non-broody. On a small scale, eggs can be hatched by a broody hen, duck breeds Muscovy and East Indian breeds, which are good sitters. A hen can cover about 12 eggs and a broody duck about 15 eggs.

The most common method of getting eggs hatched is the use of incubators. The incubation period of duck egg is 28 days. The optimum temperature is 37.2 to 37 .5°Cand the relative humidity is about 65 to 70 per cent. In the incubator eggs are turned at 2 to 4 hours intervals up to 25th day. On 26th day, they can be transported to hatching tray and no turning is needed afterwards. Ducklings can be kept about a day in these trays.

The main problem that needs consideration while incubating artificially is that shells of duck eggs have much larger pores. For this reason, they should not be stored longer before incubating. Stored eggs dry up and get infection of bacteria. Eggs laid in low temperature hatch better than those laid in high temperature. More important is that hatching eggs should be kept cool prior to incubation. Egg should be kept at temperature below 200C. Eggs laid during cool season show about 80% fertility; while eggs laid during hot season could go down to as low as 12 percent. Eggs of medium size show more fertility than eggs of small and large size. Avoid small, large, pointed, round, greasy and chalky and thin shelled eggs.

V. Brooding Ducklings

In commercial duck farming, brooding of duckling is very important Brooding management determines the growth, mortality rate and eventually the productive life of the ducks.

Under natural conditions, a duck or a broody hen can take up to 10-15 ducklings for brooding. For the first few days after hatching feed and water should be provided in the house. After 5- 7 days, the broody hen or duck along with the ducklings may be allowed to move within the restricted area. Young ducklings fall easy prey to wild birds. The entire brood should be protected from rain, cold winds, predatory birds, animals and rodents. After 2-3 weeks no mothering is necessary.

Artificial brooding is necessary for large number of ducklings. Any equipment that broods chicks efficiently can be used for brooding ducklings. The brooding period of ducklings varies with breed. Khaki campbell duckling requires 3 -4 weeks of brooding. On an average brooding period of ducklings is about 4 weeks. A temperature of 30^o C is enough for the first weak and it is to be reduced about 3^o C per week till it reaches the room temperature. Then ducklings are transferred to shed or other place where they grow and mature. Ducklings can be reared in intensive, semi-intensive and range system. In range system, they need a little high shelter.

Ducklings may be brooded on wire floor, litter or in batteries. A wire floor space of 0.046 squire metre per bird or solid floor space of an average of 0.093 sq m per bird would be sufficient up to 2 weeks of a age. The space requirement from first to eighth I weeks of age is given in table-l

Table -1: Space allowances for ducklings

Sl.No	Age in weeks	Floor space per bird (sq.m)
1	1-2	0.09
2	2-3	0.13
3	3-4	0.19
4	4-5	0.23
5	5-6	0.37

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Breeding Process:

For reproduction of ducks water is a must. Without water they do not inspired in mating. One male duck is sufficient for mating 10 female ducks. High quality duck breeds start laying eggs at the age of five months. Each egg weights about 50 to 60 grams. You can use hen to hatch the egg instead of duck. Do not keep the newly born baby ducks in water at the first week of their birth. Because by keeping the baby in water they can caught by cold. It takes 28 days to hatch and produce baby ducks from egg. During the hatching period of eggs the eggs should be sprinkle with water occasionally, two or three times per week. Electronic or diesel incubator can be used to hatch the egg. But many farmer prefer hen than incubator to hatch the eggs.

Caring the baby ducks:

Before bringing ducks to farm you have to make the room well where the baby ducks will stay. It should keep over the net of wire so that they get affected by diseases less. The net should 1.5 feet high from the ground, so that closet can be easily remove.

The temperature for khaki Campbell ducks should maintained strictly. For the first few days temperature should be 300°c - 320°c then it should be reduced at the rate of 2.80°c daily as long as it reach 240°c. At the age of 20-25 we can release them to the floor. Make a deep litter before releasing it on the floor. 3 squire feet space per ducks is required. Water is a must for ducks as it can't survive without water. So the farmers should make a proper source of supplying water. A pond near the farm should dug. You may use a little plastic baby pool for domestic duck keeping purpose. The duck will enjoy swimming and keep breading. Water is also needed for mating. Ducks generally eat insects, fish, oyster, snail etc. If you want to provide food by your own it should be nutritious and contain proper amount of vitamins and minerals. On an average khaki Campbell ducks consume about 130 g food daily. Farmer can make the food of duck by his own because it reduce expenditure. The ratio of commodities per 100 percent of mix is, wheat- 30 percent, broken rice- 40 percent, black sesame- 10 percent, soybean- 10 percent, snail powder-10 percent. Vitamin A, B2, D3, E should 10g per 100kg of food mix. Corinne chloride should 50g per 1000kg. If any farmer can survive this types of food it will make good result in egg and meat production.

Sex Determination:

It is not so difficult to determine the sex of newly born baby ducks. Raise up the tail of the baby ducks and press on its ass, if there is a penis like thorn it will be male and if not it will definitely a female duck. The easiest way to determine male is the feather of tail of male ducks are curled up.

Housing:

After brooding ducklings for 4 weeks, birds are transferred to sheds of convenient size for their comfortable stay and growth. Ducklings can be reared in (1) ineffective system, (2) semi- intensive, and (3) range system.

1. Intensive system

Under intensive system ducks are reared on deep litter till they attain the age of 16 weeks. A confined space of 0.279sq m(3sq.ft) per bird is allowed. As the ducklings become 17 weeks old, they are vaccinated against duck plague and given more space, about 0.465 sq. m (5 sq. ft) per duck.

Ducklings grow at very fast rate and therefore require a ration rich in all nutrients. Khaki Campbell duck consumes about 12.5 kg of feed up to 20 weeks of age. Afterwards the consumption varies from 120- 170 gm per bird per day depending upon the rate of production and availability of greens. The starter, growers and layers ration should contain a protein percentage of 21, 18, and 18 respectively with a metabolizable energy (ME)of2850, 2,900 and 2800 kcal per kilo of feed, respectively.

2. Semi-intensive system

Under semi-intensive system, birds are grown on deep litter with floor space of 0.186sq m in high shelter and 0.929 sq. m as outside run till they attain an age of 16 weeks. For feeding wet mash. V' shaped feeders can be used. Allow 10 cm space on the hopper for feeding.

Under semi- intensive system local feeds are also made use off. One third of the meal ration may be replaced by cheaper vegetable feeds household scrapes and fodders as available under local conditions.

3. Free range system

In free range systems, ducklings are provided ample space for run and in night shelter. Under this system a flock of 2000 ducks can be reared per acre (0.0456 hectare). Ducks on free range system obtain most of their protein needs by foraging from small fish, crustaceans and insects.

Land Based Duck Rearing

Land based duck rearing is to make arrangements for artificial water stores, ponds etc. It is a recent innovation suited for places where natural water bodies are not available and ducks can be reared economically, because of vicinity of the market for ducks products. Moreover, this a unique system for even large scale commercial farming in minimum space. Normally more than 120 ducks are reared, along with pisciculture (fish farming) on an area of 1200 sq. feet including night shelter, water channel, feeding floor and open run.

The water channel of 25 feet long, 1.5 feet wide and one feet deep is sufficient for 100 ducks, which is filled with fresh water every day. Duck farming in such intensive system is always advantageous from the point of its management, feed utilization and maintenance of hygiene. A night shelter may be constructed using appropriate materials with sufficient provision for ventilation.

Duck Feed

Ducks are the most efficient type of birds to convert fallen grains of the fields, insects, plant materials and pond materials into edible meat and eggs. Ducks of various age groups are fed on different feeds viz starters 0 -2 weeks, growers (3 -8 weeks) and for adults above 9 to 20weeks till they start laying eggs, layers and breeders. Commercial feeds are available as mash pelets and crumbs. Ducks should never have access to feed without drinking water because they need wet feed. Pellet feeding though costly has distinct advantage of saving the amount of feed, labour convenience, no scouring and improvement insanitary conditions.

1. Feeding ducklings

Ducklings should be fed as soon as they are removed from the incubator to the brooder or immediately after they are received from the hatchery. Since ducklings do not readily learn to eat, it is necessary that extreme care should be given to them for the first few days to save them from dying or starvation. If it is possible to put several ducklings that have already learned how to eat in the brooder with the new hatch they will learn to eat quickly. If it is not possible, it might be necessary to hand feed some of them for the first day or two. Day-old ducklings should be given coarse milled cereals moistened with milk or water as a first feed and then a proprietary mash or one with composition approximating to following:-

(a) Milled cereal                      35 parts

(b) Fine cereal bran                30 parts

(c) Fish or meat meal              20 parts

(d) extracted oil-cake meal     10 parts

(e) Fine grit and minerals        5 parts.

The mash should be damped just sufficiently to make it "crumble'. If it is too wet, much of it is lost through the saving process to which it is subjected in the ducks bill. No more feed that can be eaten in about 1 0 minutes should be fed at any time. Grit or sand and water should be available. Ducklings normally consume 12.5 kg of feed in 20 weeks.

2. Feeding growers and layers

Feeding ducks require much care. Duck feed stored under comparatively high relative humidity, get poisoned due to fungal growth. In order to avoid problem of feed toxicity, feed may be formulated by eliminating maize and groundnut cakes as far as possible. Broken rice, damaged wheat, soybean meal etc. can be included in formulating the feed. Fish meal should be of fresh and good quality. Strong feed for longer time should be avoided, all other precautions must be observed before selection or making feed.

A generalized formula for different categories of duck feed is given in Table -2. Depending upon the availability of different feed ingredients at different situations the formula may be altered.

Table-2: Diet of duck of different categories

Sl.No	Ingredients Kg/100 kg	Starters	Growers	Layers and breeders
1	Broken wheat	38	40	35
2	Broken rice	20	20	20
3	Soyabean meal	25	20	25
4	Fish meal	10	8	10
5	Deoiled ricebran	5	10	5
6	Mineral mixture	2	2	2
7	Shell grit	-	-	3
8	D.L.Methionin (g)	50	50	50
9	Manganese sulphate	10	10	10
10	Vit. A,B2,D,K (g)	25	25	25
11	Copper sulphate (g)	1	1	1
12	Gentian violet (g)	30	30	30
13	Niftin 200 (g)	25	-	-
14	T.M-5 (g)	100	-	-

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What Not to Feed Ducks:

The most common items and waterfowl contains least nutritious and also unhealthy such as bread, chips, crackers, popcorn etc. you should not feed bread to your ducks because it has no health value and also hinders ducklings growth, make dirty  water ways and attract rodents. Similarly, ducks must not feed any products which are spoiled. Besides, spoil feed can be harmful to the duck.

Tips for Feeding Ducks:

o            You should not feed the ducks when the ducks are uninterested to eating and if you do so then the duck will leave the feed uneaten.

o           You should be careful of the ducks that come closely and remember that they are still be aggressive.

o          Clean all the garbage properly.

o        Be aware about children and others pets so that they cannot disturb the ducks.

o       Always follow the local facilities that help to feed ducks

Common Duck Diseases

Ducks appear to excel all other domestic poultry in their resistance to common avian diseases, but they suffer from duck plague, duck virus hepatitis and some other diseases. A few for example are presented here. In case of need veterinarians must be consulted.

1. Duck plague

Serious outbreak of duck plague also known as duck virus enteritis can Cause 80 -90 % mortality in flocks of all ages. It is a highly contagious disease and strikes swiftly without warning.

a. Symptoms

Birds become restless with drooping wings, ruffled feather. Their-eyes become swollen and moist with sticky discharge. They stop feeding and drink water frequently and feel difficulty in breathing. Sometimes watery yellow diarrhea with blood is seen. Occasionally penis is swollen and protruding. In laying females, hemorrhages can be observed in the deformed and discolored ovarian follicles.

b. Prevention and control

The birds can be protected by duck plague vaccine, available in the country, given at the age of 8 weeks.

2. Duck cholera

Highly infectious disease Caused by bacterial organism pasteurella multocida in ducks over 4 weeks age.

a. Symptoms

Birds loose appetite and their body temperature becomes high. Initial diarrhea is followed by mucoid droppings.

b. Prevention and control

Birds must be vaccinated first at the age of 4 weeks and again at 16 weeks age with duck cholera vaccine. Sulphonamides and antibiotics are effective in controlling the disease and reducing mortality. The dead birds should be burnt.

3. Aflatoxicosis

Ducks are very susceptible to aflatoxin content of the feed. The minimum toxic dose for ducks is 0.03 per kilo in feed. ducklings are more susceptible. Aflatoxin is produced by the mould Aspergillus flavus in the feedstuffs such as groundnut, maize, rice polish, etc.

a. Symptoms

Birds first show poor feed intake, poor growth, falling of feathers, lethargy, unthriftliness, lameness. At the latter stages, birds express liver lesions, ataxia followed by convulsion and death.

b. Prevention and control

Avoid feeding mouldy feeds. Feeds should be checked for aflatoxin particularly during and after rainy season.

4. Botulism

The disease occurs in young and adult stocks. It is caused by the bacterium clostridium botulinum which grows in decaying plant and animal materials.

a. Symptoms

Birds lose control of their neck muscle and usually drown of swimming water is available. Bird show dullness, ruffled feathers, lameness, drooping wings, laboure breathing, coma and death.

b. Prevention and control

The affected birds can be given C-type antitoxin. Maintenance of cleanliness including the removal of rotting vegetation and dead birds, will prevent the disease.

5. Internal parasites

Ducks are resistant to internal parasites.. these are more when ducks are kept on a range or when they have access to ponds. These include flukes, tape worms and round worms. There are suitable medicament's available in the market which can kill or expel these from the body. Periodical examination of fecal material is very useful to identify and to treat ducks.

6. External parasites

External parasites are comparatively less in ducks as compared to chicken. They produce annoyance to them leading to reduction in egg yields. Some of these do transmit a few disease producing organisms. It is for this reason they are to be free from the Storage of Eggs:

Eggs can be kept in various ways from being rotten. It can be kept in refrigerator, mixing with lime water or pyraphine. Actinium glass water can be used to store eggs.

Selling Eggs:

Before sending the eggs to the market you have to wash out the dirt of eggs shell well. Don't wash the eggs with water. Eggs should clean with knife, soiled paper or towel. Eggs basket or carton is very popular for caring. Each cartoon contains at least 30 eggs. You can also use bamboo basket, wooden box and other thing to transport eggs to market. A deep layer of hay or rice dust should make before using those methods.

However, to be success in duck farming you have to be more careful on taking care of ducks, feed management, accommodation, brooding and marketing. If all are well managed then you can make a handsome income from duck farming. You also have to be conscious about the disease of ducks and its preventing methods.

Market of Eggs and Meat of Ducks:

There is no anxiety about the market of ducks egg and meat. People all over the world like ducks egg and meat from the ancient time. People like ducks eggs and meat most than hen. Ducks eggs are likely big than hen. But ducks meat is less popular than its egg. However, there is no tension about the marketing of ducks eggs and meat.