What are the rearing methods and advantages of dry-land raising of laying ducks?

Female ducks from the start of laying until culling are all called laying ducks. Generally, the service period of egg-type Shelduck ducks is about 350 days (150-500 days of age), called the first laying year; some are also used in the second and third years after molting and resting, but their production performance declines year by year and they are not suitable for retention. Male ducks generally show sexual behavior at around 100 days of age, but sexual maturity is around 150 days of age. Therefore, for breeding and mating, male ducks over 5 months of age are mostly used, and breeding male ducks are used for only 1 year (actually one mating period). From sexual maturity, male and female ducks enter a new stage. In this stage, male ducks must mate and breed, and female ducks must lay eggs and reproduce. The growth and development of all body parts have basically ended, and all their activities revolve around the center of “reproduction.” All feeding and management work must also serve this center, doing everything possible to create an environment and conditions for continuous high and stable production, so as to obtain high-quality breeding eggs.

How are laying ducks raised?

(1) Use small ponds instead of natural rivers

The purpose is to keep laying ducks from going into the river and reduce pollution. We once conducted a preliminary trial. Laying ducks that never touched water had a slow rise in laying rate, and generally once the laying rate reached 50%-60%, it could not rise further. Therefore, the purpose of digging small ponds is to reduce the negative effects brought by dry-land raising. The small pond does not need to be too large. Generally, for 2000 laying ducks, digging one 10 sq m pond is enough, and the pool water depth should preferably be 20 cm. The pool water is best changed every day, and can be drawn with a small water pump. Some duck raisers also change the pool water every 3 days. The ducks enter the water 3-4 times a day in summer, 10 minutes each time, and after coming out of the water the ducks are allowed to rest in a cool place; in winter, 2 times a day, at 10 a.m. and around 3 p.m., 5 minutes each time, and after coming out of the water the ducks are allowed to bask in the sun in the exercise yard. If the weather is too cold, the number of times and time in the water should be relatively reduced. Or they may not enter the water.

(2) Prepare special feed for dry-land raised ducks

The feed formula is as follows: corn 41%, soybean meal 18%, fish meal 3%, rapeseed meal 6%, cottonseed meal 2%, wheat middlings 9%, calcium hydrogen phosphate 1.4%, shell powder 8.3%, salt 0.3%, additives 1%.

1. Supplement brown sugar. During the long rainy weather in Jiangnan in the first half of the year, or 2 days before the typhoon season and bad weather in the second half of the year, add brown sugar to the duck flock. Generally, 1000 ducks are fed 0.5-1 kg per day for 3-4 consecutive days.

2. Supplement cod liver oil. For high-yielding laying ducks that have laid eggs for more than 1 year, supplement cod liver oil for 5-7 days each month, which can increase the laying rate and extend the high-yield period.

3. Supplement oil and fat. Generally used during the molting season of laying ducks or when severe cold weather arrives in winter. However, because the technical requirements for adding oil and fat are relatively high, the following points should be noted when supplementing oil and fat: first, the amount must be appropriate, too much will cause diarrhea; second, the timing must be appropriate, preferably 1 week; third, the mixing must be uniform, preferably using a fine sprayer for long-distance spraying or asking a feed manufacturer to add it professionally; fourth, the effect is best when used during molting.

4. Supplement fish meal. Using it during the peak laying period will extend the high-yield period; using it when the laying rate is 50% will make the peak laying period arrive earlier; using it when the laying rate continues to rise slowly will accelerate the rate of increase.

5. Supplement green feed. Generally water hyacinth is the main one, and specialized households with conditions can plant ryegrass. It can be added all year round. Because during the dry-land raising process, laying ducks cannot eat any wild feed and rely entirely on artificial feeding, the feed formula should be as diverse as possible. In particular, feed containing sulfur-containing amino acids, vitamins, and inorganic salts must be kept sufficiently supplied.

(3) Disease prevention and control measures

1. Do a good job of cleaning and hygiene in the duck house. The litter in the duck house must be kept dry and clean; the exercise yard must have smooth drainage, and the ducks' bodies must be kept dry and clean; indoor ventilation must be good.

2. Establish a disinfection system. Before each introduction of ducks, the entire duck house must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The exercise yard can be disinfected with quicklime, preferably once every 2 weeks, and after disinfection it must be thoroughly rinsed with clean water. The duck house and commonly used utensils can be disinfected with Baidusha and Xiaoteling, and green feed and drinking water can be treated with a 0.02% potassium permanganate solution.

Compared with the traditional free-range model, the dry-land raising model for laying ducks mainly has the following obvious advantages.

First, it can greatly improve labor productivity. In the traditional free-range model, each laborer can raise only about 250 laying ducks; with the confined raising model, each laborer can raise 2500-3000 laying ducks; with the cage raising model, 5000-7500 can be raised.

Second, it can significantly improve feed utilization. After adopting the dry-land raising model, because the renovation reduces the energy requirement for basal metabolism of laying ducks, it can increase feed conversion rate by about 6%, and at the same time it can change the feed waste under the traditional breeding model.

Third, it can reduce surrounding environmental pollution. After long-term free-range raising under the traditional model, it is easy to pollute water body resources such as reservoirs and rivers and the surrounding environment. After adopting the dry-land raising model, recycling of wastewater is realized, reducing environmental pollution.

Fourth, it can significantly improve economic benefits. While saving labor costs and feed costs, the renovated dry-land raising model can significantly reduce medication costs. At the same time, seedlings fertilized with duck manure can significantly increase growth speed, achieving the goal of high yield and abundant harvest.

Fifth, it can significantly reduce the harm of disease transmission. After adopting the dry-land raising model for laying ducks, because the raising environment is relatively stable and the impact of changes in external environmental conditions is significantly reduced, it is beneficial for duck flock epidemic prevention and reduces cross-infection of diseases caused by free-range raising, significantly reducing the harm of disease transmission.