What are the methods for identifying high-yielding laying ducks?
When classified by economic use, duck breeds can be divided into three types: meat-type, egg-type, and dual-purpose meat-and-egg type. Egg-type ducks mainly include the following breeds:
The Khaki Campbell duck, originally from the United Kingdom, is a world-famous egg-type duck with wide adaptability, high egg production, low feed consumption, and strong disease resistance; it is gentle in temperament, not easily stressed, and suitable for confined rearing. Female ducks begin laying at 120-135 days of age, with an annual egg production of 250-270 eggs and an egg weight of 70-75 grams.
The Cherry Valley CV2000 duck, bred by the Cherry Valley Duck Breeding Company of the United Kingdom, has female ducks that begin laying at 140 days of age, with an average annual egg production of 285 eggs and an egg weight of about 75 grams.
In addition, there are also Youxian ducks, Jingjiang partridge ducks, Sansui ducks, Taiwan partridge ducks, and others. The hallmarks of high-yielding laying ducks are early sexual maturity and early onset of laying; a long laying cycle, and short and few pause periods. Identification is mainly carried out from the following 4 aspects.
First, look at the feet. When grabbing the duck by the neck and lifting it, if the duck's two feet extend downward, each toe is spread out, and it does not kick wildly, then it is a high-yielding laying duck; if the two feet are bent, the toes and webbing are close together and keep paddling, then it is a low-yielding laying duck.
Second, look at the body. High-yielding laying ducks have protruding eyes that are large and spirited, a long and broad beak, a noticeably raised upper palate, a long neck, a broad back and chest, neat and glossy feathers, and a loose, moist cloaca; low-yielding laying ducks have small, sunken eyes, a large head and short neck, a pointed and flat beak, a narrow back and chest, loose feathers, and a tight, wrinkled, dry cloaca.
Third, look at molting. Those that molt late, for a short time, and few times, and are lively and active are high-yielding laying ducks; those that molt early, for a long time, and many times, are greedy for food and sleep, and only put on fat without laying eggs are low-yielding laying ducks.
Fourth, look at egg laying. High-yielding laying ducks lay eggs with hard shells that are oval and glossy, and their bodies are strong and plump; low-yielding laying ducks tend to lay soft-shelled eggs and deformed eggs, and are weak in body, disabled, and in poor condition.