How to Raise Ducks in Water-Scarce Areas: Key Points for Intensive Dry-Raising Management of Dense Duck Flocks

    The new technique of intensive dry-raising of meat ducks is a practical farming technique provided for water-scarce areas. The entire raising process requires no water for the ducks to enter. By adopting entirely confined rearing, feeding and lighting, this new method can avoid parasites and infectious diseases, and also saves labor and feed, and is easy to manage.

Ducks

    Building the shed:Choose a site with good soil permeability, a slope of 5-10 degrees, facing the sun and sheltered from the wind; the site should be level to prevent water accumulation.

    Selection:At present, the main breeds include the Shanghai White duck, Beijing duck, Cherry Valley duck, and Gaoyou duck; these meat ducks are docile in temperament, highly adaptable, and good at fattening, making them very suitable for intensive group confinement feeding.

    Feeding formula:Feed formula for ducklings (1-25): corn 50%, rapeseed cake 20%, broken rice 10%, wheat bran 10%, fish meal 7.5%, bone meal 1%, salt 0.5%. For mid-stage ducks (26-45 days of age): corn 50%, rapeseed cake 5%, broken rice 10%, wheat 17%, wheat bran 12%, fish meal 4.5%, shell powder 2%, bone meal 1%, salt 0.5%; in the later stage, remove the soybean, reduce rice bran by 5%, and increase corn by 10%.

    Feeding method:When ducklings hatch, water should be provided promptly within 24 hours; the method is to place a piece of plastic film on the ground and sprinkle some boiled water or a 1 in 10,000 oxytetracycline aqueous solution on it, allowing the ducklings to drink freely; at the same time, mix the previously prepared feed with water until moist and scatter it on the plastic film for them to eat freely; start by scattering a little, scattering while calling them to eat, and guide the ducks to finish eating within a short time. After 4 days of age, give less feed but add it frequently, encouraging the ducks to eat freely day and night, while drinking water should be clean and sufficient. The mid-duck stage is the period of fastest weight gain; feed at fixed times, let them eat their fill and eat well, and increase their activity so they develop strong and healthy. The fattening stage is mainly about increasing the ducks' feed intake; artificial force-feeding is best; mix the compound beverage with suitable warm boiled water to a moderate softness, roll it by hand into finger-sized pellets, and force-feed by hand, 3-4 times a day, with the amount fed each time depending on the duck's digestive capacity, feeding until full, and reducing activity.

    Shed temperature:For 1-3 days of age, shed temperature 30-31°C; for 4-7 days of age, 28-80°C; for 8-17 days of age, 25-28°C; for over 15 days of age, maintain 20-25°C.

    Keep the air fresh, keep the feeding troughs and drinking troughs clean, keep the feed fresh, and keep the drinking water clean; during the duckling stage, change and add bedding frequently. Provide supplementary light at night; stock 35-40 ducklings per square meter and 10-15 adult ducks.