How to raise Peking ducks at home?

The Peking Duck is a beef breed native to China. It was bred more than 300 years ago, and in 1873 it came to Europe. To this day, the Peking duck has become widespread throughout the world, displacing many other breeds.

In Soviet times, the Peking breed and its crosses (hybrids) accounted for over 90% of the duck livestock of collective and state farms. Currently, it remains the most common duck breed in Russia.

Characteristics of the breed

This massive bird has white plumage, a raised long body, a wide chest, a long and wide back. Weight males - from 3.5 to 4.3 kg, females are slightly less - 3.3-4.0 kg. For a year, the Peking duck brings from 80 to 150 eggs, the average weight of an egg is 90 g.

This bird species has many advantages, among the main ones should be called:

• increased resilience, including resistance to infectious diseases;
• unpretentious content, including omnivorousness;
• fast growth and a lot of meat.

Peking duck breeding

For breeding ducks, you can build a special room or use existing ones. The poultry house must meet the main zootechnical and zoohygiene requirements:

• be dry and light;
• be clean;
• have good ventilation.

As already mentioned, the Peking duck is not very demanding on the conditions of detention.

Buying ducklings

Peking ducklings are yellow in color, beak and head are red. Buy young possible for the price from 70 rubles apiece... To do this, you can contact the farm or find advertisements for the sale of ducklings. The larger the purchased batch, the cheaper each duckling will cost you.

At the same time, if you are just starting your own business, it is not at all necessary to spend money on the purchase of a large livestock. Subsequently, when the bird grows up, you can breed it yourself.

Feeding and keeping Peking ducks after hatching

Ducks are omnivorous birds that consume a variety of foods of both animal and plant origin.

As feed for ducklings can be used:

• hard-boiled and finely chopped eggs;
• cottage cheese;
• yogurt;
• crushed grain (except rye);
• crumbly cereals;
• boiled potatoes;
• compound feed;
• greens: clover, nettle, alfalfa, dandelion;
• mineral feeding - eggshells, ash, limestone.

Availability mineral feeding and greenery is required. If near your home you have water with dense vegetation, you need to use it as pasture for duck livestock. Thus, you can cut the cost of feeding Peking ducks in half.

To provide the ducklings with enough water, it is best to use autodrinker... Young animals will not be able to overturn it, while the water in it will remain clean and fresh for a long time.

Breeding mulard ducks at home is no less popular than keeping Peking ducks. This is the main beef breed that generates a good income.

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Features of raising ducklings

One square meter of the poultry house can accommodate 10-15 ducklings. If you grow them without a hen, then artificial heating with temperature 28-30 ° C... To ensure rapid growth and avoid disease or death of young animals, this issue needs to be given special attention. Sharp temperature changes at night are especially dangerous.

Heating can be organized using a conventional water-filled heating pad or by installing a light bulb. It will only be needed in the first two weeks of life for ducklings - after this period, you can keep them at room temperature.

Adult Peking ducks: care and rearing

If possible, keep the ducks at rest, protect them from unnecessary noise. The fact is that they differ from other types of poultry in increased nervous excitability and at the same time - in loudness. It is also very important to keep the house dry. Otherwise, there are no special requirements for growing Peking ducks at home.

Let's try to figure out what to feed the Peking ducks, and what "duck" diseases the owner of the farm may have to face.

How to feed Peking ducks at home?

As feed for the Peking duck, you can use:

• cereals - wheat, corn, oats, barley, legumes;
• agricultural production waste - cakes, bran, bard;
• herbs - aquatic vegetation, clover, alfalfa, young nettles, peas, silage;
• vegetables and root vegetables - grated carrots, cabbage, boiled potatoes;
• animal feed - dairy products, meat and bone and fish meal;
• mineral dressing - eggshells, chalk, table salt, coarse sand.

For an adult bird, the feed used for chickens is suitable, but there are some nuances in the organization of its nutrition. You need to pay special attention protein food - it is she who provides a quick mass gain.

Peking duck is a beef breed, and the rate of weight gain is of great importance. If the protein is not enough, the profitability of the entire enterprise will drop significantly.

If you want to introduce a new product into your diet, do it gradually. Sudden changes in diet lead to a decrease in body weight of the bird, and they can also cause premature molt.

2 weeks before slaughter The duck must be put on a diet with the maximum protein content, this will help it gain the maximum weight. Also at this time, the bird needs to be given peas and boiled potatoes, but it is better to exclude fish and fishmeal.

Possible diseases

The main reasons for most of the poultry diseases are improper care, feeding of the Peking duck, and poor living conditions. Therefore, if your duck herd has problems, first of all, you need to pay attention to these points.

The most common illnesses include:

• vitamin deficiency A;
• cloacite;
• ducks hepatitis;
• paratyphoid;
• cholera (pasteurellosis);
• helminthiasis.

At avitaminosis A ducks lose appetite and growth slows down, eyes become inflamed and runny nose appears. The color of the legs in an adult bird becomes paler. To eliminate vitamin A deficiencies, you need to give ducks more carrots, alfalfa, nettles, aquatic plants and fish oil.

Cloacite, that is, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cloaca, appears with a lack of vitamins A, E and D, as well as mineral feed. It is necessary to add more carrots, greens and mineral supplements to the diet, as well as to provide individual treatment for each sick duck by treating its cloaca with iodine, and then with zinc ointment.

Sick hepatitis the duck becomes drowsy, sits with its head down and breathes heavily, subsequently it falls on its back or side and dies. To avoid hepatitis, it is necessary to sanitize the premises, to fight insects and rodents, which are carriers of the disease.

At paratyphoid ducklings or ducks lose their appetite, their eyes watery and stick together, and they have loose stools. The mortality rate reaches 80%. The source of paratyphoid fever is sick ducks.

Pasteurellosis - an infectious disease, which is accompanied by inflammation of the internal organs. The source of infection is sick ducks or rabbits, sheep, pigs and cattle, rodents, insects and ticks. Also, infection can occur through water.

Sometimes in the litter you can find helminths... The presence of these parasites in the body of the bird leads to a reduction in the rate of weight gain. Special drugs - piperazine, phenothiazine and others - will help to get rid of worms.

Video: breeding Peking ducks

Sales of products

By age 50 days the mass of ducklings increases 50 times - they weigh already 2.5-3 kg. Their meat is tender, juicy and at the same time less fatty than the meat of older ducks. It is unprofitable to keep the bird longer than two months.

Finished products can be sold:

• to the markets;
• in cafes and restaurants.

It is better to inquire about possible distribution channels at the preparatory stage - even before you prepare the house, purchase feed and ducklings.

To be able to sell products, you will need to complete the paperwork. As an organizational and legal form, it is better to choose not an individual entrepreneur or an LLC, but a private household farm - a personal backyard farm.

You also need to get veterinary permits... When you slaughter a bird, you need to:

• warn the veterinarian about the planned slaughter;
• get a certificate from him about the pre-slaughter inspection;
• after slaughter, get a certificate that it was carried out in compliance with all standards.

After slaughter, it is necessary:

• issue a veterinary certificate No. 2;
• put a stamp on the meat;
• obtain permission to trade - in the event that the meat will be sold on the market.

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Duck farm approximate figures

Peking duck maintenance costs

The main directions of expenses for organizing a duck farm:

• poultry house preparation;
• purchase of feed;
• purchase of duck livestock.

After the poultry house is built and the initial stock of ducklings is purchased, it will take about 100 rubles to grow one bird. Of these, 80 rubles are the cost of feed and another 20 rubles are additional costs.

Thus, to grow 250 ducks, you will need 25 thousand rubles... If you want to organize a small farm on your personal garden plot and grow, for example, 50 birds, 5 thousand rubles will be enough for you. However, the income in this case will be small.

Profit from raising Peking ducks

If you manage to sell products at a price of 200 rubles / kg, it turns out that you earned 400 rubles from each carcass, since one duck gives on average 2 kg of meat. The proceeds from a livestock of 250 birds will amount to 100 thousand rubles, and the net profit - 75 thousand.

Normal profitability for a duck farm - 70%, payback period - 12-16 months.

Thus, if you are determined to arrange a farm on your personal plot, then Peking ducks will be an excellent choice. First you need to purchase a starting stock and build a poultry house. After that, you will only need to spend money on feed and other related costs; you can breed a bird yourself.

Peking duck is the best breed of meat direction.By choosing it, you can count on minimal costs for maintenance and at the same time - on getting a good profit from the sale of products.

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The Peking duck is one of the most widespread breeds in the world. The meat breed was bred by selection in the 18th century in Beijing. It quickly spread throughout China and took a dominant position. After some time, the bird was brought to America and Europe. Due to its high productivity and excellent meat qualities, the Peking duck has supplanted many aboriginal breeds and today it is bred at home.

Description of the breed

Torso has an elongated and raised appearance. Body type powerful, broad chest, long back, tail raised. A large, tall head rests on a thick, arched neck, with a convex frontal lobe. Short thick legs are located closer to the tail and have an orange-red color. Wings strong, close to the body, stand out for their power and large scope. Dark blue, large, shiny eyes... The orange beak is medium in size, slightly curved. Plumage white, high density. Muscle differs in significant density, a small layer of connective tissue. For a detailed description, characteristics and reviews of farmers about the breed, see below.

Peking ducks

Peking duck is characterized by restless temperament, which is due to its rapidly excitable nervous system. The bird often screams, which causes a little trouble for some breeders. To avoid noise for ducks, they create favorable and calm conditions of existence, if all external stimuli are eliminated, the bird behaves calm and quiet.

Conditions of keeping and growing

The cultivation of Peking ducks, both in industrial and household farms, is quite simple and profitable business. Knowing the basic nuances and observing content requirements and feeding can be successful in record time.

On an industrial basis the bird is kept in specially equipped premises. The poultry houses are equipped artificial lighting, heating, automatic feed and water supply. The microclimate is monitored, and all sanitary and hygienic standards are observed.

In household plots poultry houses are being built for Peking ducks or existing buildings are being adapted. The house must be made of bricks, no cracks or holes. If possible, the room is insulated, which allows you to reduce heating costs in the winter. Heat should not escape through the roof or floor, if the windows are old, then they must be repaired. Rooms with earth or wood floors are not allowed. The floors are made of concrete. Good sex not only keeps warm, but also prevents rats from entering the barn, which can cause irreparable harm to the bird.

Peking ducks in the yard

Laz is made in the south side, the hole should be well closed by a door and is at a height of 5-8 cm from the floor.The height of the manhole is 30-40 cm, and the width is 40 cm.If the duck is kept on the litter, the manhole is increased by 20-40 cm. high productivity birds need normal lighting. Artificial lighting is installed at the rate of 5 watts per 1 square meter of floor. Reflectors are hung on the bulbs. Concerning natural light, then 1 sq. m of floor should be 100 cm2 of windows. In winter, due to a lack of light, egg production decreases, so daylight hours are extended to 12 hours a day due to artificial lighting.

Every poultry house must have nests, they are made from plywood or wood. Normal socket parameters: 40x50, height 50 cm.At the entrance to the nest, a threshold of 8-10 cm is made. Nests are placed along the side walls of the house in dark places so that the duck is not disturbed by other birds.

Feeders are made of wood, the thickness of which is 2-2.5 cm. Since birds often scatter feed, a bar is attached on top so that the duck cannot climb inside. Length of feeders for adult birds - 110 cm, and for young stock 100. Width for adults 23 cm, for young stock 14.5 cm. Feeders are made with several compartments so that mineral feed can be dispensed. Vacuum drinkers are recommended for both juveniles and adults.

In the summertime, the Peking duck is advisable keep on walks and drive it into the room only for the night. On the walks, as in the poultry house, they are installed feeders, and if there is no access to the reservoir, then drinkers... Summer maintenance allows you to reduce the cost of funds at the expense of grass and reduce labor costs per unit of production.

In the poultry house no drafts allowed... In winter, the temperature should not drop below 5 ° C. Optimum temperature in the poultry house 16 ° C, with a humidity of 60-70%. Thanks to the downy cover, ducks endure frost and retain heat at the expense of their own bodies. Low temperatures are poorly tolerated if the bird has dirty plumage. The cleanliness of the ducks is directly dependent on the condition of the house, which must be regularly cleaned and ventilated. As deep beddingand use sawdust, straw, shavings and flax. The deep litter maintains a normal house climate, absorbs moisture well and generates heat due to the breakdown of organic matter. 20 kg of litter is used per head per year. Placement rate for 1 sq. m: 2-3 adults or 6-8 heads of young animals.

In addition to outdoor keeping, Peking ducks can be grown in cages. The cells are placed in the house in several tiers, the floor is made of slats or mesh so that the bird's legs do not fall through the holes. With this content, ducks eat well, move little and grow quickly, which makes it possible to get profit much faster.

Characteristics of the breed

Drake live weight - 3.6-4.2 kg, ducks - 3.4-3.9 kg. At 2 months of age, young animals weigh 2.2-2.6 kg. Ducks begin to lay eggs at 23 weeks, laying duration 42 days, hatchability 85-88%. Egg production - 100-140 eggs per year. Large eggs - 85-90 g. Shell thickness - 0.38 mm. High egg production is maintained for 2-3 years. The daily feed requirement for 1 head is 340 g. Slaughter yield - 67%. Body temperature 42.2 ° C, ducks breathe with a frequency of 30-34 respiratory movements per minute. 5 ducks are assigned to 1 drake, i.e. the family consists of 6 individuals.

Breeding and feeding

When feeding a Peking duck, it is necessary to take into account the structural features of this breed. Peking ducks have an accelerated metabolism... The small intestine facilitates the rapid assimilation of food (in 4 hours). Given these nuances, the bird must be constantly provided with food, which, in turn, contributes to a rapid weight gain.

Peking ducks on the run

Peking ducks well grow on ground feed and compound feed. The ratio of feed to water is 1k4. One adult per day has an average of 1 liter of water. Birds are sensitive to feed changes and feeding disturbances.

IMPORTANT! With a sharp change in diet in Peking ducks, egg production may decrease and premature molt will begin.

Feeding occurs 3 times a day. Wet food is given in the morning and in the afternoon, and cereals in the evening, in accordance with the norms and rations of feeding. Mash are prepared immediately before feeding and are given fresh, in no case should sour foods be fed. During the feeding period, the bird must have free access to water... On average, a duck per day should receive 80 g of oats, 75 g of barley, 60 g of bran, 40 g of fodder beets, 15 g of lentils or peas, 40 g of greens, 11 g of animal feed, 4 g of bone meal, 9 g of chalk and 1 g table salt.

Peking duck chicks

Feeding of the chicks begins after the plumage has dried. In the early days give a chopped boiled egg, it is possible with the addition of cottage cheese. After a few days starter feed and finely chopped greens are introduced into the diet. You need to feed babies at least 5 times a day.As a mineral dressing, ground eggshells are suitable. Young growth should be provided with vitamin supplements.

IMPORTANT! Peking ducks are bad brood hens, so it is difficult to breed chicks in a natural way, it is better to use an incubator for breeding.

Diseases and care

Despite the fact that Peking ducks are hardy bird breeds, they are still susceptible to some diseases.

Peking white ducks

Avitaminosis

At avitaminosis birds become lethargic, appetite disappears, coordination of movement is disturbed, growth slows down, wings sag, eyes become inflamed, convulsions appear and fluid is released from the nostrils. Lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets. A balanced diet is the only way to combat vitamin deficiency, and if a bird develops symptoms of the disease, then there is a lack of any element in the feed.

Goiter diseases

The cause of the disease may be sticky food, swallowing foreign objects or large food. If the bird is not immediately helped, then the disease can go into a chronic stage and the goiter will stop shrinking. If the goiter is blocked, you must try to clear it yourself, holding the duck by the legs upside down. If the problem is serious, then it is highly recommended to call veterinarianwho will open the goiter.

Coccidiosis

Infectionleading to lethargy, decreased egg production, poor appetite, and bloody, frothy stools. Passed through food and feeding equipment. The first diseased individual must be isolated from the general herd. To prevent coccidiosis, coccidin and sulfadimezin are added to the water. Infected poultry house disinfect with a 3% formalin solution and a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Peking ducks in the yard

Aspergillosis

This disease most commonly affects ducklings and can lead to large fall of young animals... With aspergillosis, ducks have difficulty breathing, wheezing appears, fluid is released from the beak, birds convulsively swallow air, appetite decreases, growth slows down, paralysis of the legs or wings is possible. To eliminate the disease, all remains of feed and bedding are thrown away, equipment and the poultry house are disinfected. The feed is added nystatin, and in water a solution of 0.05% copper sulfate.

Pasteurellosis or cholera

This disease, although infrequent, is very serious. It transmitted through the air, feed and inventory. With cholera, ducks become apathetic, body temperature rises, thirst appears and appetite disappears, frothy discharge, loose stools with blood come from the nose. Infected birds are killed, their place of stay is disinfected. Healthy but contacting birds with infected individuals, biomycin is injected, and sulfadimezin is given.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Peking duck breed

Advantages:

• Good adapt to cold weather.
• They are distinguished by high early maturity.
• Unpretentious in feeding.
• There is no urgent need for maintenance reservoirs.

Flaws:

• Ducks are not prone to hatching.
• Get sick and fall to their feet in dampness.

Peking duck - this is one of the best and unpretentious meat breeds. It is distinguished by high productivity and good meat qualities... Ideal for industrial and domestic breeding, and due to early maturity, the period of profit is reduced several times compared to other breeds.

Peking duck

Reviews

The Peking Duck is the best option if you want to breed a beef breed. Gutted carcass weighs 2-2.5 kg. Young meat is very tasty and not tough. The percentage of fat is normal, there is just a little of it and, at the same time, the meat is not dry. It is better to hatch in an incubator, since there is little sense from a brood hen. On average, 8 healthy and viable chicks hatch out of 10 eggs. IN Peking ducks feed you should not limit, but you do not need to give a lot of food either, since they like to throw it around. Water should be constantly, and if possible, it is better to release it into the reservoir. If you breed it for yourself, then by the fall you can get a full-fledged duck, ready for slaughter.

White beautiful Peking ducks have become a favorite breed of many farmers. They are do not require special expenses for maintenance and feeding. Ducks give a year 120 eggsthat are perfectly incubated. They grow very quickly, and at 2 months weft weight already reaches 3 kg. Feed is consumed in moderation, and if you purchase modern feeders, then its consumption will be much reduced. Birds tolerate well low temperatures, and in the insulated poultry house you have to heat only in severe frosts. In general, it is very profitable to grow Peking ducks, and most importantly, quickly and with minimal cost and maintenance.

Peking duck is the most popular breed among poultry breeders, which is rightfully considered the best of the meat breeds of duck. These amazing birds are the “progenitors” of most of the duck breeds grown on farms today. It is from the Peking ducks that the Bashkir, white duck and others are bred. In the USSR, the Peking duck accounted for 90% of the poultry farm population. She is still the leader in duck farms and is most recommended for breeding in private poultry farms.

Peking duck

Where does the Peking duck come from?

In full consonance with the name - the Peking duck comes from China. There, this breed was bred a very long time ago, three hundred years ago. Of course, in China itself, this is a mega-popular breed.

White peking duck

There is even a national signature dish of the same name - "Peking Duck", an indispensable ingredient of which is the meat of this poultry.

Peking duck

From China, representatives of the breed were brought to America, and then instantly dispersed to the poultry houses of the entire European continent. Why did farmers and industrial poultry grow fond of it?

Three advantages of Peking.

1. Delicate tasty meat.
2. Extremely fast growth.
3. Undemanding care.

Description of the breed

Adult Peking ducks

These "stars" of duck farms look more than usual:

• white plumage (occasionally a cream-colored feather is found);
• powerful physique;
• strong wing;
• monolithic chest and back;
• short strong legs;
• short strong neck;
• developed head with a convex frontal part;
• a bright orange beak, flat as a shoulder blade;
• coquettishly lifted up a small graceful ponytail.

Two-month-old ducklings are close in weight to adult specimens. Their weight is 2.5 kg, and the meat is characterized by extraordinary juiciness, softness and delicate taste. It was at this time, until molt began, and the chicks had just begun to swim in fat, they began to be slaughtered for meat.

Peking ducklings

Peking adults grow up to 3.5 kg. The weight of the drake is half a kilogram more. Egg weight - about 90 g. Females can lay up to - 120 pieces per year.

Table. Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

Rapid growth and meat build-up.	They get sick from dampness in the poultry house.
Unpretentiousness in food (almost any feed can be used).	They do not like to incubate chicks.
Endurance (to heat, cold, lack of water).	They require frequent feeding, since they have a high metabolic rate.

Subtleties of content

Not only because of the rapid maturation, slaughter is carried out, starting from two months. If you miss the moment and wait for the molting process to begin, you can get the meat of an already inferior quality. During this period, all the forces of the duck organism are aimed at the formation and growth of new feathers. Internal organs begin to grow rapidly. But the bird does not gain weight, on the contrary, the build-up of meat is suspended. During this period, the Chinese beauty needs two or even three times more food. Therefore, continuing to grow is not just inexpedient, but unprofitable.

Molt ducks

Why do they say "he eats like a duck"

There are no popular sayings without a reason.For example, about a person who has just had a bite and is heading to the refrigerator again, it is customary to say that he eats like a duck. The reason was given by the Peking people with their unprecedentedly fast metabolism. It is customary to feed poultry twice a day. This is usually enough to get meat. The Peking duck digests food, no matter how much it eats, in a maximum of four hours. It has a short intestine, which, combined with a super-fast metabolism, gives the effect of an "eternally hungry" poultry that needs to be fed four times.

Nutritional nature

The other side of this "medal" is the rapid weight gain. But the need to constantly provide the bird with feed that is absorbed almost without interruption, and then, as a result, cleaning the house, is considered a challenge in bird care. Although, for the sake of delicious duck meat, you can suffer for two months.

Special diet

There is a picky Peking duck that can do almost anything. But a healthy diet for this breed, which leads to the formation of the most delicious meat, is based on a higher protein content. The protein component gives the meat weight and makes the content productive.

Diet and feeding norms for laying hens at home

Feeding domestic ducks

By the way! The omnivorous nature of the Peking girls is well known, as is their excellent appetite. They will eat both vegetable and protein foods with equal enthusiasm. But the slightest change in proportions or even a slight decrease in diet can lead to the fact that ducks begin to lose weight and begin to molt prematurely.

Save your nerves

In addition to special food addictions, "Peking" are also nervous creatures. They have a highly excitable nervous system. Therefore, from the slightest extraneous noise or just discomfort, the ducks begin to scream heart-rendingly. This cry is so loud, shrill and unpleasant that breeders already have problems with nerves.

Peking ducks quack piercingly

In order for ducks to make less noise, they need to be kept, like Chinese emperors, in tsarist conditions and with constantly full feeders and drinkers.

How to breed Peking ducks

Peking duck cubs are distinguished by the highest viability, it is even higher for them than that of broiler chickens. Resistance to infections is also excellent. Therefore, you can safely purchase daily young growth and grow it without a brood hen.

Check in to the box

Before settling the ducklings, it is necessary to organize the following conditions for them.

1. "Nest" in the form of a cardboard box or any convenient container.
2. Heating the "nest" to a temperature in the range of + 28 ° C ... 30 ° C.
3. Illumination with an electric bulb (can be combined with heating).

   Ducklings care

   Adjust the lamp position according to the age of the ducklings

Advice! An ordinary medical heating pad is used as heating, which is filled with water and, wrapped in a rag, is placed in the corner of the box.

It will take about two weeks to warm up the atmosphere of the home in the cold season. If breeding began in the summer, and even in the heat, the first two to three days are enough, then the heating can be stopped.

Poultry house arrangement

While the ducklings are growing up in the box, it is necessary, if he is not yet ready, to urgently build a poultry house for them. For one-time seasonal cultivation, ready-made buildings are adapted for this business or special poultry houses of a simple design are made.

Over time, young ducks will need to be moved to a larger enclosure.

Of course, any room must comply with hygiene standards and requirements. It's easy to keep them, here they are.

1. Spacious.
2. Dry.
3. Illuminated.
4. Clean.
5. Ventilated.

By the way! According to the norms of placement, from 12 to 16 chicks can fall on a square meter.

Recommendations for keeping ducks

The floor in the house cannot be cold. Of course, special floor heating is not required, but you need to make the floor from boardwalk, or cover it with straw / sawdust.You cannot settle young ducklings in a room with an earthen floor or concrete. If their paws get cold, they will catch cold, get sick and die. In order to avoid colds of young animals, dampness of the room and drafts are also excluded.

The southern wall is equipped for entry / exit. To do this, a manhole breaks through below, which should be tightly closed, protecting both from unauthorized exits of pets and from visits by uninvited guests - the surrounding "predators".

House for keeping ducks

How to understand that everything is done correctly? According to the behavior of ducklings in the poultry house.

If the humidity, temperature and other conditions suit the babies, they will be mobile, lively, with excellent appetite and a healthy strong voice.

Peking ducks in an aviary

If you overheat them, they will become lethargic, they will have difficulty breathing with their open beaks, often come to the water and eat less than usual. If the ducklings are cold, they huddle together and squeak with a plaintive squeak.

Peking duck ducklings

Important! It is especially dangerous to sharply drop the temperature, which can happen at night and in the morning in the cool season. Because of this, little ducklings can die. Therefore, litter is placed on the floor and the temperature is regulated and checked.

Litter is not a stationary phenomenon. It needs to be completely changed every three days. And besides, shake it off and take out the droppings every day.

Wet litter is ideal for parasites

In the photo, straw bedding

For adult ducks from the poultry house, the following temperature regime is maintained - in winter not lower than + 15 ° С (and a warm dry litter on the floor), in summer - not more than + 25 ° С.

Lighting for ducks in winter, even for adults, is a must. Moreover, it must be arranged so that daylight hours last at least 13 hours. For lighting, ordinary household bulbs are used (special lamps are not required), you can place reflectors next to them under the ceiling.

Adult ducks, which are kept for obtaining eggs and incubating chicks (although "Peking" do this very reluctantly), should be kept more spacious than meat ones. In summer - four individuals per square meter, in winter - up to six.

Breeding ducks

No perches are needed for ducks in the poultry house - they are kept, eat, sleep on the floor. But some farmers like to equip a duck “life”, and along one of the walls of the poultry house, where there are no feeders and drinkers, at a distance of about 30 cm from it, they put thick bars nailed to the planks. Ducks spend most of their time on them when they do not eat or drink. The droppings accumulate behind the bars and are easier to clean up afterwards.

Feeding and diet

Ducklings begin to take food, barely born, as soon as the fluff dries on them. They immediately begin to walk and look for food. And they need to give it immediately. Even if not all babies are still ready for the first feeding, after the most active ones start eating, the rest will quickly catch up. If not, the weak will have to be hand-fed in the first couple of days.

Important! Until ten days old, the ducklings are fed six times a day. The first feeding is at 6-7 am, followed by 2-2.5 hours. An adult duck eats at least 3 times. The first two are plant foods. Evening feeding - protein.

How to feed newborn ducklings?

How to feed little ducklings

1. Hard boiled eggs.
2. Sour milk, sour and unleavened milk, cottage cheese.
3. Porridge (small-grained).
4. Fresh, young, chopped greens (nettle leaves, dandelion leaves, young clover are preferred).
5. Boiled potatoes.
6. Meat broth and waste.
7. Limestone and wood ash for mineral additives.

Table. Peking duck meat diet

	0-10	11-20	21-30	31-40	41-50	51-60
Boiled hard-boiled eggs	3	—	—	—	—	—
Green grass, plants (chopped)	20	30	50	60	70	80
The curd is not too greasy	3	8	10	—	—	—
Low-fat dairy products	5	10	20	—	—	—
Boiled potatoes	—	20	40	60	70	80
Corn, oats, barley (flour first)	1,5	40	60	80	90	100
Wheat bran	5	15	25	30	35	40
Waste grain	—	20	25	30	35	40
Cake	1	3	8	10	15	20
Culinary yeast	0,2	0,4	1	1	1	1
Chalk, limestone, ash	1	2	3	4	5	6
Bone meal	0,5	1	1,5	2	2	3
Gravel of the finest fraction	—	1	1	2	2	2
Salt (not iodized)	—	0,2	0,3	1	1	1

Water in the life of Peking ducks

Although these birds can be kept without water bodies, water is of great importance to them. The ducklings constantly drink (and eat, then they drink again and so on all day). Immediately after settling in the "nest" of diurnal ducklings (or newborn hatcheries, as soon as the fluff has dried), you need to drink boiled warm water, adding a little potassium permanganate there. Drink from a pipette.

Drinking bowl for ducklings

Then the water should be in the drinking bowls all the time, but it is advisable to arrange the drinking bowls in such a way that they do not splash in them "with their feet" and do not spray water on the litter. Some farmers make "batteries" from plastic bottles by gluing them together with duct tape or tying them in a long line. In each bottle, a window is made according to the height of the duckling, into which he sticks his head. Thus, water does not splash and the litter does not get wet, and normal humidity remains in the house.

By the way! If there is at least a small natural body of water near your home farm, you can save time making green mash. Water "pasture" covers the need of young ducklings in plant food by 50%.

Ducklings in water

Ducklings can go to the pond without "parents" after two weeks. There they can not only splash, drink water, catch midges, but also feed on water duckweed, which will replace green food for them. If there is a reservoir, but it is far away, and there is no way to let the ducklings go there, collect the duckweed from the surface with a net and place it in a barrel of water. You can feed natural greens to ducklings as needed.

Advice! Keeping the ducklings indoors is only necessary during the cold period. The rest of the time, at the first opportunity, let it go for a walk, and only drive it to the poultry house to spend the night.

Content in cages

Ducks in a cage - an example

Peking ducks can be kept in large cages. They should be spacious and installed in no more than two tiers. The bottom of the cage (floor) must be knocked down from thin slats so that duck legs do not get stuck between them. The litter is changed daily. Cellular placement is good for individuals over two months old. They eat more, move less, get fat and actively gain weight. The main thing in the cage is a constantly full feeder and a drinking bowl filled with fresh water.

Before slaughter, for 24 hours, the ducks are stopped from feeding, only given water, and kept in the dark. Slaughter takes place as follows - the head is cut off, the carcass is hung by the legs to drain the blood. The feather of ducks, unlike chickens and turkeys, is difficult to pluck on a warm carcass. You need to wait three hours until the fat hardens and hardens. Then the feathers will be removed more easily, and the skin will remain intact.

Video - Peking Ducks

Video - Peking duck

Hello dear readers! Today we will continue our acquaintance with the huge family of domestic birds. If earlier good owners limited themselves to breeding ordinary geese, ducks and chickens, now you can observe special breeds of birds in the neighbor's yard, and I want to have something new for myself. This is how a Peking duck appeared on my farm recently. Breeding it at home has become a pleasure, it is so simple and interesting!

Description of the breed

The breed of Peking ducks appeared in China several hundred years ago. We have them relatively recently, but have gained immense popularity due to simple breeding, undemanding care, and most importantly - a large amount of delicious meat.

You can distinguish a Peking duck by several signs:

• powerful physique;
• bright orange beak;
• convex wide forehead;
• strong wings;
• small tail curled up;
• snow-white or cream shade.

How much meat can you get from one adult bird? Some specimens can easily reach four kilograms! Amazingly, young growth in just two months, with proper care, grows three kilograms.

What else is remarkable about the content of Peking ducks? I will please - they do not need the presence near the site of the reservoir, the birds can easily do without such a necessary condition for the waterfowl family.

I can't help but mention the shortcomings. If you expect a lot of eggs from birds, then you can not rely on these ducks - they rarely lay. Also, both young animals and adults will die from dampness in the room.

Simple breeding

Interestingly, Peking ducklings are more hardy than their relatives, and even than goslings and chickens. At home, breeding is often practiced, but it is easier to acquire young animals in an incubator. If fluffy yellow lumps appeared artificially, take care of a warm, cozy drawer in advance. The temperature should not drop below thirty degrees, especially in the first weeks of life. You can use a heating pad (previously wrapped in a cloth, otherwise the ducklings may burn themselves) or special heating lamps for heating.

From the first days of life, introduce crushed grain, cereals, cottage cheese, boiled eggs into the diet. Be sure to add chopped greens (nettles, dandelions, wild clover). Mineral supplements will be indispensable.

I do it simply - I crush shells or egg shells. Make sure you have clean, warm water. It is best to make a special drinker that will provide the ducklings with the necessary amount of liquid, and they will remain completely dry.

After a few weeks, you can send young animals to their permanent place of residence in a specially equipped room. What should be special about it? Lay the floor warm, without cracks, into which cold air will surely seep. Lay on straw or sawdust - ducks love comfort.

Ventilation is considered a prerequisite. It is important that there are no drafts. Also, in any case, do not allow dampness in the room - carelessness will result in the death of beautiful birds. Change the bedding completely every few days to help keep it dry and clean.

Fascinating content

When raising duck for meat, it is important to remember that you need to send it to the slaughter after two months of life. Do not have time - molt will begin, which will greatly complicate the plucking. Another secret - during the period of dropping the old feathers, the birds do not grow, you will waste feed.

An interesting detail for the rapid growth of birds - their stomachs are small, so food must be given every five hours. I almost forgot to tell you how to feed the ducks. The easiest way is to go to the store and get a balanced mixture, but this is not an option, since it is very expensive.

I don't think you know yet that these birds eat whatever comes within their reach. Cereals, boiled and raw roots, cereals, crushed grain, chopped hay - this is just a small part of what you can pamper your favorites with.

Since Peking ducks are raised for meat, try to ensure that a large amount of protein is always present in the feed, otherwise the growth will decrease dramatically. I almost forgot to warn you - introduce new types of feed gradually, starting with small parts. Ask why? The answer is simple - a sharp change in the diet can stimulate premature molting, you will either have to send ducks for slaughter ahead of time, or in vain transfer products to them.

I can’t help but tell about the great disadvantage of Peking ducks, although some will consider it a virtue. A very loud scream can ruin my nerves, I even wanted to send them to the slaughter prematurely. Only recently I learned from a good friend, a farmer, that they are screaming with shocks.

Now I try to provide the most peaceful conditions - proper care, a small enclosure for walking in a quiet corner of the estate, where chickens and geese are not allowed, regular tasty feedings. Be sure to keep your dog from disturbing the birds.Believe it or not, it worked - peace and quiet reign in me again.

You can see for yourself how easy it is to breed and care for beautiful birds. I assure you that the pleasure of having Peking ducks on the farm is enormous. Not only will you provide your family with delicious meat for the whole year, but it is also very pleasant to tinker with chicks and even adults, especially if all the pets take part in this. Watch a helpful video that will help you learn even more duck breeding tricks. From me a small request - share useful material with your friends. Sign up for updates, there are new secrets of housekeeping ahead, with their help, things on your site will go no worse than those of an experienced owner. In the meantime, I say goodbye for a while, all the best!