Sharing Experience and Tips for Winter Farming of Wild Ducks

There are relatively many species of wild ducks, and the main one currently domesticated is the American mallard. Mallard meat is tender, delicious and flavorful, and relatively low in fat, making it a traditional nourishing food and wild-game delicacy. This kind of wild duck grows quickly. At 70 days of age, the average body weight can reach 1.2 kg, and at about 5 months it begins laying eggs, producing about 150 eggs per year. The market price of commercial wild ducks is no less than 20 yuan per kg, and sales channels are very broad. The domestication methods are as follows:

1. Create a suitable wild environment

Building wild duck housing must conform to the wild habits of wild ducks. When building the duck house, half should be a shed as a resting area, and half should be an open-air activity area. The activity area should be a pond; if it is not a pond, an artificial pool should be dug. Trees and grass can be planted around the activity area, and some algae can be cultivated in the pond to create a suitable wild environment. If the combined raising-and-release method is used, the raising site must be chosen in places such as beside rivers and lakes with relatively open water areas and lush vegetation. At the same time, fencing nets must be built. The top net should be about 2 m high above the water surface, and surrounding nets should be added down to the bottom of the water, connected with the large net to form an enclosed body to prevent escape by flying. The mesh openings of the top net and surrounding net should be 3 cm×3 cm, and either nylon netting or rope netting can be used. Generally, the raising area for every 100 wild ducks is about 60 sq m.

2. Meet the needs of wild feeding habits

When young wild ducks begin feeding, a small amount of fish meal must be added to the feed, and after a few days compound feed can be given. At the same time, an appropriate amount of green feed and fresh live animals such as small fish and shrimp, mussel meat, and earthworms should be added. After one month of feeding, the protein content in the feed should be reduced to 10%, the proportion of fish meal and soybean cake should be appropriately reduced, and the proportion of coarse feed should be gradually increased, up to 20%. Every day, feed enough green feed such as 100 g of vegetable leaves, alfalfa, and green grass to promote the growth of the wild duck's frame and delay development. After 2 months, coarse feed must be reduced, protein feed increased to 18%, and green feed continued to be increased.

3. Strengthen domestication management

Feed young ducks carefully. For young ducks aged 1--30 days, temperature must be strictly controlled: 27--29°C for 1--3 days of age, 25--26°C for 4--6 days of age; 24--25°C for 7--10 days of age; and 17--19°C after 11 days of age. At the same time, spread soft straw on the ground and feed them in separate pens. Young ducks have the habit of sleeping in piles, so there must be round-the-clock attendance to prevent them from being crushed or suffocated. When starting to feed, they should first drink water, and sufficient drinking water must be ensured, with 5--7 waterings per day. Domesticate and manage adult ducks. From 31--70 days of age, the raising density is 10--15 birds per sq m. After 50 days they begin learning to fly, so escape must be strictly prevented. Water basins should also be arranged to provide an activity area and wild resting objects. Wild ducks aged 60--70 days must be prevented from flock disturbances. Due to increased body fat and physiological changes, wild ducks' wild nature is triggered and they are stimulated to fly. At this time, the flock shows restlessness, a sharp decrease in feed intake, and weight loss, so feeding must be restricted and the proportion of coarse feed increased. Keepers should wear plain-colored clothes, and avoid wearing brightly patterned clothes. At the same time, outsiders must be prevented from entering the duck house and disturbing the flock. After half a month of domestication, all will return to normal.