Helpful Tips for Breeding Ducks
Breeding ducks has actually become a popular pastime. Some people enjoy having ducks on the pond and some breed for profit, which involves selling ducks for pets, selling to sanctuaries, zoos, etc, and for the meat and eggs produced.
Regardless, for anyone to be successful in this endeavor, it would be crucial to know the ins and outs of what this involves. A common mistake that people make is not researching the steps involved for breeding ducks ahead of time, which means losing money or raising unhealthy animals.
If you have interest in breeding ducks, you will find the information in this article beneficial. For starters, you should spend time researching the various breeds of ducks, along with characteristics, lifespan, and any health concerns. That way, you would gain a much better understanding of the breed that you want to start breeding.
The good news is that most species are extremely hardy, meaning they are resistant to avian diseases and parasites, they require little maintenance, and overall, they are a tougher animal than other poultry.
If your goal of breeding ducks were to have beautiful animals on your property or to sell them to people whom simply want to enjoy having them around, then appearance would be important. Popular choices would include the Gray Call Ducks or White Call Ducks.
Although these two breeds do not lay as many eggs as some of the other breeds, they have great personalities and are gentle, making them an excellent pet or ideal for showing.
On the other hand, if your goal of breeding ducks were to make a profit, you might consider Cayuga Ducks, which are also called “Large Black Ducks” or Crested Domestic Ducks. Because these breeds are larger than most and both are easy to fatten up, they make an excellent choice as a meat source.
In addition, both breeds are notorious for laying a large amount of brown eggs, which could benefit your entire family or be ideal for making a profit when sold. Then, Peking Ducks are also great as a meat source and while the eggs are delicious, they do not lay as many as the other two.
Once you know why breeding ducks is something you want to do and you have identified and researched the specific breeds interested in, the next step would be to provide the ducks with the proper environment.
For instance, the adult ducks would need a pen or coop and fertilized eggs an incubator. Of course, you want to make sure the environment for both is protected from prey, potential accidents, and even unsanitary situations.
The best bedding for breeding ducks would consist of straw blends and/or wood shavings, which are clean and sanitary, but also comfortable. In addition, bedding of this type absorbs moisture so problems with mold would be prevented. However, bedding must be changed on a daily basis. The coop or pen would also need proper ventilation.
Since the ducks would be inside the enclosure at all times, they need fresh air. Then for the duck hatch or incubator, you want to use a standard, 250-watt light bulb that is shielded so the ducklings have plenty of heat for the first two to three weeks of life.
Other than this, breeding ducks would involve providing the right diet, one that is highly nutritional, clean water daily, and if you notice parasites or illness, veterinarian care would be essential. Since you would be in the business of breeding ducks, you cannot afford to be faced with life and financial loss simply because proper care was not provided when needed.
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