How to Raise Ducklings? Detailed Guide to Feeding Methods and Precautions

Ducks are farmed all over China, and duck meat has higher nutritional value than chicken, so duck meat sells for a slightly higher price on the market. We have all eaten duck meat, and it is very delicious, but how do you actually raise ducks? In particular, how should ducklings be raised so they are more likely to survive? Today, the editor will introduce the methods for raising ducklings.

1. Preparing the Duck House

Ducklings have very weak constitutions, so their needs must be strictly taken into account when preparing the duck house. To make full and reasonable use of the space, we generally use a three-dimensional box-rearing or cage-rearing method. The duck house should have sufficient light, good drainage and good ventilation, and then a layer of bedding for warmth should be spread inside the duck house; for example, plastic foam has a very good warming effect and can be used as bedding.

2. Selecting Ducklings

The survival rate of ducklings is greatly related to the selection of the ducklings. So how should ducklings be selected? The editor will teach you a fairly simple method: we can observe whether the ducklings' down is smooth and soft, whether their feet are moist, whether they stand strongly, how their foraging behavior is, and whether their eyes are bright. Then from among them, select the relatively stronger and healthier ducklings free of pests and diseases for rearing.

3. Temperature Management

Newly purchased ducklings are very afraid of the cold and have relatively high temperature requirements. Under normal circumstances, the temperature of the duck house should be kept at around 30 degrees, and the daily light duration is also relatively long, with at least 12 hours of light, so fluorescent lamps can be used for lighting, which can also have a warming effect. As the ducklings gradually grow, the temperature of the duck house can gradually be lowered until it returns to normal temperature.

4. Feed and Feeding

Raising ducklings requires fairly careful attention, and they can eat omnivorous food. Each time you feed them, it is generally special duckling feed, mixed with some vegetable leaves; ducklings raised this way will be healthier and will not be picky eaters. Each meal for a duckling is not large in amount, but it is very easy to digest, so the amount fed each time does not need to be too much, and they should be fed at least five or six times a day. Finally, note that they must have sufficient drinking water, and the water quality must be clean and pollution-free.

5. Free-Range Method

After the ducklings have been raised for a period of time, if the weather clears up, the ducklings can be released onto outside lawns or into orchards for free-range rearing. This can exercise the ducklings' foraging ability, while also promoting digestion and strengthening their constitution. Free-range rearing of ducklings also has requirements: in spring and autumn, it is generally best to release them in the afternoon, while in summer it is generally best to release them early or after the temperature drops in the afternoon, and in winter they can only be released when it is sunny and the temperature is high.

6. Sanitation and Cleaning

Ducklings basically eat, drink, and relieve themselves all inside the duck house, so the duck house becomes quite dirty and is also very prone to dampness, which has a great impact on the growth of the ducklings. What we need to do is regularly replace the bedding and clean the duck house thoroughly; the bedding is generally best replaced about every three days. In addition, the feed trough and water trough must also be cleaned to ensure hygiene, so as to prevent illness from entering through the mouth.

The above is all the content the editor has introduced today about how to raise ducklings. In fact, raising ducks is relatively simple, but raising them at the duckling stage requires great care; if something is not handled properly, the losses can also be relatively large. If you still have other questions about raising ducks, remember to leave a message for the editor.