Feeding and Management Techniques for Mallard Ducks During the Growing Period

The growing period mainly refers to the time from the end of the brooding period (15 days) to slaughter and marketing at 84 days of age. According to their growth pattern, this period can be divided into three stages, namely: early growth stage (16-35 days), late growth stage (36-70 days), and maintenance period (71-84 days). During the growing period, each commercial duck consumes approximately 7-7.5 kg of feed.

1. Early growth stage. This stage is the key period for body weight gain in mallard ducks, and the quality of feeding and management during this period directly affects the final production performance. In late spring and early summer, after ducklings are transferred from the brooder house to the growing house, the environmental temperature changes considerably. To prevent ducklings from coming into contact with the cold ground at night, litter must be spread inside the growing duck house. The litter must be dry and soft, and replaced regularly. Regarding feed, to meet the needs of rapid body weight gain, a diet with relatively high energy and protein levels must be provided. Where conditions permit, an appropriate amount of dried green grass meal may be added to the compound feed to increase the crude fiber content of the diet, thereby promoting the development of the ducklings' digestive organs and maintaining their digestive function. As the growth rate of ducklings accelerates, the stocking density should also be adjusted in a timely manner. The following data can be used as a reference for adjustment: 8-10 birds per square meter at 2 weeks of age, 6-8 birds per square meter at 3 weeks of age, 5-6 birds per square meter at 4 weeks of age, and 4-5 birds per square meter at 5 weeks of age. 2. Late growth stage. In the late growth stage, the growth rate slows down somewhat compared with the early stage. Therefore, to reduce feeding costs, the protein and energy levels of the diet can be appropriately lowered. The specific method is: reduce the content of corn and soybean cake in the diet, and appropriately increase the amount of bran and middlings. Feed changes should be carried out gradually, generally controlled at replacing 20% of the original formula feed per day. The appropriate stocking density for the late growth stage is 3-4 birds per square meter. 3. Maintenance period (molting period). The main characteristic of this stage is slow growth, and the nutrients consumed are mainly used to maintain body weight and for molting. The duration of molting and how well it is completed directly affect the age at slaughter and marketing and the carcass quality (commercial grade), so feeding and management during this stage must not be neglected. Measures that can be taken include: (1) Ensure the temperature of the ducklings' growing environment (13-25°C). Too high or too low a temperature will increase feed consumption for maintaining body weight and body temperature, and excessively high temperatures can also cause feather loss. (2) Ensure the content and quality of protein in the diet, especially the content of sulfur-containing amino acids in the protein, so as to meet the demand for sulfur-containing amino acids for feather growth. (3) Ensure the concentration in the diet of metal ions related to feather growth, such as copper, zinc, and manganese. As the molting and feather growth process is completed, the wild nature of mallard ducks to fly and escape becomes increasingly evident. Therefore, for duck houses used to raise growing ducks, the outdoor exercise area must be covered with nylon or welded wire mesh netting to prevent the ducks from escaping.