, . , RAISING DUCKS UNITED STATES FARMERS' PREPARED BY DEPARTMENT OF BULLETIN SCIENCE AND G AGRICULTURE NUMBER 2215 EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION CONTENTS Breeds _________ ______ _____ ____________ ______ ____ _ PAOli I ~eat b~8 ______ ___ ____ ___ _____ __ _______ __ _ _ I Egg-producingbreeds ______________________ __ __ 3 Breeding stock. ___ ____ ___ _____ _____________ ______ _ 4 Selection of breeders. _______ __________ ___ ____ _ _ 4 Breeder (acilities ___ _____ ___ ____ __ ______ __ ____ _ _ 4 EggXli~ucuon---- --- - - ---- --- -- --- --- -------- 5 HaD g eggs __ ____________________ __ ___ _____ _ 5 Incubation __ ___ __ _______ _____ ___ _______ _______ ____ 6 Artificial incuba.tion __ _____ __ . _. ___ • ______ .. __ . __ 6 Natural incubation. ____ __ • __ ____ _ . ___ ___._ . __ _ 8 Brooding and rearing __ __ ____ ______ _____ ____ __ ___ __ _ NuUition _______________ ____ _____ ____________ __ __ _ 8 10 ~arketing ____ _______________ __ ________ __ __ ______ _ II Diseases ______ ___ ______ ___ ____ ___ _____ __ __• __ ___ __ 13 lasued Mareh 1966 Slightly revi8ed AllgU/It 1969 W!l!!hington, D,C, Approved for reprinting September 1976 For ~ale by tho SU()(lrintondont of Doeumenlli, U.S, Government Printing Office Wa!hlnlton, O.C.!lru02 Stock No. 001-000-00070-6 11 RAISING DUCKS By William J. Ash, Department ot Biology, St. T..uwren(!c Uni\'crsity, Canton, N.Y. 13617' The number of ducks raised an­ are marketed through supply nually for meat in the United States houses and retail grocery outlets. is in the neighbo~'hood of 10 mil. Farmers who raise lImited numbers lion. Little change in production of ducks usually rely on special re­ has occurred in the past few tail outlets that sell live or fresh decades. killed ducklings. Approximately 60 percent of the Considerable competition exists ducks are raised on Long Island, in the marketing of ducklings. N.Y. Although climatic condi. Farmers who raise small numbers tions on Long Island are ideal for should try to develop a special mar­ duck productLOn, there is a possibil­ ket- a local one if possible. Duck­ ity that major production could ling is generally regarded as a shift to areas where feed and labor special item to be prepared by the costs are less, and where real estate homemaker for holidays or to be values and property taxation are served in restaurants. Marketing more advantageous to the farmer. pro&,rams should be developed t.o Most meat ducks are marketed as serVIce these outlets. ducklings-ducks 7 to 8 weeks of There is little demand for duck age. Major producing areas usual­ eggs in the United States. But ly have one or more modern proc­ small egg-laying flocks could pro­ essing plants to handle the birds. vide a Side income for farmers who They are generaIIy sold frozen and are able to establish a special retail ready to cook after thawing. Most outlet. BREEDS The choice of breeds depends Moat Breeds upon the market you are supplying. White Pekin, Aylesbury, and Mus­ Whit. Pekin eovy ducks are excellent meat The commercial duck industry in producers. Rauen, Cayuga, Swed­ the United States relies solely on Ish, and Call ducks reach weights the White Pekin (fi~. 1). 'White that make them valuable as meat Pekins are ideally sUlted for meat producers, but, poor egg produc­ production. They produce excel­ tion, and to some extent colored lent quality meat, and they reach plumage, make them ullsatisfactory marktlt weight (7 pounds) in 8 for mass commercial production. weeks. Khaki Campbells and Indian The breed originated in China Runners are excellent egg-laying and was introduced into the United breeds. Where special duck egg States in the late 1870's. \Vhite markets exist, the choice of eil her Pekins ~re large white-feathered of these breeds would be wise. birds. They have orange-yellow 1 Current edition reviewed by H. Graham Purchase, NPS, Poultry, Livestock and Veterinary Sciences, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center~West, Beltsville, :Md. 20705. 1 produce excellent quality meat, and like 'Vhite Pekins t.hey reach mar­ ket weight in 8 weeks. Aylesburys have white feathers, white skin, flesh -colored bills, and light-orange legs and foot. Eggs are a tinted white. Adult drakes weigh 9 pounds and adult ducks 8 pounds. Aylesburys are not as nervous as White Pekms but they rank with the latter in their lack of interest. .in sett.ing. Egg production is gen­ BN- Iun erally below that of 'Vhite Pekins Figur. I.-Whit. , . kln drake. but extraordinary records of 300 eggs per laying year have boon bills, reddish-yellow shanks and attained. feet, and yellow skin. Their f::ggs are a tinted white. Adult drakes Muscovy weigh 9 pounds and adult ducks The Muscovy is unrelated to the (females) 8 pounds. other breeds mentioned in this pub­ 'Vhite Pekins are fairly good egg lication. The bread originated in producers-average yearly produc­ South America. Numerous varie­ tion approximates 160 eggs-but ties of Muscovies existj the white they are not good setters and they variety (fig. 3) is the most desirable seldom bother to raise a brood. for market purposes. Muscovies They are nervous and should be produce meat of excellent quality treated gent,ly to obtain maximum and taste, provided they are mar­ egg production. keted before 17 weeks of a.ge. But their low egg production makes Ayl.. bury them unsuitable for use on 1arge The Aylesbury (fig. 2) is as pop­ commercial duck farms. Muscovies ular in England, where the breed have white skin. Adult drakes originated, as the 'White Pekin is in weigh 10 pounds and adult ducks the United States. Aylesburys . 7 pounds. Muscovies make extremely good setters. They will hatch and care for approximately 30 ducklings from the 40 to 45 eggs they produce :annually. Although they are not ideally 4111-(: Figur. 2.-Ayl.sbury dra ke. Figure 3.-Whit. MUlcovy drake. 2 suited to commercial production, (or their meat. Young drakes and Muscovies have excellent, possibili­ ducks weith 3% to 4 pounds at 2 ties for small ~cl\era l fa rms that months 0 age; adult drakes and have specinl retail outlets. ducks weigh 4"h pounds. In some areus o( the world, hy­ Another varlet.y, the \Vhite brid "mule ducks" are prvduced by Campbell, has sprung from the mat iug female Muscovies to Mal­ Khaki but it has not become a popu­ lard-type drakes. "Mule ducks" lar egg producer. White Camp­ produce sat isfacLory meat yields but bells have orange bills and legs. they ure sterile. Indian Runner Egg-Producing Breeds The Indian Runner originated in the E ast Indies but its egg-produc. Khaki Campbell in;! capabilities were developed in Amazing egg-production records V\ estern Europe. Although at one hll ve been made by the Khaki t.ime t hey were ('onsidered to be the Campbell (fig. 4). Strains selected best egg-pl'Oducing duck breed, In­ especiall y for high egg product-iofll dian Runners a. loe now second to the high-producing strains of Khaki Campbcl ls. Three Indian RuI),ner varieties are recognized : 'White (fig. 5), Penciled, and Fawn and 'White. All three varieties have orange to reddish-orange feet and shankf<. Characteristically the Runners stand erect j their carriage is almost perpendicular. Th~y weigh about the sa.me as Khaki Campbells. "2Z~ . Figure 4.-Khakl Campbell dorake. have averaged close to 365 eggs per duck withm a laying year. The highest producing strains of chick­ ens ha "e yet to a "erage 300 eggs per laying year. Khaki Cnmpbells originated in England as a cross of Fawn and 'Vhlte Runner, Rouen, and Mallard ducks. Khaki best describes the appearance of Khaki Campbells. Males have brownish-bronze lower backs, tail covert s, heads, and necks; the rest. of their plumage is khaki. They have green bills and dark-orange legs and toes. Females have seal-brown heads and necks : the rest of their plumage is khaki. They have greeni sh-black bills and ' I,rowlI legs and toes. Khaki Carnpbells are not valued Figur. 5.-White Runner drake. 3 BREEDING STOCK Selection of Breed.rs Commercial growers often run as many as 500 breeders together in Meat-type breeding stock is usu­ one flock. But smaller fl ocks, 50 to ally selected from market flocks 60 breeders, Illay outlay and ~rodu ce hatched in April and May. The a greater percentage of fertIle eggs potential breeders are selected from I han larger flocks. Lnying house the flocks when the birds are 6 to 7 mortality may also be less in weeks of age. At this time the dis­ smaller fl ocks. tinctly different voices of males and Provide 5 to 6 square feet of floor· females make it easX to separnte space per bird in the breeder house the birds-females ' honk," males und about 40 square feet per bird in "belch." Care should be taken to Ihe yard. select the proper number of each Breeder houses must be one·story sex---one drake to six ducks is rec­ because domestic ducks, with the ex· ommended. Select 8. small percent­ ception of Muscovies, cannot fly. age of extra ducks and drakes to Keep breeder houses clean, dry, and allow for mortality and further well ventilated. Leave windows selection during the conditioning and doors open during the day to period. Drakes should come from allow adequate circulat ion of air. the earlier hatched flocks to insure Good vent ilation is also needed at their readiness for mating by the night to prevent ovel'heating during ~inning of the following year.