How to raise wild ducks during the growing period? These key points you need to know
Wild ducks are a lean-meat type of poultry, with delicious and tender meat, high protein content, and high nutritional value, and market demand is constantly increasing. In recent years, various processed wild duck products have continuously appeared, such as salted wild duck and osmanthus wild duck, which have always sold well, not only extending the industry chain but also increasing the added value of wild duck farming. Farming wild ducks allows you to sell not only wild duck meat but also wild duck eggs. Wild duck eggs are a rare type of poultry egg, with a relatively high market price and promising sales prospects. China's wild duck products enjoy a high reputation internationally and are well received by foreign consumers. In foreign markets, the sales volume of wild ducks and their products is on the rise.
How should wild ducks be raised during the growing period? What needs attention?
The growing period generally refers to the stage from the end of the brooding period to the start of laying. During the growing period, wild ducks grow and develop rapidly. At 40 days of age, their body weight can reach 750 grams, and their feathers have basically fully grown in, with only a little down remaining behind the head. By 70 days of age, the first selection can be carried out, that is, selecting robust young wild ducks with obvious breed characteristics as reserve breeding ducks. The culled young wild ducks, after fattening until their body weight reaches more than 1 kg, can be sold as commercial young wild ducks.
Reserve breeding ducks are grouped at a male-to-female ratio of 1:8, generally about 150 birds per group, and an additional 5% of male ducks may be kept as spares as appropriate. The focus of feeding and management at this stage is to do a good job of restricted feeding, control body weight, and prevent premature sexual maturity that would lead to a decline in the physique of breeding ducks.
Careful feeding Use compound feed for growing ducks, and persist in timed and quantitative controlled feeding. Feed 3 times a day, gradually increasing coarse feed.
Restricted feeding As reserve breeding ducks, body weight standards must be strictly controlled. Weigh a certain number of fasting live weights every week as a reference for adjusting the nutritional level of the feed. The proportion of soybean cake and fishmeal should be reduced, and the amount of grains, bran, and green juicy feed should be gradually increased. Green feed includes leafy vegetables, alfalfa, green grass, etc., accounting for about 15% of the feed amount. From 30 to 40 days before the start of laying, the daily feed can be increased to 55%, with coarse feed accounting for 30% and concentrate accounting for about 15%. This can allow reserve breeding ducks to grow a larger frame. Restricted feeding should be carried out in a planned way and combined with light control.
Control light and raising density During the growing period, in principle, light can only be reduced or kept unchanged, and cannot be extended. As captive wild ducks continue to grow, the raising density should be appropriately adjusted: 8 birds per sq m at 4 to 6 weeks of age, 6 birds per sq m at 7 to 10 weeks of age, and 4 sq m at 11 weeks of age and above.
Add protective netting After 50 days of age, wild ducks have basically fully feathered and have the ability to fly short distances. Metal nets or nylon net covers should be added in advance indoors and outdoors, on land and water exercise areas. The mesh opening should preferably be 2 cm * 2 cm. The height of the net cover from the water surface should be no less than 2 m, to facilitate driving and catching for management. The bamboo used to block ducks, metal net, or nylon should reach deep to the river bottom to prevent wild ducks from escaping. Many farms use the method of regularly clipping the primary wing feathers to prevent wild ducks from flying away, and some also use the measure of cutting the tendon on one side of the wing to make wild ducks lose their flying ability.
Strengthen management Clean the duck house regularly every day, replace bedding material, pay attention to clean and hygienic drinking water, and also change the water in artificial release ponds frequently, ensuring each wild duck has enough feeding space. Regularly spot-check the body weight of breeding ducks and adjust the nutritional level of the daily ration in a timely manner.
Full grazing After 40 days of age, except in severe weather, grazing should be carried out to keep them wild, maintain the gamey flavor of the meat, and prevent meat quality deterioration. During grazing, the grazing and return routes, water sources, and food sources should be surveyed well, and pesticide poisoning should be strictly guarded against.
Prevent outbreaks of wildness From 60 to 70 days of age is the period when wildness breaks out in wild ducks, caused by physiological changes in the body. The main manifestations are restlessness in the flock. They appear nervous, have a strong desire to fly, greatly reduce feed intake, and lose body weight, so forced feeding should be implemented, with increased feeding of crude fiber feed. Keep the environment quiet to reduce or delay the outbreak of wildness, and it can also save feed.