Comprehensive Technical Points for Raising Laying Ducks in Spring

Technical points for grazing laying ducks in spring:

1. Choose good grazing grounds. In early spring, laying ducks can be grazed in shallow ponds and dams, river ditches, and small inlets; when the water sounds with the plowing and harrowing of spring farming, they can be grazed in plowed rice fields prepared for transplanting rice seedlings.

2. Graze carefully. Early spring temperatures are on the low side, so it is best to graze late and extend the grazing time day by day. When grazing along river courses, it is generally best to go upstream against the current, and it is not advisable to graze in places where the water is too deep. During cold spells in spring, when windy weather occurs, ducks should be grazed against the wind to avoid the wind lifting their feathers and causing excessive heat loss, which can chill the ducks. In addition, drakes have extremely strong sexual desire in spring, so attention should be paid to the ratio of males to females in the grazing flock to prevent flock unrest from affecting egg production.

3. Supplement feed in good time. In spring, laying ducks have high egg production intensity, and the amount they travel while grazing each day is also large; the live food and green fodder they consume are bulky and low in energy, and are easy to digest. Therefore, feed should be supplemented in good time each day according to the number of eggs laid and the flock's feeding conditions. The best time for supplemental feeding is 9-10 p.m. each night. The feed should mainly be grains such as corn and paddy rice, which can account for 50-60% of the feed; next is oilseed cake and meal, which can account for 10-20%; next is animal-based feed such as fishmeal, which can account for 10-15%; then add an appropriate amount of mineral feed, accounting for about 1%.

4. Do a good job of disease prevention. In spring, as temperatures rise, various harmful microorganisms begin to multiply in large numbers. In addition, during this period the ducks' constitution is relatively poor, so various pathogens and parasites can easily take advantage of the opportunity, and therefore attention must be paid to preventing and treating duck diseases. Before the peak laying season arrives, ducks should be injected once with fowl plague vaccine and fowl cholera bacterin. When entering the peak production period, to prevent pullorum disease and diarrhea in laying ducks, 0.1-0.3% oxytetracycline calcium salt can be mixed into the feed. 

The “three measures” to let ducks lay more eggs in spring

Choose good grazing grounds. In early spring, ducks can be grazed at pond dams and river ditches, letting them prey on fish, shrimp, loaches, and aquatic animals. After spring plowing, they can be grazed in green-manure fields that have been plowed and are prepared for rice transplanting; such fields have more vetch seeds, grass roots, earthworms, insects, and so on. After rice transplanting, it is not advisable to graze them in the fields; wait until after the rice harvest before grazing again. 

1. Graze carefully. Early spring temperatures are on the low side, so it is best to let them out late and drive them back early, and gradually extend the grazing time. When grazing, pay attention to water temperature, and go into the water and up the bank slowly. Make full use of river courses for grazing; generally, when driving them out to graze, it is best to go upstream against the current, when they have plenty of strength and catch more food. On windy days, graze against the wind to avoid the wind lifting the ducks' feathers and causing them to catch cold. In areas with more feed, grazing of current-year female ducks should be controlled so they can eat their fill on the spot. Next-year female ducks are large in body and slow in movement, like to lie down after eating their fill, and easily accumulate fat and thus affect egg production, so they should be made to move as much as possible. During the peak laying season, drakes have relatively strong sexual desire, so attention should be paid to the male-to-female ratio. 

2. Supplement feed in good time. During the peak laying season, the live food and green fodder that female ducks eat are relatively low in energy, so feed should be supplemented in good time each day according to the number of eggs laid and the flock's feeding conditions. 

3. Pay attention to observation. First, look at appetite. When feeding, if the ducks quickly gather around, you can appropriately feed a little more. Second, look at feathers. Bright feathers indicate that feeding is appropriate. If the feathers are loose and ruffled, fishmeal and other concentrated feed should be added in good time. Third, look at playing in the water. If the ducks are alarmed when entering the water, and when they climb ashore their wings droop, concentrated feed and cod liver oil, etc. should be added. Fourth, look at droppings. If the droppings are white, it means too much animal-based feed was given and digestion is poor. If the droppings are loose, it means the animal-based feed is being given reasonably. Fifth, look at egg-laying time. If the ducks lay eggs before 5 a.m., it means feeding is appropriate. If egg-laying time is delayed and the eggs get smaller and smaller, concentrated feed should be supplemented quickly. 

Things to note when raising laying ducks in spring:

Pay attention to keeping warm 

In spring there are occasional cold snaps. At the turn of spring and summer, the weather is changeable, and there may be early hot weather, or continuous rainy days. Measures should be adapted to the time and treated differently; keep the duck house dry and ventilated, do a good job of cleaning and sanitation, and disinfect regularly. If there are rainy days, appropriately change the operating procedures and shorten the duck release time. Litter in the house should not be allowed to accumulate too thickly and should be removed regularly; each time the litter is removed, a disinfection should be carried out at the same time. 

Close doors and windows well 

To prevent drafts from intruding, the north windows must be sealed tightly. When temperatures are low, it is best to add an interlayer under the roof, or at 2 m above the ground, set up bamboo poles horizontally and spread straw curtains or plastic sheeting on them to help keep warm. 

Release late and shut in early 

Release ducks late in the morning and shut them in early in the evening, reduce the number of times they enter the water, and shorten the time in the water. When the sun is plentiful in the morning and afternoon, let them bathe once each time, for about 10 minutes. 

Provide sufficient feed 

As temperatures turn from cold to warm and sunshine increases, this is beneficial to egg laying. Feed must meet the needs of laying ducks in both quantity and quality; in spring, excellent laying ducks sometimes have an egg-laying rate exceeding 100%. 

Ensure the supply of green fodder 

Green fodder can be scattered on the water surface during the day for the ducks to eat freely, and at night it can be put in baskets placed in the center of the house for feeding; green fodder and concentrated feed each account for 50%. When green fodder is lacking, egg-type multivitamins can be added as a substitute, with very good results. 

Strict management in late spring 

At this time the moldy-rainy season occurs, and with the slightest carelessness, egg dropping and molting are likely to occur. The duck house should be well ventilated, litter should be changed frequently, the house should be kept dry, feed should be prevented from becoming moldy, and the duck house, feed troughs, and drinkers should be disinfected regularly. On sunny days, let the ducks move around more outside the house and get more sunlight.