Key points of high-yield feeding technology for laying ducks, a must-read for increasing egg production rate
In autumn, forage is abundant and the temperature is suitable, making it the golden season for raising ducks. In recent years, the meat duck industry has developed rapidly in China, gradually forming an industrial development pattern integrating breeding ducks, hatching, feed, processing and sales, which has played an important role in driving farmers' income growth. This issue compiles a set of practical duck-raising techniques for reference by farmers.
The following basic principles should be noted when raising ducks in autumn:
??? First, select good ducklings. Choose ducklings that are large in size, with clean and dry navels, lively and spirited, with soft and glossy down, that eat quickly and in large amounts, and have loud calls.
Second, start the ducklings' first feeding well. For the purchased ducklings, first decoct 50 grams of Coptis chinensis and 250 grams of licorice into a juice, mix with feed for 100 ducklings to consume, then mix 0.5 kg of mung beans and 0.1 kg of gypsum into 10 kg of cooked rice, and feed continuously for 3 to 5 days. Frequently give ducklings brown sugar water, glucose water or honey water to drink. Within 7 days, ducklings should not be rushed into water, should not be allowed to move about in places where the temperature exceeds 32°C, but should rest in shady places such as woods and beside streams, and should not be allowed to huddle together. After the first feeding, feed ducklings with half-cooked rice plus cold water, 5 to 7 times a day, each time half-full; after 5 days, feed a measured amount of light salt water; after 7 days, before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m., drive the flock into shallow water for training, 15 minutes each time; within 20 days, also feed some green feed such as duckweed every day. After 20 days, when the ducklings can find food on their own, gradually reduce the frequency and amount of feeding, and they can be fed with collected manure maggots and small insects; after 30 days, they can be driven into rice fields and streams for free-range rearing.
Third, strengthen ventilation. Ensure the duck house has air circulation, fresh and cool; if the weather is stuffy and hot at night and the ducks call restlessly, drive the ducks into the pond water, or use electric fans for ventilation.
Fourth, feed formulation. After ducklings are raised to 7 days of age, they can be transferred to normal rearing. The feed mix is 38% corn, 12% bran, 25% soybean cake, 3% fish meal, 20% shell powder, 1.5% bone meal, and 0.5% salt; each kg of feed contains 11.72 to 12.4 megajoules of metabolizable energy and 18% to 19% crude protein. After the first week from hatching, feed once every 3 hours; after 20 days of age, feed 3 to 4 times a day, and rice field free-range rearing can be used to reduce feed consumption.
Fifth, scientific herding. Scientific herding can save feed, and the rules are "three dos and five don'ts." "Three dos": train the flock to "go onto the perch" a few days before herding; when driving ducks out to graze, appropriately feed some feed to prevent them from swallowing too much mud and sand due to hunger and greediness; choose places with shallow water, clear water and abundant grass for grazing, and the grazing time should increase from near to far as the ducks grow older; at noon, let them rest more in shady places, and swim and drink water at any time, so as to go out to graze early and bring them back late. "Five don'ts": do not go down into fields or walk on hot roads while herding; do not graze in places polluted by pesticides; do not let the ducks flap their wings and rush along, to avoid frightening and injuring the flock; do not herd against the water flow; release them when the water recedes and drive them back when the water rises; do not graze under the scorching sun.
Sixth, strengthen warmth preservation. From the end of October, guard against cold wind invasion; when keeping them outdoors, drive them to warmer sheltered places such as sandy beaches, pond embankments and water channels to avoid catching cold and freezing.
Seventh, intensive fattening. When autumn ducks are raised for 50 to 60 days, they can grow to 1 to 1.2 kg; at this time, switch to a "high-energy, low-protein" compound feed for rapid fattening.
Eighth, disease prevention and control. Autumn ducks are prone to big-head disease, with a mortality rate as high as over 90%. Therefore, frequently clean duck manure from the duck house, frequently wash the feed and water troughs; keep the duck house dry and ventilated; disinfect with a 10% to 29% fresh lime solution; regularly inject vaccines such as duck plague and fowl cholera for immunization; feed livestock oxytetracycline once a week, with 500 grams of oxytetracycline mixed into every 50 kg of feed each time. For suspected flocks and presumed healthy flocks, urgently vaccinate with duck plague vaccine, strictly disinfect, and isolate and treat early. You can mix 250 grams of beef tallow with 120 grams each of chili and garlic and feed it to 80 ducks; or stir-fry 1 kg of barley until cooked, put it hot into a vat, then mix the fresh blood of 1 rabbit with the stir-fried wheat to feed the ducks; within 24 hours after feeding, ducks are forbidden to enter water or drink water. This has a very good effect on disease prevention and control.