Reasons for Low Duck Feed Intake and Solutions
Ducks are a major type of poultry in our country and are raised in every region. When raising ducks, farmers all want their ducks to grow as fast as possible, since an earlier marketing time means earning more money. But many duck farms see the phenomenon of low or reduced feed intake in ducks, which causes the ducks to grow very slowly. So what should be done when ducks eat too little? How can duck feed intake be increased? Let's take a look together below!
1. Feed Type
When feeding ducks, we must pay attention to choosing the right feed. If the feed is unsuitable, the ducks will be unwilling to eat, and feed intake will naturally decline. When eating, ducks choose what to eat based on the feed's color, appearance and quality, avoiding eating foreign matter. They can also distinguish the taste of feed through their own sense of taste, such as sour, sweet, bitter and spicy, so we can use some flavoring agents to improve duck feeding and feed returns. If feeding is done freely, ducks will also distinguish salt solutions in the feed, and ducks do not like to eat feed with too high a salt concentration. Therefore, when preparing duck rations, the salt concentration should be controlled within the range of 0.3%-0.4%.
2. Pelleted Feed
Among the many types of feed, ducks prefer pelleted feed. They dislike some finer sticky feeds and will give priority to feeds they are more familiar with. So when feeding ducks, it is best to use pelleted feed. Pelleted feed can also improve the palatability for ducks and help them gain weight. If they are breeding ducks, a complete-price feed can be given, which can prevent the ducks from growing too fat. Ducks also have a strong ability to distinguish colors, and their feed intake will be greater in multi-colored feed troughs.
3. Feeding Time
Ducks also have a certain pattern to their eating times. Generally, ducks eat more in the morning and evening, and relatively less at noon. Ducks at different growth stages also have different eating times. For example, breeding ducks used for egg laying generally like to eat in the evening, while those not laying eggs eat more in the morning. This is mainly because the time without eating at night is relatively long, and the composition of duck eggshells requires more calcium and phosphorus, so we should feed more feed in the morning and evening. If using artificial lighting, the lights must not be switched off abruptly but should be turned off slowly, which can increase the ducks' appetite and is very beneficial for weight gain and egg laying.
4. Patterns of Change in Duck Eating
Ducks' eating habits follow a pattern of change. Generally, under natural light, ducks usually have about three feeding peaks in a day. That is, morning, noon and evening, and we should focus on the morning feeding. After a night, ducks have a very large appetite, and filling them up at this time can speed up their fattening. Then grazing work should be done well, and grazing should be carried out during the ducks' feeding peaks, while at other times the flock should be allowed to rest or move freely in the water. If medication is needed, it is best to mix the medicine into the feed.
The above is a brief introduction to what to do when ducks eat too little. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only and we hope it can help everyone!