How Do Ducks Get Through Winter? Key Points for Winter Duck Rearing and Management

Ducks are a common animal of ours, and this kind of poultry is raised in many paddy fields in the south. Ducks have a very long history in our country. Based on the Neolithic pottery duck collected at Yanshimenqiushan in Wuping, Fujian, as well as the jade ducks and stone ducks unearthed from the Yin Ruins in Anyang, Henan, and the tomb of Fu Hao, it shows that duck domestication in our country has a history of at least 3,000 years. So how do ducks, as animals, get through winter?

I. How Ducks Get Through Winter

There are two kinds of ducks, wild and domestic. Generally, wild ducks are migratory birds. Under natural conditions, they migrate south to overwinter in autumn. In China, they often overwinter in the provinces of the Yangtze River basin or areas farther south; in late spring they pass through North China to Northeast China, reaching Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and the former Soviet Union and other places.

Domestic ducks need artificial protection when getting through winter. First, strictly control the room temperature. Cold protection and warmth keeping for the overwintering duck flock are crucial, and the temperature inside the shed must be kept above 5°C; second, in the egg-laying areas around the duck house, spread 30 cm of thick, clean, soft bedding material; third, during winter, the proportion of energy feed such as corn must be appropriately increased to ensure nutrition; fourth, once sick ducks are found, they must be isolated promptly, diagnosed and treated, and the duck house must be urgently disinfected; finally, increase the rearing density. For the overwintering duck flock, a density of 8 to 9 ducks per square meter is best, which helps the flock keep itself warm.

II. Duck Egg-Laying Methods

Ducks have two peak egg-laying periods in a year, one from March to May, and the other from August to October, with the spring peak being more prominent. Therefore, doing a good job in the feeding and management of laying ducks during these two periods, especially in spring, is crucial. During spring laying, first choose good grazing grounds and drive the ducks to places with abundant food; second, graze them carefully, preferably taking them out late and bringing them back early, and gradually extending the grazing time day by day; finally, supplement feed in a timely manner to meet the nutritional needs of laying ducks and enhance their cold resistance.

The above is some relevant knowledge about ducks overwintering. It is worth noting that wild ducks are now a national second-class protected animal, so when you see wild ducks in winter, try not to catch them, so as not to violate the law.