When you decide to keep ducks, you will have to dedicate yourself to their care and well-being, but this task is not that simple. Ducks generally do not require too much effort, unlike other types of birds, and many find it a pleasure to take care of. Read on for more information if you plan to start breeding ducks from eggs, ducklings, or straight to adult ones.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Hatching the Eggs
Step 1. Think about it in time
Duck eggs usually take 28 days to hatch, but some varieties will take up to 35 days. You will need to make sure you have an incubator ready before you buy the eggs and try to hatch them.
Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs, so many chicken incubators won't be able to contain them. Make sure the incubator tray is wide enough
Step 2. Let the incubator stabilize before placing the eggs
Establish a temperature of 37.5 ° C and relative humidity at 55%, or 29 ° C with a wet bulb thermometer.
- Ventilation should be performed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Let the incubator settle for a day or two before putting the eggs inside.
Step 3. Select them carefully
The eggs must be of the right shape to be able to hatch.
- Avoid those with cracks, double yolks, irregularly shaped, too big, too small or dirty.
- Obviously they will have to be placed in the incubator one to three days after being laid.
Step 4. Check the incubator four times a day
Once they are placed in the incubator for hatching, you should check the eggs at least four times a day. Turn them over with each check so they get warmth on each side.
On the first day, you should check them about every hour
Step 5. Remove unsuitable eggs after the first week
If you see some with transparent shells, it means that they have not been fertilized. Those with the opaque shell are dead instead. Remove both types of eggs and leave the others.
Step 6. Transfer the eggs to the hatching tray after 25 days
You can also move them to a separate hatching machine or change the incubator parameters to get the eggs ready.
- The temperature should be 37.2 ° C with a humidity of 65%.
- Increase the humidity to 80% and the ventilation through the vents to 50% when the eggs begin to crack or change significantly.
- Within the last 6-12 hours before hatching ends, decrease the temperature to 36.1 ° C and the humidity to 70%. Open the vents fully.
Step 7. Remove the ducklings from the car
Once 90-95% of the ducklings have hatched and dried, you should take them out and transfer them to the breeder.
Part 2 of 4: Caring for Ducklings
Step 1. Buy at least two ducklings
If you want to raise ducks from chicks instead of eggs, buy two to four ducklings.
- A smaller number of ducklings will receive better care, especially if this experience is new to you, but you should have more than one to keep them from feeling lonely. Ducklings need to socialize with each other.
- Often, if you buy them from a breeder, they will sell you at least 10-15. This amount can be substantial, so consider entrusting some to responsible friends and family.
Step 2. Dip the beak of the chicks in room temperature water
If you prefer to buy ducklings instead of hatching the eggs, you should put their beaks in contact with water or water and sugar to hydrate them.
If you use sugared water, the proportions should be 80 ml of sugar per 4 liters of water
Step 3. Always give the ducklings plenty of water
Water helps them ingest food and clean their beaks. You should provide the ducklings with water for at least an hour before and after the meal.
- The best choice for getting them hydrated are poultry troughs and shallow bowls. Since they love to splash around, be prepared to clean up frequently.
- A one week old duckling drinks about 2 liters of water per week. Within seven weeks it will go down to 2 liters per day.
- Make sure the water is no deeper than 6mm to prevent them from drowning.
- Remember that ducklings do not produce impermeable oil until the fourth week of life. In nature, the mother spreads it on them, but the domestic ones will not be able to swim before this time frame because they will not have it.
- Until the ducklings reach one month of age, they should swim for a short time and be supervised at all times. You can do this by filling a small plastic tub with hot water and letting them splash around in it for 2-5 minutes. Dry them before returning them to their 'crib'.
Step 4. Set up the breeder for your ducklings
Keep them warm and safe in a warm breeder that protects them from predators, disease and other problems.
- You don't need anything special. An unused bowl, plastic carrier, dog cage, or plastic-lined cardboard box will work fine.
- Hold the water bowl to one side and put a few layers of newspaper underneath to absorb the excess water that the ducklings will inevitably spray all over.
- When the ducklings are big enough to figure out what's edible and what's not, fill the breeder with shavings.
Step 5. Keep the breeder warm
Turn on a heat lamp until the ducklings inside are 7-9 weeks old. Before this time they will not be able to regulate their body temperature and will need an external heat source.
- If cold, they will all be huddled together. If they are too hot, they will separate, keeping as far away from the heat as possible.
- The temperature during the first week should be around 32 ° C. Lower it by one degree a day after the first week, until it reaches the one outside the breeder.
Step 6. Arrange for shelter
Once they have plumage and are able to withstand outside temperatures, move them to a sheltered location. The shelter should be able to contain and protect them from predators and other factors, but also suitable for ensuring peace and quiet.
It will need to be properly ventilated and will need to be large enough for the ducklings to spread their wings as they grow
Step 7. Feed your ducklings regularly
You can buy foods specially made for ducklings or those for poultry without added medications. In this case, however, you should sprinkle yeast on top to add a niacin supplement.
- You can gradually add raw oats to give them more protein. At the most, however, the proportions should be one of oats and three of food.
- Add some grit to aid digestion.
- Every couple of days, you can give your ducklings delicious and healthy rewards like dandelion stalks, grass, untreated weeds, worms, kale, peas, and soggy oats.
- Change your food daily as it tends to get moist and may develop mold and bacteria.
Step 8. Take your ducklings in your hands often
If you keep them as pets, handle them often at this stage of their life. This way they learn to socialize and bond with you.
For the same reason it is better to raise ducks starting from eggs or at most from chicks, since social patterns and behaviors are learned when they are young
Part 3 of 4: Caring for Adult Ducks
Step 1. Get two ducks
Buying them already adult, it is advisable to start with two to a maximum of four ducks, especially if you keep them as pets.
If you have more than four, do not keep them in a small area because it will quickly become a problem in terms of order and cleanliness
Step 2. Always give them plenty of water
Like ducklings, adult ducks need water when they eat in order to be able to ingest food well and clean their beak.
- You don't need to provide them with a pond or pond. In fact, if it is difficult to clean, it could threaten the health of your birds.
- Keep a water bowl near the manger. Ducks drink a lot to avoid choking.
- Plastic pools are great for swimming. They are cheap, easy to clean and move.
- Sprinkle fine gravel, sand and sawdust around and under the pool to limit the mud that will inevitably arise. Renew the layer about once or twice a year.
Step 3. Feed adult ducks a balanced diet
Even if they will eat grass, snails and more on their own, you will still need to give them nutritious and balanced foods.
- Commercially available waterfowl food is recommended, but if you don't find it, you can feed it with bird and poultry food without adding medication.
- You may need to add some extra grit or calcium to aid digestion and strengthen bones.
- As they grow up, their food needs will change too. Generally speaking, young ducks shouldn't get a lot of calcium unless you're raising them for eating.
Step 4. Maintain adequate shelter for your ducks
The adult ones could be victims of predators and bad weather, so the primary purpose of the shelter will be to protect them from any threats.
- The shelter will provide the ducks with tranquility and peace.
- Make sure it is ventilated and large enough for them to clean properly inside.
- A secluded house, chicken coop, or enclosure are the best solutions, but they don't need to be perfect.
- If you can put the time and energy into the project, you might as well get a sheepdog to teach duck guarding.
Step 5. Keep them in an enclosure
Even when you leave them free to roam, you should still keep them within boundaries protected by a net. The net needs to be between 61 and 76 cm, and most ducks won't jump over it if it gets the right care.
If they belong to a variety that can fly, trim the feathers of a wing once a year to make them backyard ducks
Step 6. Take care of their health
As birds they are quite resistant to worms and chicken diseases, but you will still need to make sure you are meeting their basic health needs.
- To have healthy ducks, the ideal is to let them live outdoors in large spaces.
- Keep no fewer than three ducks for each male, to avoid undue stress on the females.
- Look for any signs of illness, including ruffled feathers, changes in eating and drinking, lethargy, and bloody diarrhea.
- If the duck gets sick, quarantine it and treat it immediately.
Part 4 of 4: Reasons to Raise Ducks
Step 1. Keep ducks as pets
The primary reason is simply the company. Ducks can be fun to watch, as they love to play in the water, and they can bond a lot with the people who care for them.
Step 2. Eat the eggs
They are much richer in protein, calcium, iron and potassium than chicken's. Many breeds of ducks lay significantly more eggs in a year than hens.
- Note that if you have an allergy to chicken eggs, you may still tolerate duck eggs. Consult your doctor before consuming them for the sake of safety.
- Duck eggs can replace chicken eggs in almost any dish, but remember that they are larger so you will need to take them into account in recipes.
Step 3. Use the meat
If you end up keeping a lot of ducks, you can also use them to feed yourself. Duck meat contains a lot of proteins, iron, zinc and selenium.
- Roast duck contains 217 calories with 11 grams of fat, comparable to the calories and fat of a chicken leg.
- Similarly, roasted duck breast has 140 calories with 2.5 grams of fat, while chicken breast has 165 and 3.6 grams of fat.
Step 4. Sell the eggs, ducklings and adult ducks
If you have the option, you should find a buyer who has a farm or who lives in the countryside. If you only have to sell a few, you can also do it without a license, but it is always better to check the rules on the matter to be sure.
- If you plan on starting a business related to selling ducks, you will need to obtain a local, state or national license. You will have to abide by the health regulations.
- If you intend to sell eggs, eat or sell meat, you will need to strictly follow the nutrition and health regulations regarding slaughter.
Advice
- Ducks are less expensive to raise than chickens because they peck a higher percentage of food. And they usually require less space.
- Choose the best variety depending on the purpose of your breeding. If you need a more affordable variety or want to breed them for slaughter or sale, stick to the mallard. If you breed them as pets, try the ancona, cayuga, campbell, Welsh harlequin, or silver appleyard.
- Ducks are suitable for the garden because they look for slugs, snails and other pests. They rarely damage plants while eating, unless they are faced with lettuce and strawberries that they love a lot.
Warnings
- Buy eggs, ducklings, and adult ducks from a reputable breeder to make sure they are healthy.
- Always wash your hands carefully after touching ducks and any living species in general. Even if raised in a healthy way, they can carry salmonella through their feces and the body.
- If you leave the ducks free to roam around the garden, make sure the plants you sow are well protected. Delicate seeds can be crushed by the webbed legs.
