The best meat ducks. Domestic duck and its breeding

There is an opinion among poultry farmers that ducks are very voracious, but thanks to this quality they grow faster. So let's figure out how long a duck grows. As experts say, the growth rate of the bird in question will depend on the breed and diet. So, if ducks are fed with factory-made compound feed, which includes nutrients necessary for development and growth, then the duck can grow in two months.

At home, few farmers feed their poultry with compound feed, so the period of its development increases somewhat. In the first days of life, ducklings are given boiled eggs, cottage cheese and ground grain; later these ingredients are mixed with finely chopped grass. Two or three weeks after birth, the ducklings are released to pasture, and after a month they can be allowed to swim in the nearest body of water. In the latter case, the birds will get half of their food from the water, and the other half (from different types of grain) will be placed on a pasture or near a pond. When fattening at home, the duck will grow for three, maximum four months, after which it will reach the required slaughter weight.

According to some farmers, waterfowl reach a weight of two kilograms at 65-70 days of age, but if you ignore the weight of feathers and offal, then you are unlikely to get enough of such a bird. It should be noted that the growth rate of ducks is much higher than that of other types of poultry.

How long to keep ducks

The answer to the question of how long to keep ducks will depend on the purpose of keeping this bird. If ducks are kept for meat, then they can begin to be slaughtered after reaching a live weight of 2-2.5 kilograms. As we said, such a gain can be achieved at two or three months of age, but slaughtering pets at this time is unprofitable from an economic point of view, because they have not yet acquired meat. According to experts, it is better to slaughter some breeds of ducks at 6 months of age, when their weight reaches 5-6 kilograms. In such birds, the weight of the useful part, meaning meat, reaches 70%, and the amount of fat is 8% of the indicated weight.

If ducks are kept to produce offspring, they can live for more than one year since the first egg in birds usually appears 5-6 months after birth. Farmers note that the Peking breed (180-200 eggs per year) and musky ducks or mute ducks have good egg production. The latter species of ducks can lay eggs twice during the warm period of the year.

The duck family is considered the largest on the planet. Among its representatives there are ducks that stand out sharply from the general background. For example, such a bird is a swan - biggest duck in the world.

Duck taxonomy has always been the subject of heated debate among ornithologists. Today there are several genera in the duck family. Ducks are called shelducks, dabbling and diving ducks, mergansers, musky ducks, etc. There are over a hundred species in total. Ducks have a wide distribution throughout the world. At least 30 species live on the territory of our country.

Characteristics of ducks

Ducks are small in size, have a streamlined body shape, a wide beak and a short neck. Their plumage can have different colors. The feet of these birds have swimming membranes. The male duck is called "drake".

On land, ducks are rather clumsy, but in water they behave like tireless divers and experienced swimmers. Their diving depth exceeds 6 m. They fly well and are able to rise to a height of about 6 km. Representatives of the duck family are waterfowl migratory birds. During migrations they cover considerable distances. The birds fly away at the same time, but different flocks go in different directions.

Modern ornithologists classify swans, geese, diving and dabbling ducks in the Anatidae or Anatidae family. According to the new taxonomy, the whooper swan is the largest duck in the world. Its weight can exceed 17 kg. The whooper lives in the northern regions of Eurasia. It is very similar to a mute swan. They differ only in the shape of their beak and the way they hold their neck. The whooper has a straight neck, while the mute has an S-shaped neck.

Habits of a large swan

The screaming swan prefers remote places where there are no people. A swan couple stays together all their lives. Even during the winter, the birds do not leave each other. Swans carefully protect their nesting area from other birds.

The largest among ordinary ducks

If we consider an ordinary river duck, then the mallard stands out among such birds. This biggest duck in the world and a very numerous species. It is the most common and famous among ducks. The length of the drake is 62 cm, and the female is 57 cm. The weight of the individual is 1-1.5 kg. But on the eve of the flight, the birds feed intensively, then their weight reaches 2 kg.

Mallards can be seen in the wild and in cities. Birds living close to people have formed unusual urban populations. Such mallards live in populated areas year-round, choosing partially salty and fresh water bodies. They are indifferent to human presence. Some ducks become almost tame. The mallard can be recognized by its green neck and head (on the male). The breast, back, crop and ventral side of the bird are painted gray. The female is distinguished by a brown color with dark spots. The wings of such ducks are decorated with a blue-violet spot.

Many experts call the eider the largest duck in the world. Its weight is sometimes 3 kg. The down of this bird is famous for its excellent thermal insulation qualities. It is still collected in the wild. Drakes of this species are distinguished by black and white plumage, and females are rather modestly colored.

Interesting facts about ducks:

1. The feathers of these birds do not get wet, remaining dry even after diving. This is due to the fact that almost all waterfowl have a coccygeal gland. It produces a special fatty substance that birds regularly distribute throughout the body. This way they create a special cover that prevents the feathers from getting wet.
2. During the molting period, representatives of ducks lose their flight feathers and have difficulty flying.
3. Ducks have a complex genital structure. In males, the penis has a spiral shape, and its length can be equal to the size of the drake's body. In females, the ovaries have an unusual shape. The more complex it is, the more unusual the male’s phallus.
4. When choosing a partner in the wild, a duck is guided by the color of its beak. The rich yellow pigment indicates the drake's sexual health.
5. The duck's neck has a huge number of vertebrae - more than that of a giraffe.
6. Only females can quack. Duck quacks have no echo.

As a conclusion, it can be noted that it is possible to single out the very best duck only relatively, since in each species there are large individuals. The habitat of birds is of great importance. For example, a mute swan living on a city pond can gain up to 22 kg if it is fed by people.

As for the artificially created duck, its height is 16.5 m. This is a giant bird made of rubber, created by an artist from Holland - Florentijn Hofman. The duckling is an unusual sculpture or art object that swam in the coastal waters of cities such as Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Osaka, and Sydney. This is the largest man-made duck in the world.

Among those who love to produce all kinds of domestic animals, namely poultry farmers, there are legends that ducks are terribly voracious creatures. But to refute them, we can say that these poultry do not eat as much as they grow quickly.

This begs the question: how long do ducks grow? No one dares to say how many days ducks grow, but they say that the period reaches up to two months, but this, as a rule, is if the owners have the opportunity to release them into the pond.

It should be emphasized that ducks grow much faster than any other bird, and it is not so important whether it is purebred or ordinary - domestic. In any case, the benefits from breeding it will be quite significant compared to keeping other birds.

There are sources that can give an exact answer to the question that interests us, how many days do ducks grow, they answer - 68, of course, with good feeding and maintenance for 60-70 days, your duckling will weigh about two, two and a half kilograms, but enough Is it enough to eat one duck? Of course, it all depends on the breed; this is the average statistical norm for a Peking duck; it should be noted that, in addition to everything else, this breed of duck is very prolific, so this duck lays 1800-200 eggs per year, each weighing 60-70 grams. But scientists claim that with intensive feeding and care, the so-called “Savages” are capable of producing an equal number of offspring, if not more.

It is also necessary to remember the Musk breed. It is not known exactly how long ducks of this breed grow, but many farmers claim that it is just not much more, but the yield of edible meat from the carcass is noticeable. It is also not uncommon to hear positive reviews about this breed, that they are tasty and quiet, they can live calmly even without a lake, and they also sit on eggs twice a summer.

The question of how long ducks grow is mainly related to the benefits of keeping them. Statistically, the time to kill turkey poults is when they reach five to six months of age. At this time, their weight reaches 5-6 kg. In such young animals, the percentage of mass that can be eaten reaches 70%, and of the muscle mass, fat makes up 8%, if the ducks, of course, are of high quality.

If we touch on such a topic as the quality of meat, then the Mulard breed will receive an amateur award. There are even rumors that when someone cooks mularda, the neighbors “gnaw at the walls.” So this breed is credited with a very calm and trouble-free development, even on regular food, which is an undeniable advantage for the breeder.

Having achieved such results, you can safely go to the market to sell. In addition, with proper care, you can replenish the population of living creatures several times a year.

Armed with knowledge and hard work, you can make a very successful business. By raising ducks in the environment most suitable for them, you can achieve maximum results in terms of weight and growth rate. The amazing quality of the meat will delight the taste of everyone who decides to try it.

The duck is a medium-sized bird. The main distinguishing feature of the duck is its rather short neck and tarsus, covered in front with transverse shields. If we talk about the color of duck plumage, it can have a variety of combinations. Many species of these birds have a kind of “mirror” on the wing. During the breeding season, representatives of many duck breeds are subject to sexual dimorphism, the main manifestation of which is the difference in color of males and females. Most representatives of ducks molt twice a year: in summer - completely, in autumn - partially.

The ancestor of today's domestic duck is the mallard. The weight of a drake (male) reaches about 3-4 kg, and females weigh from 2 to 3.5 kg. Over the course of a year, a female can produce about 250 eggs. Today, duck breeding is practiced both in our country and in many other countries of the world.

Duck breeds

The list of the most common breeds of ducks in our time is as follows: diving, river, musky, mergansers, shelducks, steamer ducks, ducks and many other breeds.

When breeding new breeds of ducks, special attention is paid to their early maturity, live weight gain and egg production.

Modern breeds of domestic ducks include meat, egg and meat-egg. Meat breeds are Peking, black white-breasted and gray Ukrainian ducks. Egg breeds of ducks are Indian Runners, while meat breeds include Khaki Campbell and Mirror ducks.

Ducks of meat breeds are distinguished by a higher degree of precocity and greater live weight, significantly exceeding the weight of representatives of other breeds. With proper care, such a duck can grow up to 2-2.5 kg in just a couple of months.

Egg breeds of ducks are light in weight, but their egg production rate cannot be compared with their relatives.

The most versatile and versatile are the meat and egg breeds of ducks, which are preferred to be raised even in small garden plots. After two months of care, the weight of ducks of these breeds can reach 1.5-2 kg.

The common white duck is the leader in the profitability of breeding, but in order to prevent it from becoming overgrown with fat, it should not be overfed. In addition, such ducks need a good pond nearby (or better yet, on the plot itself).

Composition and beneficial properties of duck meat

Duck meat, or duck meat, is a very healthy product. It contains a rich list of vitamins (mainly B vitamins), microelements, fats (compared to turkey or chicken meat, duck meat is fatty and is completely unsuitable for dietary nutrition). Duck meat is recommended for men because, thanks to its high and balanced amino acid content, it has a beneficial effect on potency. Duck meat should be consumed with caution by people with a tendency to allergic diseases.

Among the healthiest types of ducks is broiler duck, the meat of which is distinguished by a balanced set of vitamins and microelements. It is especially rich in sodium, potassium, iron, copper, vitamin A, B vitamins (B, B1, B3, B6 and B12) and folic acid. Broiler duck meat is also very nutritious.

Duck fat also has great benefits for human health, one of the main advantages of which is the ability to effectively cleanse the body of carcinogenic substances. The enzymes contained in fat help regulate metabolism in the body and improve complexion. In addition, duck fat has a pronounced antiatherogenic effect.

As a rule, domestic ducks are quite fatty and during their cooking a large amount of fat will be rendered. To prevent this, you should first trim some fat from the bird. And don’t forget that a side dish soaked in duck fat takes on a specific smell. If you don't like it too much, then while cooking the duck you should put a couple of apple halves inside it.

Harm and contraindications to consuming duck meat

Since duck meat is a fatty food, it contains a high percentage of bad cholesterol. Because of this, it is contraindicated in patients with diabetes, obesity, and those on a diet. Doctors advise those who suffer from diseases of the stomach, liver and pancreas, as well as problems with the heart and blood vessels, to refrain from eating duck.

Every private farm has a poultry yard where chickens live.

But many people believe that chicken meat has become an everyday item, but duck meat is considered a delicacy.

Almost every farmer tries to raise his own domestic ducks.

By making the right choice in breeding a particular breed of duck, you can very well provide your table with delicious meat, and also make very good money from selling them.

Ducks are quite common in rural areas.

The main factor in duck breeding is the choice of breed.

There are several varieties of ducks, which you will learn about later, as well as the characteristics of each breed and the peculiarities of breeding these birds.

In agriculture there is three types of ducks:

Meat breeds - these breeds differ from others in their rapid weight gain.
Meat-producing breeds – these breeds are characterized by good egg production and weight gain.
Egg breeds – these breeds differ from others in their high egg production.

What breeds of ducks are considered meat ducks?

Peking duck, what is it characterized by?

Peking duck considered the best in the meat breed of ducks.

The Chinese developed this breed about 300 years ago in the west of Beijing, but not much later they began to be bred in other parts of China. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Peking duck was introduced to America and Europe. After which it appeared in our country.

What features Peking duck has:

The bird looks very large with a wide, raised body and a broad chest.
The weight of an adult female is 3.4 kilograms, and the drake is 4 kilograms.
The egg production of one duck ranges from 85 to 125 eggs per year. The mass of one is 90 grams.
Compared to other duck breeds, the Pekin duck has a fast metabolism.
The average body temperature of ducks is 42.2 degrees Celsius.
Peking ducks are considered omnivores.
Peking ducks are white in color, have an orange beak and thick reddish legs.

What positive qualities Peking duck can be characterized below:

This breed of duck is one of the most common in our country.
Peking duck is precocious.
Birds fatten up very quickly.
This breed tolerates cold seasons very well.
Ducks have a fairly high vitality.
They are resistant to various diseases.

What can we say about negative side this breed:

Some farmers find them very noisy. This breed has increased nervous excitability, so a little noise in the yard will constantly attract them.
Ducks need certain conditions of detention, which determines their productivity.

Ducklings at the age of one and a half months already have a mass of about 2.4-3.1 kilograms. It is best to raise them for meat before the juvenile molt period (approximately seventy days).

Since at this time they stop growing, but begin to consume food twice as much, internal organs develop and new feathers grow, which are then not removed during the removal process and deteriorate the meat quality.

Meat breed – black white-breasted duck

The black white-breasted duck was bred by crossing two breeds: Peking duck and Khaki Campbell. This breed was bred at the Ukrainian Institute of Poultry Breeding.

What features this duck has:

This breed is characterized by an elevated body with a deep chest.
The duck's back is large and quite long, slightly raised towards the tail. The tail is also slightly raised.
The duck's main color is black, but part of the belly and chest are white.
Drakes are distinguished by a blue-violet tint on the neck.
The legs are small, not thick, black.
The beak is medium, concave, dark or slate in color.
The duck's eyes are shiny, large and black.
The wings are massive, very tightly pressed to the body.
The weight of an adult female is 3.6 kilograms, and the weight of a drake is about 4 kilograms.
The egg production of the black white-breasted duck is about 115-125 pieces, the weight of which is 80-90 grams. The egg shell color is white.

Positive sides this breed of duck:

This breed of duck is a meat duck.
Ducks reach puberty by six months of their life.
These birds fatten very well and are early maturing.
They belong to ducks of a general user nature.
Poultry meat and eggs are of high quality.
Ducks have good survival rates.

Ducklings at the age of 60-65 days reach a weight of one and a half kilograms. The meat of this breed of duck differs from other breeds in its greater fat content and quality.

No negative qualities were noted in this breed of ducks.

Moscow white duck breed

The Moscow White duck is also one of the most famous. It was bred thanks to two breeds: Pekingese and Khaki Campbell.

The state farm “Ptichnoe” in the Moscow region was engaged in breeding this breed of birds. The goal was to obtain a meat breed with sufficient high egg production.

In terms of external factors, the duck is similar to the Peking duck, but it still has its own characteristics.

Peculiarities Moscow white ducks:

The bird has a massive body with a wide, rounded chest.
The head is small, located on a very flexible neck. The beak is red.
The duck's legs are not long and widely spaced, pink in color.
Feather color is white.
The weight of an adult male reaches 4.4 kilograms, and the weight of females is one kilogram less.
Ducks have blue eyes.

Advantages Moscow white duck:

Females are characterized by a high ability to lay eggs. During a period they carry up to 120 pieces, the weight of one can reach 0.1 kilograms.
A positive quality is the prevalence of the breed, which indicates its low cost.
Birds are characterized by good adaptation to different weather conditions.
Ducks do not need fancy grooming.
Birds have very tasty meat.
The positive side is a good reproductive system.
The survival rate of ducks is ninety percent.
The bird has good meatiness without strong fatty deposits.

No negative qualities were identified in this breed of ducks.

Meat-egg breeds of ducks

Khaki Campbell - meat-egg breed of ducks

This breed of duck was developed in England by poultry farmer Adele Campbell back in the 1800s. Her goal was to get a duck to provide meat for her family.

This breed of ducks was developed through very complex crossing methods.

Peculiarities This breed is listed below:

The color of the feathers of this duck can be different: fawn, dark and white.
Birds of this breed are light in weight. The weight of a male ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 kilograms, and of females within 2.5 kilograms.
Puberty occurs at 6-7 months.
Egg production in birds ranges from 250-350 eggs. Eggs with a white shell and weighing about 80 grams.
Birds have a small head, beak and neck.

Positive traits, which the Khaki Campbell duck breed has:

Birds are characterized by high egg production.
This breed has very tender and tasty meat.
Birds are very mobile and active.
Birds adapt to different living conditions.

TO lack The following facts can be attributed to this duck:

Females are not very good brood hens.
You need to monitor the diet of ducks; if they eat well, then they are quite calm.

What is the characteristics of the Mirror breed of ducks?

The mirror breed of ducks was obtained as a result of a very complex selection method in the 1950s at the Kuchinsky poultry farm.

The purpose of breeding this breed of ducks was to obtain an early maturing breed with good meat qualities. This breed is not very common among farmers.

Peculiarities Mirror duck:

This bird is early ripening, with very good meat quality.
The weight of one duck is approximately three kilograms, and the weight of a drake is 3.8 kilograms.
The egg production of one bird per year is 160 pieces, sometimes reaching 200 pieces. The shell is white, less often yellowish, and sometimes even speckled.
The body of the bird is long and slightly raised in front.
The head is small, the neck is medium, the beak is wide and long.
The legs are small, but almost always feathered.
The wings and tail are also small.
Feather colors can be white, grayish, silver and creamy. In males, the head is covered with black or brown speckles.

Positive traits mirror duck:

The bird is very active.
The duck adapts to different living conditions.
The mirror duck has high egg production.
The survival rate of young ducklings is over 95 percent.
Poultry meat is characterized by good taste.

Meat breed of ducks – Cayuga

The Cayuga duck is an American breed of duck. She is very beautiful. It was bred back in 1874.

Which peculiarities can you tell us about the bird:

Cayuga ducks have a very beautiful feather color - black with a tint of green.
Birds are very strong.
The eyes are dark brown.
The legs and beak are only black.
The legs are small, the tail is also directed upward.
The weight of males of this breed ranges from 3.2 kilograms to 3.8 kilograms, and females from 2.8 to 3.1 kilograms.
The average egg production of this breed is 100-150 eggs per year. The weight of an egg is 70-80 grams. The peculiarity is that the first ten eggs are black, and then they begin to lighten and acquire a gray or greenish-white color.

TO merits This breed includes the following indicators:

Females are very good brood hens.
Cayuga ducks adapt to different environments.
The birds are very calm and obedient.
Ducks are very fond of walking areas where they eat various worms.
The birds have good survival rate of their young.

Saxon duck breed

Saxon ducks belong to the meat-egg breed. Ducks were bred in Germany. The bird first appeared in 1934.

When breeding the birds, the Peking, Rouen and Pomeranian breeds were used. This breed is very good for breeding in the home.

Peculiarities, which the Saxon duck has:

The bird is very massive and well-fed.
Ducks have very beautiful plumage. Drakes have a dark blue head and neck with a metallic tint, and the rest of the body is reddish-red. And in females the main color of the plumage is yellow-green.
Ducks of this breed are quite productive, the female weighs from 2.6 to 3.1 kilograms, and the male from 3 to 3.5 kilograms.
The meat quality is very good.
The egg production of birds is good, about 150-200 eggs per year. The weight of one is about 70-80 grams.

Positive sides Saxon duck:

Ducks have good egg production.
Ducks have a good survival rate.
Saxon duck has good quality meat characteristics.

And finally, egg breeds of ducks

Egg Breed – Indian Runners

Southeast Asia is considered the homeland of Indian runners. These ducks began to be bred in the last century.

At first this breed was very rare and could be seen in zoos. This breed of duck is the only egg breed.

Peculiarities such an unusual breed of ducks:

Her body is straight. When running, they look like a running bottle.
Birds attract attention at exhibitions.
The color of the feathers varies: it can be white, or it can be brown, black and blue.
Ducks have a very long neck and long legs, which contribute to their fast movement.
The female weighs 1.75 kilograms, and the male 2 kilograms.
The egg production of one duck is about 200 eggs, but record ducks are capable of laying 350 eggs per year. Birds fly all year round. The weight, color and taste of the eggs laid by this breed resembles chicken eggs.
Although the mass of the bird is not very large, its meat has a very tender and juicy taste.

Positive sides Indian runner:

Birds are very active and love to be outside.
Indian runners are very clean ducks.
Very high egg production.
Ducks are adapted to different weather conditions.
Birds are very good parents.

The disadvantage of this breed is the fact that it cannot be limited in water, as this may reduce its productivity.

Features of raising ducks

In general, raising ducks is not such a difficult process. These birds are unpretentious to food and temperature, which sets them apart from other birds.

Regardless of the fact that ducks can easily tolerate frosts, they should not be subjected to such tests. You need to make sure that it is not below zero in the poultry house.

By following this rule, the bird will feel comfortable and this will not affect its productivity. When keeping chicks The room temperature should be around 28 degrees Celsius, and the humidity should be between 70-75 percent.

Poultry rearing begins with the incubation of ducklings. In compliance with all necessary rules. Compared to other eggs, duck eggs need to be treated with great care. During the incubation period, they need to be cooled according to certain rules. But, in general, breeding duck chicks is much easier than any other.

Chicks can be raised open or closed. But the best of them is the combined method.

Ducks are not conflict birds, but if they are kept in a very small room, even they begin to conflict with each other. Basically, one adult duck should be allocated about 0.3 square meters.

The premises for keeping ducks should be clean and dry, with good ventilation. There must be an optimal level of humidity. It is necessary to ensure that mold does not form, otherwise it may affect the health of the birds.

For chicks, the room should be illuminated around the clock, and for adult ducks 15-16 hours will be enough.

Although birds are unpretentious to food, they really need water. Water should be poured onto the third part of the bird's beak.

Ducks must be provided with access to the pond. Birds needed constantly feed. The normal daily diet should consist of grains and mash. The mash consists of cake, vegetables, potatoes or pumpkin, bone and fish meal.

Ducks are very good parents who take good care of their offspring. But the chicks can do without their care. Since they can find food and water for themselves. But in any case, you shouldn’t leave them on their own; you need to keep an eye on them from time to time.

Meat breeds They gain weight very quickly. And if they are bred to produce tasty meat, then they need to be killed at ten weeks of age.

Raising these birds at home is not difficult. You just need to choose the breed you need and find out about its conditions of detention. Then in the end you will get a very good result. Especially experienced poultry farmers advise beginners to start breeding poultry with ducks.

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