A Detailed Explanation of New Methods and Technical Points for Wild Duck Farming

?I. Creating a Suitable Wild Environment

The wild duck enclosure must conform to the wild habits of wild ducks. Half of it should be a shed serving as a rest area, and half should be an open-air activity area. The activity area should be a pond or an artificial pool. Some trees and grass clumps can be planted in the activity area, and some algae can be cultivated in the pond to create a suitable wild environment. If the combined rearing-and-release method is adopted, the rearing site must be chosen in places with open water areas and lush vegetation, such as beside rivers and lakes. At the same time, perimeter netting and overhead netting must be built. The height of the overhead netting should be about 2 m above the water surface, and perimeter netting should be added around it down to the bottom of the water, forming a closed structure with the overhead netting to prevent escape by flying. The mesh openings of both the overhead netting and the perimeter netting should be 3 cm x 3 cm, and either nylon netting or rope netting may be used. Generally, the rearing area for every 100 wild ducks is about 60 sq m.

?II. Meeting the Needs of Wild Feeding Habits

When ducklings start feeding, a small amount of fishmeal must be added to the feed. After a few days, compound feed can be given, along with an appropriate amount of green feed and fresh live animals such as small fish and shrimp, mussel meat, and earthworms. After 1 month of feeding, the protein content in the feed should be reduced to 10%, the proportion of fishmeal and soybean cake should be appropriately reduced, and the proportion of roughage should be gradually increased, up to 20%. At the same time, feed at least 100 g per day of green feed such as vegetable leaves, alfalfa, and green grass to promote the growth of the wild ducks' frame and delay their development. After 2 months, roughage must be reduced, and protein feed should be increased to 18%. Green feed should also continue to be increased.

?III. Strengthening Taming and Management

1. Careful Feeding of Ducklings

For ducklings from 1 to 30 days of age, temperature must be strictly controlled: 27°C to 29°C at 1 to 3 days of age; 25°C to 26°C at 4 to 6 days of age; 24°C to 25°C at 7 to 10 days of age; and 17°C to 19°C after 11 days of age. At the same time, the floor should be covered with soft rice straw, and feeding should be done in separate pens. Ducklings 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 be given water, and sufficient drinking water must be ensured. They should drink water 5 to 7 times a day.

2. Taming and Management of Adult Ducks

From 31 to 70 days of age, the rearing density should be 10 to 15 ducks per sq m. After 50 days, they begin to learn to fly, so strict escape prevention is required. Water basins should be provided, along with activity areas and wild perching objects. From 60 to 70 days of age, wild ducks must be prevented from causing disturbances in the shed. Due to increased body fat and physiological changes, their 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 roughage increased. Keepers should wear plain-colored clothing and avoid bright-colored clothes. At the same time, outsiders should be prevented from entering the duck shed and disturbing the flock. After half a month of taming, they will all return to normal.