Feed Amount Control Methods for Breeding Ducks at Different Laying Stages

Early laying stage. The increase of feed amount in the early laying stage should follow the principle of gradual progress. Generally, the female duck flock begins to lay eggs at 21—22 weeks of age. After laying begins, the feed supply should be increased by 5—10 grams per duck per week according to the body weight of male and female ducks, so as to prompt the flock to reach a 5% laying rate as early as possible. However, in production, some farmers, in a one-sided pursuit of earlier onset of laying, greater weight of the first eggs, and an earlier peak of laying, rapidly increase the feed amount in the early laying stage, which will inevitably affect the economic benefits of the entire laying period. First, laying too early, combined with oversized first eggs, can easily cause prolapse of the cloaca in female ducks; second, the body maturity and sexual maturity of breeding ducks are inconsistent, especially in male ducks. Although they have sexual desire and will mount, their semen quality is relatively poor, and generally the hatchability of fertilized eggs is relatively low.

Early laying stage. During the rising phase of laying in the early laying stage, the feed amount should be increased rapidly to induce the flock to reach the peak laying stage as early as possible. In the 2—3 weeks before the peak laying stage arrives, the feed amount should reach its maximum. If the increase in feed amount is delayed, it often causes a laying loss of 2%—3%. At this time, a trial feeding method is adopted: increase the feed by another 1%—5% per duck, feed continuously for 4 days, and then observe changes in the laying rate. If the laying rate increases, continue feeding according to the increased feed amount; if the laying rate does not change, immediately return to the original feed amount. This method can be used multiple times.

Peak laying stage. In order to make the peak laying stage arrive on schedule, the maximum feed amount in the early laying stage is generally 10%-15% higher than the amount required by ducks of this breed at the peak laying stage. The average daily feed consumption of Cherry Valley meat-type breeding ducks at the peak laying stage is 220-250 grams per duck. During the entire peak laying stage, the feed amount generally should not be reduced and should always be kept at the highest level. However, after the peak laying stage is reached, the excess 10%—15% feed amount must be subtracted, otherwise it will easily cause breeding ducks to become overweight, and female ducks will also experience a decline in laying rate due to being overweight. The reduction of feed after the peak period should be combined with laying age in weeks, laying rate, egg weight, etc. Feed reduction should begin 2 weeks after the laying rate no longer rises. The average feed consumption per duck should be reduced by about 10—15 grams. Over 2 weeks, after stabilizing the feed amount for breeding ducks at the required maximum feed amount, constant feeding is adopted.

Late laying stage. After 48 weeks of age, the laying rate of meat-type ducks begins to decline at a rate of 1%-2% per week. At this time, female ducks have fully reached body maturity, and egg weight remains correspondingly stable. The nutritional requirements of female ducks begin to decrease. If the feed amount is not reduced at this time, it will inevitably cause fat deposition, making female ducks overweight and leading to a sharp decline in the laying rate in the later period, causing waste of feed. Therefore, starting from 48 weeks of age, feed should be gradually reduced as the laying rate declines. Feed reduction can also adopt a trial reduction method. Under normal circumstances, the daily feed amount for breeding ducks in the late laying stage is 80%-85% of the peak-period feed amount.