What are the prevention and control methods for feather pecking in meat ducks?
Feather pecking in meat ducks refers to the undesirable behavior during the rearing process in which one or more ducks in a flock peck their own feathers or peck at the feathers of other individuals. The pecked areas are mostly the back and wing tips, often causing sparse and broken feathers, bleeding hair follicles, and even torn skin; feathers are often eaten after being pecked out by the root. The occurrence of feather pecking behavior makes the duck flock restless and reduces appetite, seriously affecting the normal growth of the ducks.
1. Improve the rearing environment and strengthen feeding management. Reduce stocking density and improve ventilation and light intensity. When raised in cages, the cage height should be 100-120 cm for easy cleaning. Meet the temperature requirements of meat ducks at different ages, keep relative humidity at 60%-70%, ensure good ventilation, keep light not too strong, and keep the duck house clean and dry.
2. Beak-trim newborn ducklings in time. Beak-trimming newborn ducklings at 8-10 days of age can completely avoid the occurrence of feather-pecking vice.
3. Scientifically formulate complete-price feed. Feed high-quality complete compound feed to provide sufficient protein, vitamins, inorganic salts, etc., and feed at regular times. For feather pecking caused by insufficient protein, calcium, and phosphorus, add 5% soybean cake or 3% fish meal, 2%-4% bone meal or shell meal. For feather pecking caused by salt deficiency, add 1%-2% table salt to the feed and feed continuously for 2-3 days. For feather pecking caused by sulfur deficiency, supplement zinc sulfate or calcium sulfate, 1-4 grams per duck per day. Properly adding green feed or additionally feeding feather-pecking remedy and feather meal can all prevent feather pecking. Some green vegetables or green grass can also be fed to increase the content of crude fiber in the gastrointestinal tract and prevent feather pecking caused by a lack of satiety in ducks.
4. In summer, regularly kill mosquitoes and flies in the duck house, but pay attention to the drug concentration and method of use to avoid duck poisoning; properly add vitamin B12 or compound vitamin B in drinking water or feed to prevent feather-pecking vice induced by feather loss.
5. Treat in time. Isolate meat ducks with feather-pecking vice in time to avoid further spread of pecking behavior; for injured meat ducks, apply penicillin powder to the injured area, or wash the affected area with 0.01% potassium permanganate solution. Let the ducks exercise properly, and add an appropriate amount of 0.2%-0.3% natural gypsum powder to their feed, feeding 1-4 grams per duck per day, which will also have a very good prevention and control effect.