How to Raise Muscovy Ducks? Detailed Explanation of Breeding Methods and Technical Points
The Muscovy duck is also called the foreign duck or turkey duck. It is a larger-sized omnivorous duck breed, and can be said to be a poultry species that combines food, medicinal, and ornamental value in one. Muscovy ducks have characteristics such as being easy to raise, fast-growing, fond of water, gregarious, cold-tolerant, heat-tolerant, and highly adaptable. So today let's take a look at how this kind of duck is raised artificially.
1. Site Selection and Construction of the Breeding Farm
For the Muscovy duck breeding farm, it is best to choose an area with high, dry terrain that is overall flat, and the soil is best if it is sandy loam, as this helps with drainage and keeps the farm dry. The orientation for building the farm is best facing south from a north-facing position, so that it is warm in winter and cool in summer, which is also more beneficial for breeding. Also, the duck house should have good ventilation, be equipped with temperature control equipment, and have feeding troughs and water troughs reasonably planned. Finally, the breeding farm should have a relatively large exercise area with a water pool inside, which is more conducive to the growth of Muscovy ducks.
2. Selection of Ducklings
Many people do not know much about Muscovy ducks, so they are also very hesitant when choosing ducklings, and often they will take the seller's advice, but this is actually not a good approach. When selecting Muscovy ducks, it is actually the same as selecting ordinary ducklings. The main things are to observe the Muscovy duck's activity and feeding conditions, then check whether its eyes are bright, whether its feathers are smooth and soft, and whether its webbed feet are moist and strong. Also observe whether the duckling's droppings are normal and whether there is any diarrhea. In this way, you can basically make a determination.
3. Breeding Methods
Breeding methods are generally divided into three types: pen raising, free-range raising, and mixed raising. Among them, the best quality comes from free-range raising, but it requires more effort in management. At present, the most commonly used method is mixed raising, as this can improve the economic benefits of breeding. Pen raising is of course also possible, but its quality is relatively not as good as free-range raising. Also, when carrying out mixed raising, we need to pay attention to the mixing ratio, otherwise breeding problems will also arise.
4. Feeding Management
Feeding management is mainly carried out in three stages. First is duckling management. The newly purchased ducklings must first be disinfected before entering the breeding farm. Then the temperature inside the breeding room should be controlled at around 30 degrees, and after three days, once the Muscovy ducks are familiar with the environment, it should be slowly lowered. During the duckling rearing process, we need to feed them multiple times a day, about five or six times, and the amount each time should not be too much. Also, we need to frequently change the bedding, change the water, and appropriately supplement lighting to improve the ducklings' immunity. After about seven weeks of rearing, this then enters the middle duck management stage. We then need to carry out group feeding, raising male and female ducks separately, and then divide them into groups according to growth speed, strength, and weakness, and change the feed for fattening. Finally, there is adult duck management. Generally, fattened adult ducks can be sold, but if you want to breed and raise them yourself, then you need to select and retain breeding ducks, and it is best to choose adult ducks that are larger in size and robust in growth. At this time, we need to control the feeding amount, reduce the nutritional content of the feed, control body weight, and promote production.
When raising Muscovy ducks, we also need to pay attention to the prevention and control of pests and diseases. First, we need to strictly follow the vaccine immunization process for vaccine injections, and second, observe their growth conditions and carry out timely pest and disease control. That is all for today's sharing from the editor. If you still have other questions, you can leave us a message for consultation.