Nov 09 2010

Raising Pekin duck

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 3:52 pm

If you have even a passing interest in the topic of Keeping Ducks, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of Keeping Ducks.

Pekin ducks, also known as Long Island ducks, is a duck breed of domesticated ducks used largely for meat production. They can also be raised for their eggs but they are often raised by farmers for meat because they are capable of growing in a short period of time. The Pekin duck was bred from the Mallard duck in Peking, China (hence the name). The ancestors of these ducks originated from the water vessels which linked water canals in Nanjing, and originally had petite bodies and a jet black plumage.

With the relocation of the Chinese Capital to Peking (now Beijing), the supply barge traffic increased going to the new capital that would often spill grain, crops and other feeds during the barge trips, providing a great source of feeds to the ducks. As a result of this, the ducks gradually increased in size and grew white feathers. In five dynasties in China, the evolved species of Mallard ducks had been raised by Chinese farmers.

In 1873, nine ducks were exported from Peking to Long Island, New York, thus it is also called Long Island ducks. It is the most widely known duck meat in the United States, even though some farmers had relocated to Indiana from New York. Today, about 90% of duck meat consumed in North America is the Pekin Duck.

Hatching

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Keeping Ducks, keep reading.

Pekin duck eggs take around 28 days to hatch at an incubator with an environment of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 per cent moisture. A heartbeat can normally be observed in the third day of incubation during candling. The duck eggs should be regularly turned during incubation. This is to imitate the natural turning of duck hens, as she shifts the position of the eggs while sitting on it for hatching. For artificial incubation, there are machines that can turn the eggs instantly.

When incubated artificially, the eggs are transferred to a hatcher at least three days before they are expected to hatch. This has a slightly decreased temperature and the percentage of moisture is increased, to add the level of survivability for the newly-hatched ducklings while their protective egg sheaths develop.

Compared to other poultries, duck eggs are quite easy to hatch as they are very adaptable in variations in warmth and moisture.

Fully matured adult Pekin ducks can weight about 8 to 11 lbs in confinement. The average lifespan is about 9 to 12 years. Their outer feathers are white, sometimes with a tinge of yellow or orange. This is clearer with ducks that have been brooded inside pens and not exposed constantly to sunlight. The ducks have increased upright posture than dabbling ducks, and have overturned remains.

A mature Pekin will produce an average of 150-200 eggs every year. They will normally lay an egg every day. They will lay eggs in what they think is a safe place and sometimes, where another duck has already laid their own. Ducks can be tricked into laying eggs when desired by placing a lure such as a golf ball or alike objects in a place where you want them to lay their eggs.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Keeping Ducks.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Nov 05 2010

How to Raise Ducks In Your Home

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 10:33 pm

Perhaps the idea of keeping ducks in your suburban home is nearly impossible and would be quite a predicament. But, contrary to popular belief, this is very possible and can be very entertaining especially when you have kids. Your neighbors (and even your wife or husband) may find it a bit different, but soon enough they too will find it enjoying. Keeping duck is easy, if you have the patience. It is fun and can give you and your family an exciting and fresh activity to do together.

The first thing that you have to do is to acquire baby ducks. Basically, you have two choices, you can purchase from farms or you can search for an online store. The good thing about purchasing baby ducks from the internet is you will be guaranteed of their quality and get the kind of duck you want to raise. The disadvantage of online purchasing is you need to purchase a minimum number and you have to pay delivery charges. Three ducks is manageable, but the higher the number, the higher the mess they will produce. Ducks are naturally messy animals since they kind of play with their meals. It is suggested to convince a neighbor or a friend to raise ducks also and split the order.

Finding baby ducks locally is not an easy task. They can’t just be purchased at your local pet store. They are seasonal pets. You should find a farm or specialized pet stores in your area that market ducks for domestic purposes. Normally, most types of ducks are hatched during spring. For their food, a local feed store is the best place where you can buy food pellets and proper materials for feeding and raising baby ducks.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

When you have purchased your baby ducks, place them in a high-fenced plastic container with paper or cloth sheets in the bottom. Place this container near a source of light that can run about 40 ? 80 watts, suitable to keep the area warm. If you have a lamp, you can use it, but do not use lamps with bulb more than 40 watts, since too much warmth can be harmful. You can observe their behavior when they are not comfortable with the heat. If they keep away from the lamp and keep pushing their legs from under, they feel too much heat. If they huddle closely together very near the lamp, the heat is inadequate.

If they are ready for outdoor fun, allow them to roam around your yard, that is if you have one. However, you should keep them in at night to protect them from predators such as cats, raccoons and dogs. You should note that it will be difficult to raise ducks when your cat is not trained not to harm them.

Probably the most enjoyable experience with having pet ducks is swimming with them or at least watching them swimming your pool, even in an inflatable one. Duck have natural oil coating in their feathers that keeps them dry. You should take note that baby ducks acquire oil from their mother, so it is unwise to let them play in water when they are too young. They can get colds, or even get drowned.

So now you know a little bit about Keeping Ducks. Even if you don’t know everything, you’ve done something worthwhile: you’ve expanded your knowledge.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Nov 05 2010

Hatching Baby Ducks

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 2:42 am

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with Keeping Ducks.

If you have a small pond in your yard, it would be very enjoyable and relaxing if you have a small flock of ducklings swimming through its waters. For a good number of people, ducks are very beautiful pets. Watching them swim in a very serene way through the pond is very calming, and relaxing. Ducks are quite easy to raise, especially if you have the proper information on how to keep them.

Check and collect duck eggs frequently, assuming that you have laying ducks. If not, you can just buy fertilized duck eggs from some farms to begin with. Most duck raisers collect eggs every day when the matured duck hens begin laying. Ducks are not that good in prioritizing things and a layer will usually begin laying eggs before they can even build a suitable nest, leaving the eggs scattered on the ground. Collect these eggs wash them mildly and pat dry with a piece of clean cloth. Before the incubation, place the eggs in a box at room temperature. It is essential to shift their position at least twice a day, since mother ducks do egg turning naturally, even before she begins sitting on her eggs.

Prior to the incubation, preheat the incubator for at least a whole day. This is to make sure that it has the constant temperature of 90 ? 100 degrees. You should constantly keep a room thermometer in the incubator and check it frequently. Moreover, provide the trough with enough water. This is very essential because the eggs require proper moisture to avoid dehydration.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Keeping Ducks, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Once the incubator is ready, place the eggs inside. When you have gathered a number of duck eggs, at least a dozen, you can now begin to incubate them. However, never store the eggs for more than a week before you put them into incubation. If you are thinking of adding some more eggs as they are laid, make sure that you put a mark on the eggs with the start date of their incubation. With this way, you will not be confused as to which will come first. You should remember that that eggs may appear alike, and you may not remember what is the exact date you put each egg in the incubator. Some raisers place a batch of eggs at a time, especially if they have a number of layers. However, if you begin with a dozen or so originally, it is okay to place another dozen in a few days.

Do not forget to turn the eggs. During incubation, keep on egg turning at least twice a day, dabbing them with water at each turn. You can also use a spray bottle for moistening the eggs. This will keep the fetus from fusing to the shells. Keep on turning the eggs until about three days before they hatch, and then discontinue the egg turning. Right now, the fetus has settled into their hatching speck.

After about 3 weeks, begin listening to the eggs during the egg turning. They are very active when they are near to hatching, and they tend to chirp. If you can hear their faint bird singing, it is a very good indicator of a healthy baby duck.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Nov 04 2010

Keeping Cayuga Ducks

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 11:47 am

The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage–at least it seems that way. If you’ve been thinking you need to know more about it, here’s your opportunity.

The Cayuga duck is one of the different kinds of domesticated ducks that are raised primarily for their eggs and meat. There are some raisers though that keeps Cayuga ducks for ornamental purposes. The name of this breed, Cayuga, is derived from Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in New York. The Cayuga breed was first bred near this lake, hence the name. Some believe that the Cayuga ducks originated when a miller from Duchess, a county in New York captured caught two ducks there and decided to brood them. The meat of Cayuga ducks are very known for its strong flavor.

Cayuga ducks are medium-class breeds and have been a popular variety in the USA since the 17th century. The usual weight for mature males is about 9 lbs and females could weigh up to 8 lbs. The Cayuga ducks are distinguished by their black bill and feathers that are glistening green when flashed with light. During breeding, stress is placed on proper coloration, carriage and a large bosom. This breed has dark brown eyes, dark shaft and toes. However, mature Cayuga drakes can have an orange tone. The Cayuga ducklings start with black feathers. In most farm exhibitions for Cayuga ducks, a tint of white plumage is a ground for disqualification. This breed is very domestic as they have the tendency to be always near their coop.

Unlike the hoarse and load quacks of the Peking Duck, Cayuga ducks have a mild quack, and can only be heard very occasionally. This breed is best if you want to raise ducks in the suburbs since the neighbors won’t be disturbed by the constant quacking that some duck breeds do. Also, since the Cayuga is a very domesticated breed they are very obedient and most of the time docile.

Aside from grower feeds, feed your Cayuga ducks with hunting snails, worms and other small insects.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Keeping Ducks, keep reading.

More often than not, the Cayuga duck will sit and brood their eggs much frequently than other duck breeds. Normally, the egg incubation lasts not more than a month. When you are using an incubator, set the temperature to not more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and ensure that it is properly moisturized for the whole period of incubation. You should also slightly lower the temperature to 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit and increase moisture to 94 per cent during the last two days of incubation.

The Cayuga is a very productive duck and can produce 120-150 eggs every year. At first, the eggs will appear black, but as they mature, the eggs become gray, and then slowly turn to white before they hatch. The meat of this duck breed is very flavorful, and in 1874, the Cayuga duck was formally recognized as a quality produce by the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection.

As many have noted, the meat of the Cayuga breed is very palatable, but the body can be very hard to clean due to their black plumage. To resolve this ?dark? problem, they skin the ducks instead of the traditional plucking.

Presently, the Cayuga breed is known as the hardiest of the farm ducks but can easily be domesticated if naturally raised. They can adapt to the winter season of the arctic regions, and can still produce offspring during that season.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Oct 25 2010

Keeping Ducks: The Top Duck Breeds

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 12:56 am

Have you ever wondered if what you know about Keeping Ducks is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Keeping Ducks.

The duck industry boasts of its 22 million unit production every year throughout North America. People are very enthusiastic in raising ducks because they are easier to raise than chickens, and can also provide more eggs and meat.

There are different breeds of ducks that you can choose from based on your needs. Each breed has its own special features. Some breeds are best for those who want to venture in the duck egg industry, while some breeds are great for those who are in meat production. And also, there are breeds for ornamental purposes.

For Egg production

One of the primary reasons that most people choose to keep ducks in their farms is for their eggs. Some particular duck breeds are much better for laying eggs than for their meats. The essential idea to remember is that most duck layers are not as productive as chicken layers.

The Campbell, or also known as the Khaki Campbell, is the best duck breed for egg production, this originated from England. This breed is widely known as a standard duck breed about fifty years ago. This breed is probably the only breed that can equal or even surpass the rate of chicken layer. A regular Campbell can lay about 230 eggs in just 52 weeks, but a hybrid of this breed, called the Golden 300, can lay as much as 290 eggs within 52 weeks.

The Runner Duck Breed is also popular among duck farmers who are raising ducks for eggs. They are also good for meat production because their body is lean and strong, but this breed is more known for providing quality eggs.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

For Meat Production

People who are keeping ducks for meat needs a different type of duck breeds than those who are for the eggs, Meat duck breeds are larger and lay fewer eggs, allowing more energy to be placed in building a bigger body frame. Meat ducks can get very large, but generally are bad egg layers.

The Rouen duck is very similar to the Mallard duck, with a green head and plumage. Thus, they are also great for ornamental purposes. They grow quickly and keep quite a mass of meat on their body frame, making them very suitable for meat production.

The Peking breed is probably the best duck breed for meat production. They grow quickly and have a large body frame.

These breed of ducks are just some of the duck breeds you can choose from. If you are raising ducks for ornamental purposes, you can choose Muscovy, Buff duck, Call, Crested, and the Mallard duck. They are great when kept in the yard, especially when you have a pond where they can glide through.

The most important thing to consider before choosing a breed to raise duck is your enthusiasm. You can’t keep your ducks, their eggs, their meat, or their aesthetic properties if you will not devote at least part of your time, money and effort in rearing these breeds. You need to ensure that you can give them proper shelter, food, water and environment.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Oct 19 2010

Keeping Black East Indies Ducks

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 10:25 pm

The Black East Indies is a decorative breed of domestic ducks. In spite of the breed’s name, it was never developed or breed in the East Indies (now Southeast Asia). It was first bred in the United States in the early 19th century. Some raisers started to call it the East Indies and this particular breed is distinguished by its attractive appearance: jet black color, iridescent green feather coverings and dark bills.

The females can sometimes grow white tinge feathers as they mature. A bantam breed weighing around 2 lbs, Black East Indies are widely raised by hobbyists for exhibition purposes. Being small, they are known as good fliers. This breed was formally recognized by the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1875. The Black East Indies duck is very popular among raisers, and the breed has a docile temperament, they are basically more passive and obedient than Call ducks.

This breed has been known as the Black East Indies as early as 1865, but has been widely raised with different names such as Buenos Aires Duck, Black Brazilian and Labrador.

The Black East Indies Ducks is a very remarkable duck breed and is very easy to differentiate from other breeds due to their plumage that is basically dark green. They have short black bills and their legs are either grey or black. Some female of this breed can have a white feather covering in the tail region, males can weigh about 5-7 lbs and the females can weigh about 4-5 lbs. As ducklings, they have a distinct black plumage, and gradually changes to green sheens as they mature.

The information about Keeping Ducks presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Keeping Ducks or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

This breed is very domineering and strong. They do not like to remain dormant for too long because they are very active. The striking feature about the Black East Indies Ducks is that their eggs are primarily heavy gray, but then changes to a brighter shade before they are hatched.

Most East Indies ducks are kept as pairs or trios, based on the drakes’ level of energy. They can lay at least 100 eggs every year, and will not sit and brood their eggs if they are touched by humans. As they are very good fliers, they tend to fly and escape the coop so you can clip their wings or pinion them. However, before pinioning, you should consult a veterinarian as they should be administered when only necessary.

Like the Cayuga breed’s solid plumage, the runners in the females will usually fade and white feathers appear as they age. However, they can still produce offspring. A white plumage in the Black East Indies Drakes can appear in the chest as they mature.

Like most duck breeds, the Black East Indies breed is very easy to keep. Most raisers keep this breed for domestic and ornamental purposes. They can also be raised in the suburbs because they are handy, but you should pinion them if you don’t want them to escape. If you have a baby pool, you can use it for their swimming area. Most hobbyists raise the breed because they provide relaxation when they glide effortlessly through a pond or any water surface.

There’s a lot to understand about Keeping Ducks. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Oct 18 2010

Keeping Ducks: Breeding

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 5:22 am

Current info about Keeping Ducks is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest Keeping Ducks info available.

With about 22 million ducks being produced in the US every year, more and more small farm operations are now adding to the whole duck industry. Aside from being a pleasurable experience in your yard as pets, ducks can give a source of high-quality meat for the market as a source of income.

Before you prepare the duck pen or purchase the ducks, you should do some research. Study the different breeds of ducks available and find the breed that suits your purpose. Some breeds are good for meat such as the Peking, some are for laying eggs such as the Khaki Campbell and some are for ornamental purposes such as the Muscovy.

Before your purchase or acquire the ducks, you should build the duck pen first. A small duck shade will give heat for the ducks on winter and cold nights. A used chicken coop or a small pen will be sufficient.

If you can afford it, you can give your duck a pond. Whether it is located in your yard, or just using a small kiddie pool, the pond or any swimming area will give your ducks the opportunity to glide through the water, which will provide them the opportunity to develop their physical and mental features. However, you should not allow your ducklings to swim just yet. During the early age, they cannot survive in the cold water and they might get pneumonia, which can be fatal for ducklings.

You should order eggs or baby ducks from a reputable breeder. It will be the basis of your new flock of ducks and the brood they develop in the future.

Most of this information comes straight from the Keeping Ducks pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you’ll know what they know.

You should establish your breeding flock. Each group will consist of one drake and several females. It is best to divide the ducks during the fall so they can become acquainted with each other before the mating season in spring.

Prepare the eggs for incubation. You should make sure to mark the laying date on each egg to keep track of the time you will need to incubate. Then, wash any waste smudges off the shells to keep the incubator free from bacteria that are infesting the droppings.

Place the eggs inside a room with a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit and with moisture at 60 per cent air humidity. Maintain the humidity of the incubator and turn the eggs at least two to three times a day and start incubating them before they are a week old.

Right after they hatch, transfer the baby ducks to a warm brooder pen as soon as they are dry. As they mature, you can slowly lessen the temperature. By the time they are about four weeks old, they will not need any artificial heat.

You can cover the floor of the brooder with old newspapers and change them constantly to maintain the cleanliness of the box. Remove any leftover or spilled water or feeds to avoid fungal inspection in your flock. Ducks are very vulnerable to fungal infection and some diseases can be fatal as a result of the infection.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Oct 14 2010

Keeping Crested Ducks

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 1:06 am

With powder-wisp of feathers planted on the head, the Crested Duck is certainly an eye-catcher. An average-weight duck breed, the Crested ducklings can grow fast, making them very prolific ducks for their meat, and they are also good egg layers.

A mature crested drake can weight about 6-7 lbs, and the mature Crested female can weight about 5-6 lbs. The American Poultry Association recognizes two Standard of Perfection for Crested ducks, the Black and White varieties. Other types such as the Grey, Blue and Buff have been a good interest for raisers, and crests can appear on other varieties as well. Crested ducks usually have a large body and should be symmetrical on the forehead when in idle position.

The crested feature of this breed is linked to the fatal situation during incubation. Duckling with both genes for the crest cannot hatch. Of these ducks that hatch, usually a third of them will not have the crest. It is very easy for a raiser to see how the crest will develop on the ducklings, so they can choose which stock to raise and sell the rest as baby ducks, instead of feeding them until they mature.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Keeping Ducks. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

The crest is basically an abnormality appearing in any color. This is a result of the mutation linked with bone deformities and is has been known for centuries. There are those raisers who claimed that the deformation first appeared in Britain and that is a notion that has been a subject for debate, but it has been recorded in guide books and poultry manuals already as early as the 17th century. The mutations can appear occasionally on any breed of ducks. Careful breeding can increase the number of ducks with the same features.

The crest can appear from a lump of fatty tissues, which surface through a small hole in the skull. From this tissue, protruding feathers grow. The crest can differ from concentrated crests, plump crests, powder puffs, and contorted lumps with just a few plumages, or the rare ear lump when the hole glides near the ears.

The crested breed can be cross-bred with any duck breed excluding the Muscovy, as a parent Crested will produce only a small percentage of crested ducks. Most crested ducks rarely breed successfully but when they do, they are very good livestock. If you are using a crested female with a large crest, you should observe that the male duck will use the crest during the copulation, and the female can be injured during this. The clump of feathers on the head of the female, that rarely appears and is known as an object of attraction, when selected and bred for the offspring, will not carry the crested gene to the line, so a crested male will be needed to turn any breed crested, so watch them during mating.

As you have realized now, breeding crested ducks is a very challenging task and not for amateurs; also if the crest is very large and it hampers the eating and basically, living of the duck, you should trim it to give them a normal life.

Don’t limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about Keeping Ducks. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what’s important.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Oct 13 2010

How to Tell the Difference Between Male and Female Ducks

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 3:14 pm

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about Keeping Ducks. When you start sharing the fascinating Keeping Ducks facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

Basically, to determine the sex of your ducks, check their feather colors. Whether you grow or own ducks for pets, or for meat and egg production, you should be well-oriented that there are different varieties and breeds that come with distinct colors. One of the most common types is the mallard duck. Like any other breeds, you can determine the sex by observing their color appearance. Males have a vivid color and their heads are green. They also have a white ring around their necks. On the other hand, females have varieties of speckled brown. This is true for most breeds of ducks, with the males being more vivid in appearance than the female.

You should try to determine the sex of your ducks when they are fully mature since they have different colors when they are ducklings.

Aside from the color, the size of the duck can also help you in determining the sex of ducks. Some types of ducks are very similar in size, whether they are male and female, but in some breeds, it can be a great solution in determining sex. In common breeds such as the Mallard, the males (strictly, the drake) are larger than the female ducks. If you have this breed or something of a hybrid, looking at the shape can establish their gender.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Keeping Ducks is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about Keeping Ducks.

When the ducks are about 2 months old, there’s a great solution in determining the sex. Look at their tails. In their bottoms, there will be a prominent single feather that typically coils down in a very significant curl. This is known as the sex feather that is placed on all drakes (male ducks). This feather is present even after molting. Thus, the weather or the season will not put off the determination of their sex.

Another way of telling their sex is to listen to their voices. Most sex of different types of ducks can be determined based on the intensity (volume) and pitch of their quacks. The Call and the East Indie ducks are well known for their voice ranges. The females have a very loud and distinctive quack that can easily surpass the quacks of the drakes. Drakes of this breed have a softer and harsher quack. It can even be mistaken to be a sound of a rooster. The variation in their quacks can be determined if the ducks are about a month old. This is one of the earliest known methods of determining the sex of a duck without using a vent.

Venting is a process of accurately distinguishing the sex of ducks that are only done by farmers and experts. This process is very difficult so they should not be performed by amateurs. To do this, you have to hold the ducks upside down and expose their genital vent. Female ducks will have cone-like genitals.

On the other hand, drakes have an extended or elongated organ. It takes a trained touch and eye to perform venting, and even trained farmers can be confused sometimes.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO


Oct 07 2010

Keeping Ducks For Meat

Category: Keeping DucksAnders Eriksson @ 12:53 am

Duck raising was just a small business venture in the past, but now it is slowly growing in significance in the poultry industry. With the rapid growth of demand for duck meat, the industry of duck farming has started to follow the same pattern of the chicken broiler industry. This could be seen in the establishment of more particular business ventures with modern poultry farmers, processing for greater packaging and presentation to consumers.

About 12 million duck meats are produced every year in the United States. Most of these are produced under intensive confinement in some commercially duck farms scattered in the country. Duck meat producers usually raise Peking, Muscovy, Cherry Valley and Jawa breeds because they grow in just a short period of time.

The ideal brooding technique for meat production is a mixture of pen heating and local heating.

Meat ducks do not need a very specialized housing as compared to chicken broilers. The pens are normally made of inexpensive materials such as wood and wires.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Keeping Ducks. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

If you would build your own duck pen, its walls should at least be 20-25 inches from the ground and are made of concrete planks. The rest of the wall can be built using wires. In building the floor area, it is cement, earth or slatted wire that is needed. To provide fillers, you can use wood shavings, dry straws, husks or fine sands to cover the floor for a depth of about eight centimeters.

With the roofing, the design and shape is normally based on the direction of the wind, the sun rays and frequency of rainfall in the region. These factors aid to provide proper ventilation, moisture and dryness of the fillers, and the pen in general. The other important factor in building the housing pen is to make sure that the ducks are comfortable and well-provided with adequate space while they are inside. Inadequate space and overcrowding can result to malnourishment, fighting and the spread of diseases.

After brooding the duck broilers, the ducks can now be reared for their meat. Rearing habitats with proper ventilations, away from intense sun heat, heavy rain and predators are the proper place for your ducks. The floor should be kept dry at all times, not too crowded and can give enough space for feeding and drinking. The ideal space for rearing is 2.5 ? 3 sq. feet per duck. Fences of 18 inches to 24 inches are designed so as to allow at least 350-450 ducks in each pen. This is done to ensure their proper maximized growth.

In about seven to eight weeks, meat ducks are ready for slaughtering, but to get the desired meat produce, considering their food and feeding is very essential.

The quality of the feeds is vital, particularly in the first three weeks of the ducks existence. It is crucial to sustainable growth and proper nutrition, and to fortify their bodies to avoid diseases. You can give them medicated-feeds, but you should consult first a breeder, as the type of feeds, protein mixture and medications depends on the duck breed, and the desired production.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO



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