How are Linwu ducks raised? Breeding techniques and feeding management key points
AbstractThe temperature for newly hatched ducklings should be controlled at 32°C to 34°C, lowering by 1 to 2°C every day, and density must be watched during rearing. On the third day, ducklings can enter water, but it should not be too deep, and they need to adapt slowly. Feeding must be at fixed times, in fixed amounts, of fixed quality, and at fixed locations; newly hatched ducklings need to be given water promptly. Linwu ducks from 30 to 60 days old only need to be fed twice a day, with the feed gradually increased, and they are ready for market at 60 days.
I. Duckling rearing management
1. Temperature control
When ducklings have just hatched, the indoor temperature should be kept between 32°C and 34°C. On the following days, the temperature needs to be lowered by 1 to 2°C until it matches the natural indoor temperature; at that point, cooling can be stopped and the natural temperature maintained.
2. Watering and feeding
When feeding, four points must be observed: fixed times, fixed amounts, fixed quality, and fixed locations; supply feed according to these four requirements. For ducklings that are one to two or three days old, water should be given first, with glucose and vitamin C added to the water.
3. Release into water
On the third day, a pool can be prepared and filled with 2 to 3 cm of water, letting them swim freely twice a day, generally for half an hour to one hour. After two or three days of adaptation, the water can be made deeper, or the ducks can be placed directly in deep water for rearing.
II. Medium and large duck rearing management
1. Medium duck rearing management
When Linwu ducks reach 30 to 60 days, their diet needs to be controlled, with restricted feeding times and feed amounts; feeding twice a day is enough, and the Linwu ducks should be released more for rearing so they can move around more.
2. Large duck rearing management
Linwu ducks can be marketed at 60 days; at this time, feed should be gradually increased, with feeding three times a day, 2.8 liang each time, but note that the feed must be mixed evenly.
3. Rearing density
Rearing density should not be too high, nor too low; areas for rearing should be arranged reasonably. Generally, 5,000 Linwu ducks require 600 sq m of water surface, 500 sq m of duck house, and 500 sq m of land activity area.
4. Feed management
To make Linwu ducks grow quickly, some effort must be spent on feed; basically, natural feed and artificial feed need to be combined. Natural feed includes some crops, such as corn, rice, and so on, as well as some small protein-rich organisms, such as shrimp, small fish, earthworms, and so on. The feed given differs at different stages: ducks less than two weeks old need duckling feed; at 3 to 6 weeks, it should be switched to medium duck feed; and at 7 to 11 weeks, they need large duck feed.