Autumn Conditioning Methods and Key Feeding Management Points for Laying Ducks

In autumn, temperatures gradually drop, the difference between day and night temperatures is large, and daylight hours become shorter. Autumn ducks hatched the previous year have already become physically fatigued after more than half a year of laying, and the slightest carelessness in management can cause them to stop laying and molt. Laying ducks hatched in early spring also begin laying from late September to mid-October. Especially for free-range laying ducks, because there is not much food available in late autumn, nutritional deficiency often occurs and egg production decreases. Therefore, in autumn, attention should be paid to strengthening nutritional regulation for laying ducks, keeping the environment stable, and delaying their molt as much as possible to improve production levels.

First, increase the protein level of the feed. In autumn, animals all have the characteristic of storing energy to ensure safe overwintering, and laying ducks are no exception. At this time, the energy level of the diet should be appropriately reduced or appropriate exercise should be maintained to keep the body weight of laying ducks at 1.5-2 kg. At the same time, the protein level of their diet should be appropriately increased. The crude protein content in the diet of confined laying ducks should be raised to 18%. For free-range laying ducks, protein feed should be appropriately supplemented so that they can intake enough protein to meet laying needs. In addition, mineral feed should be appropriately supplemented. It is best to place a mineral feed trough in the duck house (1 part bone meal plus 3 parts shell meal) and let them eat freely.

Second, do a good job of cold protection. Autumn temperatures drop quickly, and sudden cooling often causes a sharp decline in the laying rate of the duck flock. During production, changes in the microclimate of the duck house should be minimized as much as possible, and it is best to keep the duck house temperature at 13°C-20°C. Autumn is a rainy season, the exercise yard is prone to accumulating water, and the litter in the duck house is prone to becoming damp and moldy. Measures should be taken to reduce humidity inside the house and prevent the litter from becoming muddy. The natural light period gradually shortens in autumn, which is not conducive to laying ducks maintaining vigorous reproductive function, so artificial lighting should be supplemented and light intensity kept stable. Generally, one 40-watt light bulb is installed for every 20 sq m of duck house. A lampshade should be added above the bulb, the distance between lamps should be equal, the hanging height should be 2 m, and the lamps should be kept clean. Lights can be turned on at dawn and turned off at sunrise, then turned on after sunset in the evening, and turned off after supplementing to 16 hours.

Third, do a good job of disease prevention. Autumn is a high-incidence period for diseases such as duck plague, duck cholera, and egg drop syndrome. Disease prevention and control should be strengthened, the duck house should be kept clean and sanitary, feces should be removed at the same time, water troughs and feed troughs should be washed frequently, the duck house and utensils should be disinfected regularly, and vaccinations should be carried out strictly according to the immunization program to prevent disease occurrence and ensure the health of laying ducks.