How to raise wild ducks during the growing stage? A detailed explanation of the key points

The wild duck is a typical representative of waterfowl; the wild duck is the common name of the mallard in the Northern Hemisphere. The wild duck belongs to the class Aves, order Anseriformes, family Anatidae; it is very numerous and is a general name for many kinds of wild ducks, with more than ten species. Wild ducks can make long-distance migratory flights, and their highest flight speed can reach 110 km per hour. In the narrow sense, the wild duck is the mallard, which can be eaten after more than three generations of artificial breeding. In the broad sense, wild ducks also include many national first-class protected animals. There are many kinds of wild ducks, about 10 in China, and each breed is distinguished mainly by the larger differences in the drake's feathers. At present, the main breed of wild duck kept artificially at home and abroad is the mallard. So how should wild ducks be raised during the growing stage? What needs attention?

Growing wild ducks refers to ducks from 31 to 70 days of age. The growing stage of wild ducks is mainly for growing feathers, muscle and bone, and it is the period of fastest growth and development, with the largest average daily weight gain per duck. By 40 days of age, the feathers on the body have basically finished growing, with only a little down remaining behind the head. Under good nutritional and management levels, the peak of body weight gain can be reached at 60 days of age. More nutrients are needed. At this stage, the wild duck's foraging ability, digestive ability and ability to adapt to external temperatures are all greatly enhanced, and generally they can live at normal temperature in the duck house. If there is a sudden change in temperature, heat preservation measures can be taken as appropriate.

1 Grouping of wild ducks   Before wild ducks are transferred from the brooding stage to the growing stage, a selection should be made, grouping them by physical strength and body size, and eliminating individuals that are seriously diseased or disabled.

2 Raising density of wild ducks: 10-15 per sq m.

3 Preventing flock uproar: Flock uproar refers to wild ducks at 60-70 days of age. Due to increased body fat and physiological changes, the wild nature of the wild ducks is triggered, stimulating flight. The flock shows restlessness and nervousness, as if without a sense of hunger. Feed intake drops sharply, leading to weight loss. Any stress can also trigger flock uproar.

Prevention methods:

1) Restrict feeding and increase the amount of coarse feed

2) Keepers should avoid wearing brightly colored clothes inside the enclosure

3) Avoid disturbing the flock, especially avoid letting outsiders enter

4 Feed feeding

1) Feeding characteristics: Mallard wild ducks gain weight fastest during the growing stage, and their feed requirements increase very quickly. At the same time, their appetite and digestive capacity increase significantly, and they are tolerant of coarse feed, so cereal feed and animal-based feed and other concentrated feed can be reduced, and bran, wheat bran feed, aquatic plants and green feed can be appropriately increased to adapt to their wild-state feeding habits, but minerals and vitamins must not be lacking. Especially at 40-60 days of age, restricted feeding should be implemented, that is, appropriately reducing protein feed and energy feed, and adding coarse feed such as bran, wheat bran, aquatic plants and green feed, which can delay and reduce the outbreak of wild nature in wild ducks. This not only reduces the losses caused by this, but also saves feed. Otherwise, fat in the wild duck's body accumulates rapidly, stimulating the outbreak of their flying wild nature, leading to flock uproar.

2) Careful feeding: Feed outdoors to keep the duck house clean and hygienic. Use a compound diet, at fixed times and in fixed amounts, 3-4 times a day, with the daily feed amount being 5% of their body weight. The feeding amount must ensure that every duck can get food, while there is no leftover feed. If raised by grazing, the grazing time should be extended as much as possible so that they get more and more complete food. After grazing, decide whether to supplement and feed according to the intake situation. If they are used as reserve breeding ducks, green and juicy feed should be increased as appropriate, with the amount accounting for about 15% of the feed amount, to appropriately control body weight. From 30-40 days before laying, it can be increased to about 55%-70% green feed, 20%-30% coarse feed, and 10%-15% concentrated feed, controlling meat-based feed to prevent premature laying.

5 Light control: At this stage, the number of light hours needs to be reduced, combined with restricted feeding, to make the control of sexual maturity more effective.

6 Exercise and bathing: After 40 days of age, except in bad weather, generally they do not need to be shut in the duck house at night, and can be allowed to roost freely overnight. On the one hand, this can keep them wild and maintain the tender, gamey meat quality; on the other hand, it also trains their gregariousness, overcomes the nutritional deficiencies of the feed formula, and improves their physique and utility value.

7 Preventing escape: At 50 days of age, the wing feathers of wild ducks are basically fully grown and they begin to learn to fly. Metal or nylon netting must be used to set up overhead netting and surrounding netting around the exercise yard and water surface to prevent them from flying away. Bamboo poles or netting blocking the water must reach deep to the river bottom to prevent escape by diving.

8 Selecting and retaining breeding wild ducks: At 60-70 days of age, select breeding stock at a female-to-male ratio of (4-6):1. Female ducks are required to have a small head, long neck and large eyes, and male ducks to be large, robust and agile. The selected breeding ducks are raised separately. The remaining wild ducks are sold on the market as meat-type ducklings or sold after fattening.,

9 Other

Clean the house every day, frequently change the bedding and ventilate, and keep the water source clean and hygienic

When the temperature is relatively high, pay attention to heatstroke prevention and cooling

Ensure that every wild duck has a feeding position

Pay attention to the prevention and treatment of diseases

Prevent infringement and interference by other animals