Duck Eggs
Duck Eggs
Breeding Ducks - Cheaper for Farmer To Produce Than To Buy
As it is cheaper for a farmer to produce his own ducklings than to buy them from the outside, he should do his own breeding. Only the best ducks and drakes must be kept for breeding. In this way only, the ducklings hatched on the project will be strong and healthy. Do not keep any birds that have deformed wings, with the tip of wings pointing outside. Otherwise, there will be more and more of them on the project. Do not keep any bird that is smaller than the rest of the flock. Big parent birds produce big ducklings.
The ducks kept for breeding will be the heaviest ones, of round appearance and with a belly that is close to the ground. The drake will be the heaviest one, with a belly parallel to the ground. Do not keep any drake that looks like it is standing with the
breast much higher than the belly. Do not keep more than 10 ducks for breeding. Otherwise, it is probable that the garden produces will be in short supply to feed the flock and all the birds will do poorly. Keep two drakes for up to five ducks and three for up to ten ducks. Ducks can be kept for up to three years, but drakes should be
changed every second year as after that they do not mate regularly and fertility decreases.
Under village conditions, ducks will start to lay eggs at 8 1/2 - 9 months of age. The first eggs will be small and should not be used for hatching. Small eggs are likely to be sterile (they will not produce a duckling) and even if they hatch, the duckling will be small and weak and will probably die within the first week. An egg is big enough for hatching when it weighs more than 72 g or if its diameter is more than 45 mm. The easiest way to check if an egg is suitable for breeding is to make a hole of exactly 45 mm in a piece of plywood or timber. If the egg passes through the hole, it is too small and must be eaten or sold. If it does not pass through the hole, it must be kept for breeding. The poultry Research Centre at Labu has a few of these measuring holes.
A duck will lay between 10 and 20 eggs. After that it will become broody and sit. If the ducklings are taken away from the mother after hatching, it will start to lay again after two to four months, depending on feeding. There are no laying seasons for ducks in Papua New Guinea. They lay all through the year.
About the Author
The journey to breeding ducks can also best be started while they are young as you also may discover ducks also have their own personality. This means that you can also treat them as pets. If you would like to learn more about raising ducks and avoid costly mistakes, please visit: http://www.howtoraiseducks.com
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Advantages Of Breeding Ducks!
Since ducks are wild water birds, the common notion is that breeding ducks must be difficult. This is far from true. Ducks have been domesticated and strains produced to make it easier for breeding and used for egg and meat production.
The percentage of the poultry population that duck represents is ten percent and is second only to chicken, which is the most sought after.
With the advent of scientific breeding for ducks, things have changed tremendously for breeders and provide a greater scope for duck breeding.
There are several advantages of breeding ducks when compared to other poultry.
For one thing, ducks do not need as much attention as other poultry do and are not as sensitive. They are resistant to many parasites, avian and other diseases and this makes it easy to house them and feed them. Since these birds are tough and not delicate like chicken, they are good for integrated farming, and can even be bred along with fish.
A duck breeding area is easy to maintain and there are several places they can be bred. The marshy river side and wet land are perfect for breeding. Being small birds, they can also be kept in small pens or sheds. This eliminates the need for extensive farming houses with different temperature settings.
Even where laying eggs is concerned, ducks lay about 50 eggs more than chicken and these eggs are heavier by 15 or 20 grams too, making it much more profitable for the breeders. Duck eggs are in demand and there are some people who prefer them to chicken eggs. Although duck eggs are said to have higher fat content and more cholesterol, they are also said to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered essential for human health and cannot be produced by the body.
Ducks are mild natured birds and breeders do not have to worry about agonistic behavior. That's what makes them good for breeding even from the hobby point of view. These birds are fascinating and kids love to watch them. They are small in size and do not need too much space too.
After hatching, it is very easy to sex ducklings and this saves on labor. Their feathers are valuable and many industries would buy them from the breeders for a good sum.
Duck breeding has become popular these days owing to the several benefits such as reduced cost of replacement, less feeding, less space requirement, more egg production and many more.
About the Author
Matthew Smith has been working with poultry for many years. Advice is offered on keeping poultry and the different types of duck breeds.