In any private sector there is a poultry yard where chickens live.
But many believe that chicken meat has become everyday, but duck meat is considered a delicacy.
Virtually every farmer is trying to grow their domestic ducks.
Properly making a choice on breeding one or another breed of ducks, you can very well provide your table with tasty meat, and also make very good money by selling them.
Ducks are quite common in farms.
The main factor in breeding ducks is the choice of breed.
There are several varieties of ducks, which you will learn about later, as well as the features of each breed and the features of the breeding of these birds.
In agriculture, there is three types of ducks:
- Meat breeds - these breeds differ from others in a quick set of their mass.
- Meat-yoke breeds - these breeds are characterized by good egg production and weight gain.
- Egg breeds - these breeds differ from others in high egg production.
What breeds of ducks are meat?
Peking Duck, how is it characterized?
Peking duck considered the best duck in the meat breed.
The Chinese bred this breed about 300 years ago in the west of Beijing, but not much later they began to be bred in other parts of China. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Peking duck was introduced to America and Europe. After that, she appeared in our country.
What kind features Peking duck possesses:
- It looks like a very large bird with a wide raised body and broad chest.
- The mass of an adult female is 3.4 kilograms, and the drake is 4 kilograms.
- One duck's egg production ranges from 85 to 125 pieces per year. The mass of one takes 90 grams.
- In comparison with other breeds of ducks, the Peking duck has a fast metabolism.
- The average body temperature of ducks is 42.2 degrees Celsius.
- Peking ducks are considered omnivores.
- Peking ducks have a white color, orange beak and thick reddish paws.
What kind positive qualities can be described Peking duck, we list below:
- This breed of ducks is one of the most common in our country.
- Peking Duck is precocious.
- Birds feed very quickly.
- This breed very well tolerates the cold pores of the year.
- Ducks have a high viability.
- They are resistant to various diseases.
What can be said about negative side this breed:
- Some farmers find them very shrill. This breed has a high nervous excitability, so that a little noise in the yard will constantly attract them.
- Ducks need certain conditions, on which their productivity depends.
Ducklings aged one and a half months already have a weight of about 2.4-3.1 kilograms. It is best to grow them for meat before the onset of the juvenile molting period (approximately seventy days).
Since at this time they cease to grow, but begin to consume twice as much food, there is a development of internal organs and the growth of new feathers, which are then not removed during the removal process and impair meat quality.
Meat breed - black duck black duck
The black white-breasted duck was bred when two breeds were crossed: Peking duck and Khaki Campbell. This breed was bred on the basis of the Ukrainian Institute of Poultry.
What kind features This duck has:
- This breed is characterized by a raised body with a deep chest.
- The back of the duck is large and long enough, slightly raised to the tail. The tail is also slightly raised.
- Mostly duck color is black, but part of the belly and chest are white.
- Drakes are distinguished by a blue-violet tint on the neck.
- Legs are small, not thick, black.
- Bill is medium, concave, dark or slate color.
- Duck eyes are shiny, large and black.
- The wings are massive, very tightly pressed to the body.
- The mass of an adult female is 3.6 kilograms, and the mass of the drake is about 4 kilograms.
- The egg production of black white-breasted duck is about 115-125 pieces, weight, which is 80-90 grams. The color of the egg shell is white.
Positive sides This breed of ducks:
- This breed of ducks is meat.
- Puberty of ducks comes to half a year of their life.
- These birds feed very well and are early maturing.
- They refer to ducks generally user character.
- Meat and poultry eggs are of high quality.
- Ducks have a good survival rate.
Ducklings aged 60-65 days reach a weight of one and a half kilograms. The meat of this duck breed differs from other breeds in its greater fat content and quality.
Negative qualities of this breed of ducks were noted.
Breed of Moscow White ducks
The Moscow white duck is also one of the most famous. It was bred thanks to two breeds: Peking and Khaki Campbell.
The state farm "Ptichnoe" of the Moscow Region was breeding this breed of birds. The goal, which was to obtain meat breed, with enough high egg production.
According to external factors, a duck is similar to a Peking duck, yet there are some peculiarities.
Features Moscow white ducks:
- The bird has a massive body with a wide round chest.
- The head is small, located on a very flexible neck. The beak is red.
- The paws of the duck are not long and wide apart, pink color.
- Feather color is white.
- The weight of an adult male reaches 4.4 kilograms, and the weight of females per kilogram less.
- Eyes have ducks blue.
Virtues Moscow white duck:
- Females are characterized by high egg laying capacity. During the period they carry up to 120 pieces, the mass of one can reach 0.1 kilogram.
- A good quality is the prevalence of the breed, which indicates its low cost.
- Birds are characterized by good adaptation to different weather conditions.
- Ducks do not need whimsical self-care.
- The birds have very tasty meat.
- The positive side is a good reproductive system.
- The duck survival rate is ninety percent.
- The bird has good meatiness without strong fat deposits.
Negative qualities of this breed of ducks were not identified.
Duck breeds
Khaki Campbell is a meatless duck breed
This breed of ducks was bred in England by Adel Campbell's house back in the 1800s. Its purpose was to get a duck to provide meat for his family.
Breed this breed of ducks by very difficult crossing paths.
Features This breed is listed below:
- The color of the feathers of this duck can be different: fawn, dark and white.
- Birds of this breed have a low weight. The mass of the male ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 kilograms, and the females within 2.5 kilograms.
- Puberty occurs in 6-7 months.
- Egg production in birds ranges from 250-350 pieces. Eggs with white shells and weighing about 80 grams.
- Birds have a small head with their beak and neck.
Positive traitswhich has a breed of ducks Khaki Campbell:
- Birds are characterized by high egg production.
- This breed is very tender and tasty meat.
- Birds are very mobile and active.
- Birds adapt to different housing conditions.
TO lack of This duck includes the following facts:
- Females are not very good chicks.
- It is necessary to monitor the nutrition of the ducks, if they eat well, they are calm enough.
It is also interesting to read about the best breeds of geese.
What characterizes the mirror breed of ducks?
The mirror breed of ducks was obtained as a result of a very complex breeding method in the 1950s at the Kuchinsky poultry factory.
The purpose of breeding this duck breed was to obtain a precocious breed with good meat qualities. This breed is not very common among farmers.
Features Mirrored Duck:
- This bird is early ripening, with very good meat qualities.
- The weight of one duck is approximately three kilograms, and the drake is 3.8 kilograms.
- One bird's egg production per year is 160 pieces, sometimes up to 200 pieces. The shell can be white, less often yellowish, and sometimes completely speckled.
- The body of the bird is long in front sluyas raised.
- The head is small, the neck is medium, the beak is wide and long.
- The legs are small, but almost always fledged.
- The wings and tail are also small.
- The color of feathers is white, grayish, silver and creamy. In males, the head is covered with black or brown specks.
Positive traits mirror duck:
- The bird is very mobile.
- Adapts duck to different conditions of detention.
- Mirror duck has a high egg production.
- The survival rate of young ducklings is over 95 percent.
- Poultry meat is characterized by good taste.
The disadvantage of a mirror duck can be considered not prevalence.
Duck breed - Kayuga
The Cayuga Duck is an American breed of ducks. She is very beautiful. It was withdrawn in 1874.
What kind features can tell about the bird:
- The Kayuga ducks have a very beautiful feather color — black with a green tint.
- The birds are very strong.
- The eyes are dark brown.
- Paws and beak only black.
- The legs are small, the tail is also pointing upwards.
- The weight of the male of this breed ranges from 3.2 kilograms to 3.8 kilograms, and females from 2.8 to 3.1 kilograms.
- The average egg production of this breed is 100-150 pieces per year. The weight of an egg is 70-80 grams. The peculiarity is that the first ten eggs are black, and then they begin to brighten and become gray or greenish-white.
TO merits This breed can include the following indicators:
- Females are very good chicks.
- Cayuga ducks adapt to different locations.
- Birds are very calm and obedient.
- Ducks are very fond of walking, on which they eat different worms.
- The birds have a good survival rate of young.
Saxon duck breed
Saxon ducks are in the direction of meat. Ducks were bred in Germany. The bird first appeared in 1934.
In breeding birds, Peking, Rouen and Pomeranian breeds were used. This breed is very good for breeding in the household.
FeaturesSaxon duck possesses:
- The bird is very massive and well-fed.
- Ducks have very beautiful plumage. In the drakes, the head and neck are dark blue with a metallic sheen, and the rest of the body is red-red. And for females, the main color of the plumage is yellow-green.
- The ducks of this breed are quite productive, the mass of the female is from 2.6 to 3.1 kilograms, and the male from 3 to 3.5 kilograms.
- Meat quality is very good.
- The egg production rate of birds is about 150-200 units per year. The mass of one is about 70-80 grams.
Positive sides Saxon duck:
- Ducks have good egg production.
- Ducks have a good survival rate.
- Saxon duck has good meat quality characteristics.
Finally, duck egg breeds
Egg Breed - Indian Runners
Southeast Asia is considered the birthplace of Indian runners. To breed these ducks began in the last century.
At first this breed was very rare, it could be seen in zoos. This breed of ducks is the only egg breed.
Features such an unusual breed of ducks:
- Her torso is straight. When running, they look like a running bottle.
- Birds attract attention at exhibitions.
- The color of feathers can be different white, and maybe brown, black and blue.
- Ducks have a very long neck, long legs, which contribute to their rapid movement.
- The mass of the female is 1.75 kilograms, and the male is 2 kilograms.
- One duck's egg production is about 200 eggs, but record holders are able to carry 350 eggs per year. Birds rush year-round. The weight, color and taste of eggs laid by this breed resembles chicken eggs.
- Although the weight of the bird is not very large, but its meat has a very delicate and juicy taste.
Positive sides Indian runner:
- Birds are very mobile and love to be on the runs.
- Indian runners are very clean ducks.
- Very high egg production.
- Ducks are adapted to different weather conditions.
- Birds are very good parents.
The disadvantage of this breed is the fact that its can not be limited to water, because of this, its productivity may decrease.
Features of growing ducks
In general, rearing ducks is not such a complicated process. These birds are unpretentious to food, temperature, which distinguishes them from other birds.
Regardless of the fact that ducks calmly tolerate frosts, they should not be subjected to such tests. You need to make sure that in the house below zero was not.
Observing this rule, the bird will feel comfortable and it will not affect its productivity. When keeping chicks the temperature in the room should be around 28 degrees Celsius, and the humidity should be in the range of 70-75 percent.
Growing poultry begins with the incubation of ducklings. In compliance with all necessary rules. Compared to other eggs, duck eggs need to be very reverent. During the incubation period they need to be cooled according to certain rules. But, in general, breeding duck chicks is much easier than any other.
You can grow chicks in an open and closed way. But the best of them is the combined method.
Ducks are not conflict birds, but if they are kept in a very small room, even they start to conflict with each other. Basically, one adult duck should be about 0.3 meters square.
The premises for keeping ducks should be clean and dry, with good ventilation. There should be an optimum level of humidity. Care must be taken to avoid mold growth, otherwise it may affect the health of the birds.
For chicks, the room should be lit around the clock, and 15-16 hours will be sufficient for adult ducks.
Although birds are unpretentious for food, they really need water. Water should be poured on the third part of the bird's beak.
Ducks should be provided with access to the pond. Birds need feed constantly. The usual daily ration should consist of grain and mash. The mixture consists of oilcake, vegetables, potatoes or pumpkins, bone and fish meal.
Ducks are very good parents who take good care of their offspring. But the chicks can do without their care. Since they can find themselves and food, and water. But in any case, leaving them on themselves is not worth it, you need to look after them from time to time.
Meat breeds very quickly gaining weight. And if they are diluted to produce tasty meat, then they must be killed at ten-week age.
Growing these birds in the household is easy. You just need to choose the breed you need and find out about its conditions of detention. Then at the end you will get a very good result. Especially experienced poultry farmers advise beginners to start breeding poultry with ducks.
