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Care of growing duck
When ducklings are about 4 weeks of age they can be let out if to be reared on semi-intensive
system. In semi-intensive system the stocking rate suggested is about 5000 ducks
per hectare. It is preferable to rear them in smaller units of 200 ducks.
Under intensive system, growing ducks can be reared on litter or slat floor or a
combination. Plenty of water should be available for drinking. The design of waterers
should be such that it is sufficiently deep enough to enable the ducks to immerse
their bills. A depth of about 13-15 cm will suffice for this purpose.
Under intensive system, a floor space of 4 to 5 sq.ft. per duck is essential, whereas
in semi-intensive system, a floor space of 3 sq.ft. in the night shelter and 10
to 15 sq.ft. as outside run bird would be adequate. For wet mash feeding in a ‘V’
shaped feeder, allow 10 to 12.5 cm. feeding space per duck but for dry mash or pellet
feeding adlib in hoppers, a feeding space of 5 to 7.5 cm. per duck would be sufficient.
High egg laying strains of ducks come into production at 16 to 18 weeks of age.
About 95 to 98% of eggs are laid by 9.00 AM. One nest box of size 30x 30 x 45 cms
(12 x12 x18'') to every three ducks be provided. In case of laying breeds a mating
ratio of 1 drake to 6-7 ducks and in table breeds 1 drake to 4-5 ducks is allowed.
Photo period of 14 to 16 hours per day is essential for optimum production. In free
range, 1000 ducks are kept per 0.405 hectare (1 acre) depending upon greens.
HOUSING
Ducks do not require elaborate houses. The house should be well ventilated, dry
and rat proof. The roof may be of shed type, gable or half round. It may have solid
or wire floors. The wire floors are not popular with breeders. Under semi-intensive
system the house should have easy access to outside run as the ducks prefer to be
outdoors during the day time and even during winter or rains. Generally the proportion
of night shelter to outside run is 1/4:3/4. The run should gently slope away from
the houses to provide drainage. Normally a continuous water channel of size 50 cm.
wide and 15-20 cms. deep is constructed at the far end, on both sides, parallel
to the night shelter, in the rearing or layer house.
WATER
Though duck is a water fowl and very fond of water, water for swimming is not essential
at any stage of duck farming. However, water in drinkers should be sufficiently
deep to allow the immersion of their heads and not themselves. If they cannot do
this, their eyes seem to get scaly and crusty and in extreme cases, blindness may
follow. In addition, they also like to clean their bills periodically and wash them
to clear off the feed. While in meat strains a slight increase in body weight of
ducks at seven weeks of age has been noticed (weight advantage of swimming ducks
to non-swimming ducks is 0.3%), but for egg laying strains, swimming is a disadvantage.
FEEDING
Ducks may be grown on dry mash, a combination of dry and wet mash or pellets. Ducks
prefer wet mash due to difficulties in swallowing dry mash. The pellet feeding,
though slightly costly, has distinct advantages such as saving in amount of feed,
minimum wastages, saving in lobour, convenience and improvement in sanitary conditions.
Ducks are good foragers. The use of range, pond or supplementary green feed, reduces
the feed cost.
Ducks should never have access to feed without water. During the first eight weeks,
birds should always have access to feed, but later on they may be fed twice a day
i.e. first in the morning and then late afternoon. Khaki Campbell duck consumes
about 12.5 Kgs. of feed upto 20 weeks of age. Afterwards the consumption varies
from 120 gms and above per bird per day and depending upon the rate of production
and availability of greens.
Suggested nutrient requirements for
egg and meat type duck
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Characteristics
|
Starter duck
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Grower duck
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Layer duck
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Broiler starter duck
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Broiler finisher duck
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|
Moisture, % (Max.)
|
11.00
|
11.00
|
11.00
|
11.00
|
11.00
|
|
Crude protein, % (Min.)
|
20.00
|
16.00
|
18.00
|
23.00
|
20.00
|
|
Crude fibre, % (Max.)
|
7.00
|
8.00
|
8.00
|
6.00
|
6.00
|
|
Acid insoluble ash, % (Max.)
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
3.00
|
3.00
|
|
Salt, % (Max.)
|
0.60
|
0.60
|
0.60
|
0.60
|
0.60
|
|
Calcium, % (Min.)
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
3.00
|
1.20
|
1.20
|
|
Phosphorus (Available), % (Min.)
|
0.50
|
0.50
|
0.50
|
0.50
|
0.50
|
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Linoleic Acid, % (Min.)
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
1.00
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1.00
|
1.00
|
|
Lysine, % (Min.)
|
0.90
|
0.60
|
0.65
|
1.20
|
1.00
|
|
Methionine, % (Min.)
|
0.30
|
0.25
|
0.30
|
0.50
|
0.35
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Meth.+ cystine, %
|
0.60
|
0.50
|
0.55
|
0.90
|
0.70
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Metabolizable energy (Kcal/kg) Min.
|
2600
|
2500
|
2600
|
2800
|
2900
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Minerals and Vitamins
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1. Manganese, mg/kg
|
90.00
|
50.00
|
55.00
|
90.00
|
90.00
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2. Iodine, mg/kg
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
1.00
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3. Iron, mg/kg
|
120.00
|
90.00
|
75.00
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120.00
|
120.00
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4. Zinc, mg/kg
|
60.00
|
50.00
|
75.00
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60.00
|
60.00
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5. Copper, mg/kg
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12.00
|
9.00
|
9.00
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12.00
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12.00
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6. Vitamin A, IU/kg
|
6000
|
6000
|
6000
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6000
|
6000
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7. Vitamin D3, IU/kg
|
600
|
600
|
1200
|
600
|
600
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8. Thiamin, mg/kg
|
5.00
|
3.00
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3.00
|
5.00
|
5.00
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9. Riboflavin, mg/kg
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6.00
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
6.00
|
6.00
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10. Pantothenic acid, mg/kg
|
15.00
|
15.00
|
15.00
|
15.00
|
15.00
|
|
11. Nicotinic acid, mg/kg
|
70.00
|
60.00
|
60.00
|
70.00
|
70.00
|
|
12. Biotin, mg/kg
|
0.20
|
0.15
|
0.15
|
0.20
|
0.20
|
|
13. Vitamin B12, mg/kg
|
0.015
|
0.10
|
0.10
|
0.015
|
0.015
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14. Folic acid, mg/kg
|
1.00
|
0.50
|
0.50
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
|
15. Choline, mg/kg
|
1300
|
900
|
800
|
1400
|
1000
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16. Vitamin E, mg/kg
|
15.00
|
10.00
|
10.00
|
15.00
|
15.00
|
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17. Vitamin K, mg/kg
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
1.00
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18. Pyridoxine, mg/kg
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5.00
|
5.00
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5.00
|
5.00
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5.00
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(Source: Central Poultry Development Organisation, Hessarghatta
)
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