DUCK PRODUCTION

• In many tropical countries, particularly Southeast Asia, duck is considered as an economically important species, as a source of meat and eggs
• Of the more than 500 million ducks reared worldwide almost 90% are in the Asia-Pacific region
• In the Philippines, ducks rank second to chickens in economic importance
• As of January 1, 2008, the duck population was estimated at 10.43 million head with about 73% being raised at the backyard level and 27% raised at the commercial level

  
• Mallard ducks


  Belong to tribe Anatini, genus and species Anas platyrhnchos (Linnaeus)

  
• Muscovy ducks


  Belong to tribe Cairinini, genus and species Cairina moschata

  
• Distinguishing characteristics of Mallard and Muscovy ducks

  • Caruncles
  • Drake Feather
  • Size Dimorphism
  • Vocal Sound
  • Incubation Period

  
• In the tropics, housing for ducks is not as elaborate as that of chickens. Most of local ducks are raised the herding system way with very simple housing
• Ideal farm location for raising ducks in the tropics

  • Good drainage
  • Good ventilation
  • Far from residential areas and business establishments
  • Accessible to source of inputs (stocks, feeds, water, power, etc.)
  • Accessible to the products' market
• Day-old ducklings


  Usually bought from balutan or hatcheries present in the area

  
• Sexually matured female duck and drakes


  Usually procured from duck growers themselves or from their sales agent
• Duck layer farms with hatchery facilities

  Produce their own replacement stocks from hatching eggs that they produce
• Other raisers


  Buy duck eggs which have been incubated for about twenty days (half-hatched eggs) and then hatch them at their own farm
• Traditional System of raising Mallard ducks


  1. Brooding of ducklings for about two or three weeks in confinement

  2. Ducks are raised under the herding system during the growing and laying stages
• Brooding of ducklings


  • Similar principle to that of chickens
  • Brooding period is relatively shorter than that of chickens, especially during warm months
• Brooder area


  1. Enclosed pen or a house with the floor area covered with rice hulls, wood shavings, sand or chopped rice straw

  2. Brooder guard made of woven bamboo or plai GI sheet could be used to confine the ducklings near the heat sources
• Heat sources for brooding

  • 50-watt incandescent bulbs
  • Kerosene gas lamps
  • Burning charcoal placed in a can
• Growing/Rearing of Mallard ducklings


  1. Ducklings should be trained early for herding

  2. At about two to three weeks of age, they should be allowed to go around the vicinity of the farm to search for food

  3. Newly harvested rice fields are good areas for herding

  4. Available feeds for growing ducklings include fallen palay grains, snails, insects, worms and succulent grasses

  5. A herdsman looks after the ducks during herding

  6. Herding is done from morning until before the sundown

  7. At night, they are confined in a grower house or temporary growing area fenced with nets

  8. When food becomes depleted in the area, ducks are transferred on foot or transported using a vehicle to other herding areas where food is available

  9. Lakeshores, rivers, streams could also be used as grazing areas for ducks
• Laying in the traditional system

  1. Raisers continue to manage their Mallard ducks via the herding system throughout the entire laying period

  2. Tents are used as temporary holding area during the night

  3. Clean litter materials are placed in the holding area to prevent the eggs from being soiled

  4. When herding areas are not yet available, ducks are kept in temporary confinement

  5. During this period, feeds (home-mixed or commercial) and water are provided until new place for herding becomes available
• In the tropics, the confinement system of raising Mallard ducks is less popular than the traditional system because of cost considerations
• The confinement system is commonly used in raising Pekin ducks and other exotic breeds
• Brooding under confinement system


  • Similar principle to traditional system
  • More sophisticated brooding techniques should be used if a large number of ducklings are involved
• Growing/Rearing under confinement system

  1. Ducklings are transferred to the grower house immediately after brooding period

  2. Houses used during this period could either be of the litter floor type, and slat-litter floor type
• Litter-floor type housing


  • Litter management is very important
  • Litter material functions to absorb the droppings of ducks which are wet
  • Litter should always be kept dry
  • Frequent removal of soiled litter material may not be practical as it may cause unnecessary stress on the ducks
  • Adding litter materials may be more appropriate to reduce labor cost and stress to the ducks
• Slat-floor type housing


  • Provides good ventilation and sanitation
  • Most of the ducks' droppings pass through the slats, hence do not get in contact with the ducks
  • Provides good ventilation and sanitation
  • Cost involved in constructing this house is relatively higher compared to the litter-floor type
• Space requirements of ducks under the confinement system

  • Floor Space
  • Feeder Space
  • Drinker Space
• Slat-litter combination type of housing

  • Litter floor at the middle part of the house but elevated slat-floor towards the wall side
  • Commonly adopted by duck raisers supplementing snails as feed for ducks
  • The elevated part of the floor minimizes the wetting of the litter material as the ducks eat and drink on the feeders located on the outside walls of the house
• Most of the laying houses for Mallard ducks under the confinement system are either of the all-litter type or the slat-floor combination
• Unlike layer chickens, egg-type ducks are not popularly raised in cages since fertile eggs are needed for the production of Balut
• Feeders in a duck house

  • May be fixed or movable
  • Located along the wall where they are accessible to ducks from the inside of the house and to the caretaker from the outside
  • May be made of concrete, wood, or galvanized iron sheets
  • Designed to be convenient for the ducks to feed, avoid feed spillage, and hold enough feed needed for at least one day of feeding
• Drinkers in a duck house

  • Designed to avoid wetting the litter
  • Ducks need to drink to enable them to swallow feed properly
  • Drinkers with a continuous supply of clean, cool water should be located relatively close to the feeding trough
  • A good drainage system for excess water should also be provided
• Nests in a duck house

  • Mallard ducks will lay eggs on the floor even without a nest
  • Ducks lay most of their eggs between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.
  • Ducks like to lay eggs in groups
  • Nest should be conveniently located along the wall side or in the darker and quiet areas of the house
  • The nesting areas should be provided regularly with dry and clean litter materials
• Duck ponds


  • Ducks are aquatic birds and love to swim or wade in the water
  • Mating among ducks is mostly done in the water
  • The pond should be designed to minimize if not avoid the wetting of the litter
• Kinds of feeds given during the first two weeks under the traditional system


  • Boiled Rice
  • Boiled Rice and fresh Shrimp
  • Whole rice (palay) is gradually introduced until 4 weeks
  • Rice bran and shrimps and snail depending on availability
• Health and sanitation management tips for an effective flock health program

  • Buy ducklings and sexually matured drakes and ducks from reputable hatcheries and growers
  • Provide balanced diets of good quality at all times
  • Provide clean drinking water at all times
  • Clean feeders and drinkers regularly
  • Do not raise ducks of different ages in one pen
  • Maintain dryness and cleanliness inside the duck house
  • Dispose dead ducks by properly burying or burning them
  • Isolate immediately ducks showing physical health problems
  • Observe strict biosecurity measures
  • Provide anti stress preparations when ducks are subjected to stress conditions
  • Control infestations against harmful parasites and insects
• Turkey raising in commercial scale is popular in the United States and in many countries in Europe
• In the tropics, turkey raising is mostly done on a backyard scale
• In the Philippines, a few head of turkey are raised in some farms as a source of meat and eggs
• Problems encountered on production and marketing of their products limited the potential of this business
• Domestic turkeys


  Descendants of the true wild turkey of North America