How to Raise Muscovy Ducks? A Detailed Guide to Basic Feeding Techniques and Methods

Basic Feeding Techniques for Muscovy Ducks. Muscovy ducks have relatively high meat value. To raise this breed, you must first understand its basic characteristics. Currently, raising ducks on pasture is popular. The Muscovy duck is a foreign breed, and raising Muscovy ducks can involve planting pasture for feed. The Muscovy duck is an excellent lean-type dual-purpose meat-and-egg breed introduced from the United States. Muscovy ducks have large heads and thick necks, with fine, soft, snow-white feathers. They have a large and beautiful appearance, and offer the advantages of strong disease resistance, high lean meat rate, good taste, and high egg production. Muscovy ducks are docile in temperament, gregarious, have a large feed intake, and enjoy playing in water. With scientific feeding, Muscovy ducks can be marketed in just 47 days from brooding to commercial duck, with an average individual weight of 3.3 kg and a survival rate of 98%. Muscovy ducks grow quickly, with an average daily weight gain of 68.21 grams, so particular attention must be paid to rational nutritional balance. Feed nutrition levels: at 1-14 days of age, crude protein is 22%, metabolizable energy is 2850 kcal/kg; at 15-47 days of age, crude protein is 17.5%, metabolizable energy is 2850 kcal/kg.

Muscovy meat ducks have a high slaughter rate, good meat production performance, moderate subcutaneous fat content, tender meat, and a delicious taste. They have both the flavor of wild fowl and are suitable for roasting. Muscovy ducks have a relatively small feed intake and require feed rich in protein and trace elements, with low crude fiber content. Muscovy duck farming requires mastering its techniques, and attention must be paid to the rearing of ducklings. The relationship between stocking density and growth rate is very close. If density is too low, growth is fast, but the use of the coop is not economical; if density is too high, it will cause ducklings to crowd, hindering growth, affecting weight gain and causing uneven sizes. Ducklings within 1—14 days of age are free-fed, with feed available in the trough day and night, but care should be taken to feed small amounts frequently, supplying as they eat, so that the trough always has some feed but not too much leftover, to prevent spoilage. After 15—47 days of age, feed in separate meals, with scheduled feeding 4 times a day. Poultry have a relatively small feed intake and require feed rich in protein and trace elements, with low crude fiber content. Planting should focus on hn-mc bitter lettuce and hn-mc grain amaranth, paired with perennial hn-mc chicory, hn-mc alfalfa, etc. These grasses are highly adaptable, regrow quickly, have high yields, and good quality, and are favored by all types of livestock and poultry.

For Muscovy duck farming, cold protection and insulation work should be done starting from the end of October to prevent cold wind invasion. When grazing, the ducks should be driven to warm sandy beaches, ponds, ditches, canals, and other sheltered places to avoid them suffering from cold and freezing. In addition, Muscovy duck farming also requires strengthened epidemic prevention. Regularly check the temperature inside the coop, observe the ducklings' eating, defecation, and activity. Normally, medications such as compound diaveridine, oxytetracycline calcium salt, multivitamins, and calcium tablets can be added to their feed to prevent disease outbreaks. Once ducks become ill, they should be treated immediately, and sick ducks should be isolated and raised separately.