Key Technical Points and Scientific Feeding Management Methods for Wild Duck Farming

1. Artificial incubation methods for wild ducks

For small-scale wild duck farming, traditional incubation methods are used; for large-scale wild duck farming, it is generally necessary to purchase computer-controlled fully automatic incubation equipment. Before incubation, select breeding eggs with a high fertilization rate, clean and disinfect them, place the breeding eggs on trays, and send them into the incubation room for incubation. Wild duck incubation has two methods: constant-temperature management and variable-temperature management.

Constant-temperature management maintains a temperature of 37.2 degrees C during days 1 to 26, and maintains 37 degrees C during the hatching period. Variable-temperature management maintains 37.5 to 38 degrees C during days 1 to 15, 37 to 37.5 degrees C during days 16 to 25, and 37 degrees C during days 26 to 28.

Breeding egg incubation requires a certain humidity: maintain 70% relative humidity during days 1 to 8, 60% to 65% during days 9 to 21, and 70% from day 22 to hatching.

During the wild duck incubation process, appropriate ventilation should be carried out to ensure that the breeding eggs can receive sufficient oxygen and maintain normal metabolism. During the incubation process, the eggs should also be turned frequently to keep the breeding eggs evenly heated and to promote balanced development. During days 1-21, turn the eggs 10 to 12 times per day, with a turning angle of plus or minus 45 degrees; after being placed on the hatching tray on day 22, spread them 8 to 10 times per day. In order to lower the temperature of the breeding eggs, in the middle and later stages of incubation, use methods such as opening the door, fan cooling, or spraying cold water to cool the eggs. During days 6 to 13, cool the eggs 1 to 2 times per day; during days 14 to 26, cool the eggs 2 to 3 times per day; from day 26 to mass hatching, cool the eggs 3 to 4 times per day.

2. Feeding and management of ducklings

Artificial wild duck farming has two forms: shed housing and grazing. For shed housing, choose a location near a water source to build the duck house. The duck house should have an exercise area and a pool, and the entire duck house should be covered with nylon netting, with the net height around 5 m. For grazing-style farming, when there is a relatively large water surface, train the wild ducks to develop the habit of foraging on their own during the day and automatically returning to the shed at night.

The body temperature of newly hatched ducklings is 30 degrees C lower than that of adult ducks, and their own temperature regulation ability is low. Temperature control and insulation for ducklings are key to the success or failure of duckling rearing. In winter and spring, maintain the brooding room temperature at 30 degrees C, then lower it by 1 degree C every 2 days, and after 20 days of age gradually transition to normal-temperature management. The relative humidity of the brooding room should be controlled at around 70%; too high or too low is unfavorable to the growth of wild ducks. The suitable rearing density for 10-day-old ducklings is 40 per sq m, for 11-20 days of age is 30, and for 21-30 days of age is about 25. When the weather is clear, after 20 days of age they can be let outside the shed for activity.

After newly hatched ducklings enter the brooding room, they should drink 5% to 8% glucose water, and afterward supply a 200 mg/kg concentration potassium permanganate solution once every 3 days. After the ducklings drink water for 2-3 hours, feeding can begin. For duckling feeding, choose easily digestible soft feed; after 3 days, choose duckling compound feed for feeding. Before 10 days of age, feed 7 times per day, including 2 times at night; from 11 to 20 days of age, feed 5 times per day, including 1 time at night; after 21 days of age, feed 4 times per day.

During the duckling rearing period, ventilation and air exchange should also be carried out frequently to keep the air in the duck house clean. Duckling growth requires a certain amount of light. Within 10 days of age, provide light day and night; from 11 to 20 days of age, gradually reduce nighttime light duration; after 21 days of age, transition to natural light.

3. Management of wild ducks during the growing period

Wild ducks from 31 to 160 days of age are wild ducks in the growing period.

The growing period is the period of fastest growth and development for wild ducks. Under normal circumstances, at 60 days of age, wild ducks are already close to adult ducks in body weight, body shape, and other aspects. When raising wild ducks for meat, they should generally be sold promptly after 60 days of age. Laying wild ducks should continue to be fed. Adult wild ducks have strong flying ability. The adult duck house is different from the duckling house; the entire duck house should be sealed off with nylon netting. Growing ducks are relatively large, with a rearing density of 10 to 15 per sq m. Growing ducks grow quickly, so they should be fed a complete-price feed, 3 times per day, with a daily feed amount of about 5% of body weight, and about 15% chopped green feed should be added to the feed to ensure the supply of vitamins. Adult ducks have a large amount of feces, so the duck house should be cleaned regularly to keep it clean and hygienic. Drinking water should be kept clean; if a duck pond is used for drinking water, the water in the pond should be changed frequently. Carry out epidemic prevention in a timely manner, and promptly isolate and treat sick ducks when found.

4. Feeding of laying ducks

When wild ducks are raised to around 170 days, they reach the age of laying. The feed for laying wild ducks requires a relatively large amount of protein, so sufficient protein should be added to the feed, and the amount of bone meal, shell meal, etc. should be increased, with the number of daily feedings increased to 4. During the laying period, maintain sufficient light, with total daily light duration of no less than 15 hours, and carry out artificial supplementary lighting for 2 to 3 hours each in the morning and evening. Because female ducks are accustomed to laying eggs on muddy ground with hollow nests, for this reason, some laying nests can be intentionally made on the ground, and some dry grass can be spread on top. Most female ducks lay eggs at night, but a small number lay eggs in the morning, so the time for opening the shed each day should not be too early, to prevent eggs from being laid outside and unable to be collected.