Crossbreeding ducks of different breeds. Ducks Indian Runner: main indicators and characteristics. Breeding ducks at home
You can always find a lot of poultry on a homestead farm. But duck requires special attention, as it is an excellent source of both meat and eggs. But every owner who wants to have a duck in their household has thought about what breed of bird to choose. How correctly it is selected, this will be the result of duck breeding.
First of all, you need to decide what kind of meat or egg production the poultry needs for home breeding. Most often, farmers prefer those breeds that produce a large amount of meat.
Breeding ducks at home
It is known that most often ducks are bred in households in order to obtain meat. It is very different, for example, from chicken. The distinctive features of duck meat include the following:
- Their meat is much darker than other poultry.
- Duck meat is fatty.
- Duck meat contains large fibers that are clearly visible.
- Rich taste.
But some farmers choose birds that lay a lot of eggs. It is known that it is impossible to use them as food, as they have a peculiar taste. But they ideal for the food industry, for example, in the production of mayonnaise. Some household farmers breed such egg-laying breeds in order to later use the eggs as incubation material.
Ducks can also be bred at home to obtain fluff, which can be used to make excellent pillows and blankets. And their droppings are an excellent fertilizer for garden beds.
All duck breeds can be divided into three types:
- Meat.
- Egg-laying.
- Meat and eggs.
This division, of course, is a little arbitrary, since all these qualities are inherent in every duck: some are simply more pronounced, while others are less pronounced.
Breeds of meat-oriented ducks
Duck breeds of this type can often be found in households. Gourmets believe that their meat is juicier and more tender. And the ducks themselves are quite prolific and grow very quickly. It is known that their viability is high, but their egg production is average.
The most popular meat breeds are the following types of ducks:
Of all the meat breeds, Peking duck is the most common. Representatives of this species differ from other individuals by their wide and slightly long head, which ends in a bright orange beak. Duck of this breed usually has white plumage. It is easy to feed such duck offspring, as they grow quickly and gain weight, are quite hardy and are not afraid of winter cold. Thus, a young individual already at 2 months has a body weight of 2500 grams, and the weight of an adult male can reach up to 4 thousand grams. They produce few eggs per year: approximately 85–90 eggs. One egg of such a duck weighs approximately 90 grams.
The Moscow white breed of ducks appeared after crossing the Peking species with Khaki Campbell individuals. Already at 65 days of birth, a young duck of this breed weighs more than 2 kilograms. If such a duck is kept correctly, then per year you can take up to 120 eggs from each individual.
The gray Ukrainian breed of ducks can be easily distinguished by its appearance. So, they have well-developed muscles, a massive physique, but the skeleton is quite thin. The plumage of individuals is dense and abundant. The female weighs 3 kilograms, and the drake weighs 4 kilograms. Egg production – 120 eggs.
The black white-breasted breed appeared as a result of crossing Peking, black and Ukrainian ducks. Black white-chested have a wide and long back, which is slightly inclined towards the tail. The chest is deep, and the body itself is slightly elevated.
Meat broilers include Agidel ducks. They can be grown indoors and in open pastures. This breed was the result of crossing such breeds as Super M, Indian Runner and Blagovarskaya.
The Rouen breed was developed in France. The massive body goes well with the calm character. The head of such individuals is dark brown, the body itself is light brown, and the limbs are dark orange. If it is a male, then the plumage in the head area will be shiny and even slightly green. The weight of the female reaches 3 kilograms, and the male – 4 kilograms. Egg production – 90 pieces per year.
At the Blagovarsky breeding plant such a breed of colored ducks as the Bashkir was bred. For this purpose, mutant individuals of the Peking duck were used. They easily adapt to any living conditions. Their carcass is not as fatty as other meat varieties.
Swedish blue is meat breed, which are common in Germany. Very trusting, they quickly get used to their owner. Their distinctive feature is that they quickly adapt to cold weather, so they can be bred even in the most northern regions. They are unpretentious not only in care, but also in feed ration. Therefore, they can be fattened easily and quickly.
Having silvery-white plumage, a duck of this breed weighs approximately 3–4 kilograms. The head of individuals is long and slightly oval. The beak is flat with a yellow-green color, although its tip is black. The back is quite wide and long, without any protrusions, but the tail is straight and short. The wings are long, usually tightly pressed to the sides. The legs are orange in color.
By the long body of the duck, you can also guess the breed of the Favorite blue meat category, which owes its origin to the Blagovarsky breeding plant. Individuals of this breed have a large build and gray-blue plumage. The duck grows quickly and does not require special care. Unlike other meat breeds, for example, Bashkir or Peking, the meat of an individual of this species is lean and has good taste. By the way, this duck is also famous for its high egg production.
Young duck offspring have high vitality. In 2 months of life, such a duck can gain from 2.5 to 3.5 kilograms. An adult drake is much larger than a female and weighs from 4 to 5.5 kilograms. But the female weighs 3–4 kilograms. Egg production is 140 eggs per year, and the weight of one egg is 85 grams.
Currently, it is bred in specialized farms, since they are very common in industrial production, and at home.
All meat breeds have their own characteristic features. For example, large body mass and huge size. Keeping such ducks is also profitable because they are very prolific. Thus, it is known that one duck laying hen can produce about 50 heads of its offspring in a year.
If you correctly structure the feeding diet for such ducks, and also make sure that the conditions for keeping them are good, then after 1.5-2 months these ducks will weigh 3 kilograms, and they can already be slaughtered for meat. By the way, breeding ducks for meat production is profitable and does not require large financial expenditures.
Breeds of egg-laying ducks
Many farms choose to keep and breed duck breeds that are egg-laying. This is justified by the fact that the food industry often uses duck eggs.
It is known that in Asia, duck eggs are included in most national dishes. Therefore, most of the egg-laying breeds were bred in this region. The record holder among other breeds is the Indian runner.
It is worth noting that ducks The Indian runner breed was developed in Malaysia, but it did not take root in Europe right away. This was due to many reasons, but one of them was that representatives of this breed were susceptible to various infectious diseases. Therefore, their eggs often become sources of salmonellosis. In England they decided to change this breed a little and crossed it with individuals of a different direction. Hence the erroneous opinion that the birthplace of Indian runners is Great Britain.
An adult of this species weighs little: 1.5–2 kilograms, but they lay eggs well. So, such a duck lays up to 350 eggs per year. Caring for representatives of the Indian runner breed is simple: they can do without bodies of water and are not afraid of slight frosts and snow. Their appearance can amuse a person, because in some ways they even look a little like penguins. By the way, this bizarre appearance has led to the fact that in some farmsteads ducks of this breed are kept as decorative ones. You can use this bird for meat, but more often for this purpose they choose only culled young animals.
Egg-laying ducks are smaller in size and weight than other breeds. But they are rarely used for breeding in households.
Breeds of duck meat - egg-oriented
Duck meat-egg breeds are common for breeding in individual households. It is believed that representatives of a general product species have high weight and good egg production.
All breeds of this type do not require special care, are easy to maintain, quickly adapt to any climate and, most importantly, are viable. The following poultry belongs to the meat and egg direction:
- Orpington.
- Cayuga.
- Saxon.
- Khaki Campbell.
- Mirrored.
There are many other breeds of meat - egg-oriented, which are also called crosses.
Thus, crosses between Aylesbury ducks, Cayuga ducks and Indian runners are individuals of the Orpington species. They have reddish-yellow or fawn plumage. The drake weighs approximately 2.5 kilograms to 3.5 kilograms. But the female is 2.5–3.2 kilograms. But this breed, an egg breed, not only has good meat, but they also lay up to 160 eggs a year.
Another breed of meat was brought from the American continent to Russia - the egg type. The color of Cayuga ducks is somewhat similar to black, but has a slight tint of green light with shiny metal. Among the representatives of this duck species you can also find individuals that have a bluish tint. The weight of the drake is 3.6 kilograms, and the weight of the female, which lays about 150 eggs per year, is 3.2 kilograms.
Based on their ability to increase body weight, egg production, and plumage quality, domestic ducks are divided into meat ducks, egg ducks, and those raised for feathers and down. Popular breeds of ducks for home breeding most often have a meat or meat-egg orientation. There are also intermediate varieties with good egg production and meat production. Recently, poultry farmers have been paying maximum attention to broilers in the morning - early maturing, with excellent lean meat and decent weight.
All existing breeds, breed lines and crosses are descendants of the common mallard, domesticated and refined in Europe and Asia, and musk ducks, whose homeland is the American continent. Despite the difference in location and natural habitat conditions, these species of ducks performed best when kept in large and very small farms.
A description of duck breeds, their wild and domesticated varieties, as well as promising crosses will help the poultry farmer navigate the diversity on offer and create a highly productive flock in his own backyard.
Muscovy ducks are native to Central and South America. Unlike European mallards, who cannot imagine life without water, “American mallards” are calm about the absence of a pond, river or lake nearby. They are calm, and when kept in a common poultry yard, their voice is heard extremely rarely. Because of this feature, the birds were nicknamed mute ducks. Since the birds imported from distant countries were not at all similar to the usual domestic ducks, Europeans began to look for features of other species in them. Obviously, the red growths on the heads of birds, especially noticeable in males, gave rise to another nickname for ducks - turkey ducks, by analogy with turkeys, to which waterfowl have no related relationship.
Muscovy ducks come in a variety of colors. Unlike ordinary poultry, they do not gain weight so quickly, but their meat is low in fat, has a delicate texture and excellent taste.
Purebred American males can grow up to 5 kg in weight, and females, which are almost twice as light, are well known as excellent brood hens.
Meat qualities attracted the attention of breeders to them. Today, interspecific hybrids of musky and meat European ducks are very popular among poultry farmers.
Among duck breeds for home breeding, birds originally from the Middle Kingdom can be considered one of the most ancient. Peking duck became famous more than three centuries ago and has not lost its relevance to this day. Early maturing, with excellent meat quality, hardy and unpretentious birds are happily raised both on large farms and in private farmsteads, and are also the progenitors of many modern breed lines and hybrids of meat ducks. One of them is the today famous mulard, which not only holds the record for gaining live weight, but also produces a fatty, delicious liver.
Purebred representatives of the Peking breed are white ducks with a strong physique, indicating a meat orientation, a yellow-orange beak, and widely spaced legs. The birds have a long back, convex chest, raised tail, strong wings and dark bluish eyes.
Peking ducks are extremely precocious. By one and a half or two months, young individuals gain up to 2.5 kg of weight. By the time of slaughter, with proper feeding, drakes weigh about 4 kg, and females are only 500 grams less.
The meat yield per carcass reaches 66%, however, these meat ducks easily build up not only muscle mass, but also fat, which must be taken into account when preparing a diet.
Crossing Peking ducks with representatives of other breeds and species gives excellent results, which has been repeatedly confirmed by domestic and foreign breeders. A worthy example is the Moscow White ducks, obtained from parent pairs of Peking birds and individuals of the Khaki Campbell breed.
Meat ducks of domestic selection are in many ways reminiscent of their Beijing ancestors, and at the same time they exhibit better egg production, which is maintained in laying hens for several years. This quality is very useful for the duck breed. The bird adapts well to different climatic conditions, is unpretentious to feed and gains weight no less than its famous ancestors.
The French have long favored meat breeds of ducks. An ancient variety, bred in the vicinity of Rouen on the basis of local stock and wild mallards, was named after the city and still enjoys the attention of poultry farmers. The French duck has retained the natural color of its plumage, but at the same time it is strikingly different from wild birds in its fatness and the most delicate taste of the meat. Adults grow up to 5 kg and compete equally with Peking and other meat ducks. Therefore, birds of the Rouen breed are still involved in breeding work and are used to produce highly productive meat and meat-egg crosses.
In addition to Peking ducks, the most common in the territory of the former USSR, white Moscow birds and Indian ducks imported in the late 80s, Ukrainian ducks of various varieties are still popular in Russia. Most often they talk about a meat-oriented gray duck with well-developed muscle mass, thin bones and good meat and egg characteristics.
In birds of this breed, differences in the color of males and females are clearly visible. Drakes reach a weight of 3.5 kilograms, and ducks can weigh up to 3 kg. The average number of eggs laid is 120; record hens can produce up to 250 eggs annually.
Another domestic waterfowl of Ukrainian selection is the white-breasted black duck, obtained on the basis of local livestock, the Peking breed and birds of the Khaki Campbell meat-egg variety.
The name speaks eloquently about the appearance of this duck breed worthy of home breeding. Ducks have black plumage, and a spot of white feathers is located in the chest area and the base of a wide, strong neck. The beak of these Ukrainian ducks, like their eyes and legs, is also black. Males and females have strong wings that lie close to the body and short, strong legs.
Compared to Peking white ducks, this bird matures longer, reaching a maximum weight of 4 kg only by six months. Most often, meat ducks are slaughtered at the age of 2.5–3 months, when the carcass weighs about 2.5 kg and the meat is most tasty.
Birds of this breed can become fat, which must be taken into account when organizing housing and feeding. Over the course of a year, a laying hen produces up to 130 large 80-gram eggs.
The leaders in obtaining new breeds of ducks and crosses for domestic and industrial breeding in Russia today are the breeders of the Blagovarsky breeding plant in Bashkiria. Thanks to their work, “Bashkir duck” has become a recognizable brand not only in our country, but also abroad.
Based on Peking ducks with a manifested “wild” plumage gene, the breed of Colored Bashkir ducks was created here. This is a highly productive, early-ripening meat bird that has two color options: khaki or brown and black with a white breast.
A characteristic feature of Bashkir ducks is the low fat content of meat compared to the Peking or Blagovarian breeds.
Another well-known cross of Blagovarsky ducks was also obtained at the Bashkir breeding farm “Blagovarsky”. This is a universal meat-egg bird, growing up to 3.4 kg by seven weeks and at the same time capable of producing up to 240 high-grade eggs per year.
The ducklings of this cross are distinguished by excellent vitality and unpretentiousness. They grow well both in industrial-type farms and in personal backyards.
An interesting breed for home growing is the Blue Favorite duck. This variety was obtained by breeders of the same Bashkir enterprise. The ancestors of the beautiful bird with unusual plumage were individuals of the local Colored Bashkir duck. The steel-gray blue color is not the only characteristic feature of the birds. Large meat ducks easily grow up to 5 kg of live weight, and their meat quality is better than that of their ancestors and the famous Peking ducks.
Young Favorit ducks are distinguished by excellent endurance and vitality. The bird grows magnificently and, with a well-chosen diet, reaches 3.6 kg of weight by two months. In a private farmstead, poultry farmers can receive 140 eggs per year from laying hens. According to the description of the duck breed and existing reviews, the bird is promising for both industrial and private farming.
Agidel ducks bred in Bashkiria are descendants of the Blagovarsky meat cross, birds of the Super M variety and the egg breed of Indian Runner ducks. With an appearance that speaks of the meat orientation of the cross, the birds are distinguished not only by excellent fattening characteristics, but also by surprisingly high egg indicators.
Agidel ducks have a long, massive body, dense white plumage and a wonderful, accommodating character. This breed of duck already at 7 weeks of age shows a weight of about 3 kilograms, while in a year the laying hen is capable of laying up to 240 large eggs weighing at least 90 grams.
The meat of this breed of duck is of the highest quality, not inferior to mulards or other meat birds of foreign selection.
Unlike broiler ducks, whose meat productivity largely depends on the receipt of protein feed, the Bashkir duck grows on a diet available on any, even modest, personal farm. Birds are excellent eaters of any green plants, grains, hay and grain processing waste.
Mulards, thanks to their lean meat, early maturity and record meat productivity among waterfowl poultry, are becoming increasingly popular both among amateur poultry farmers and in huge industrial feeding complexes. Meanwhile, the domestic dog cannot rightfully be called a breed. This is an interspecific hybrid obtained from crossing Peking or other Eurasian ducks and American Indian ducks.
A pair for a Muscovy duck when obtaining hybrid offspring can be either Peking birds or Rouen ducks, as well as individuals of other meat breeds. Mulards are called broiler ducks because of their excellent fattening qualities, similar to chickens of meat breeds. At the same time, the bird behaves ideally both when raised on large farms and on private farmsteads. Domestic Mulard ducks are peaceful, calm and unpretentious.
Over four months of maintenance, the bird’s weight can reach up to 7 kilograms. Females in industrial complexes are often raised for meat, and drakes produce excellent liver for making foie gras.
Since such a hybrid generation does not produce offspring, the parent flock is not formed from the bird, and eggs are not obtained from the mulards.
Hybridization has helped poultry farmers solve two major problems of Muscovy and Pekin ducks. The former, having lean meat, cleanliness and a quiet disposition, fatten up relatively slowly and do not weigh too much. Peking birds are larger, but quickly gaining weight, they can become fat and lose the quality of meat.
Domestic mulard ducks are ideal for growing because they are both early maturing and produce amazing-tasting meat.
Heavy broiler duck for meat production was obtained by breeders from the French company Grimaud freres selection. This is a highly productive cross intended for feeding for meat and for producing foie gras liver.
Duck Star 53 is characterized by a high growth rate and active weight gain. The bird has dense white plumage, a strong build and a wide, massive chest. Already by 50 days of age, the live weight of ducklings is 3.7 kg. The meat breast, the most valuable part of the carcass, makes up one third of the total weight of the bird. At the same time, the quality of dietary, low-fat French duck meat is much better than that of most related varieties. In breeding, this breed of ducks has shown itself to be resistant to disease, not capricious and very viable.
Duck breeds for breeding at home - video
The destinations are very popular among our compatriots. They quickly gain weight and do not require special care. Therefore, they are often bred by beginning farmers. In today's article you will find a brief description of the most common breeds.
General characteristics
Ducks of meat breeds are characterized by relatively high fertility, early maturity and relatively low egg production. They are characterized by their large size and live weight. With proper feeding, they gain about three kilograms in the first two months of life. As a rule, such birds do not need specific care and independently find food by free grazing.
The meat of such ducks is very different from chicken. It has a darker shade and a coarse-fiber structure. It contains a high percentage of fat. The rich taste of this product is especially appreciated by gourmets. Therefore, it is widely used in cooking.
Muscovy duck breeding
These birds got their name due to the specific smell released from their subcutaneous glands. They have a calm disposition and do not scream like most of their relatives. Muscovy ducks are rather large, short-legged birds with powerful wings, a short neck and a wide chest. Their body is covered with blue, white, brown or black plumage.
Breeding musk ducks is a fairly profitable business. These unpretentious birds are distinguished by fairly good health and rarely get sick. They are not particularly demanding on the quality of feed and have high productivity. From spring to autumn, one female is able to hatch two or three broods of fifteen ducklings. These birds do not tolerate cold well, so for the winter they are transferred to an insulated room. Cages and summer houses cannot be used to keep them. They need to be housed in solid, well-lit poultry houses, reliably protected from dampness and sudden temperature changes.
Peking duck
These birds have a long history. They first appeared in China about three hundred years ago. The Peking duck breed quickly gained popularity in its historical homeland, and then spread throughout Europe.
Such birds have a strong body with a broad chest and a large back. They are easily recognized by their special convex forehead. On the large head of such ducks there is a flat beak of bright orange color. The large body of these waterfowl is covered with white or cream plumage.
The Peking duck breed has tasty, nutritious meat with a relatively low fat content. The birds themselves are quite hardy and picky. They quickly gain weight and can be kept away from water bodies. The main disadvantages of representatives of this breed include underdeveloped maternal instinct and inability to live in damp areas.
Moscow white
The first representatives of this breed appeared in the 40s of the last century. They were developed by crossing Pekin ducks with Kembel drakes. Subsequently, these birds spread widely throughout Russia, the Baltic states, Ukraine and Belarus. Most often, small farms are engaged in their breeding.
The white Muscovy duck has a broad chest, short legs, a long neck and a large oblong head with a light pink beak. The bird's body is covered with pure white plumage without bright spots. The weight of an adult varies from three and a half to four kilograms. With good nutrition, 50-day-old ducklings grow up to 2.5 kg.
White Muscovy have thin bones and juicy, tender meat. They are characterized by high productivity and survivability. Like many other meat breed ducks, they do not require special care and are not picky when it comes to food. They have good immunity and can easily tolerate cold.
Swedish blue ducks
These birds were bred in the 19th century. Subsequently, they spread widely outside their homeland. They are especially popular among German farmers. By analogy with other meat breed ducks, they are distinguished by good immunity and the ability to quickly adapt to any living conditions.
These birds have a fit, muscular body, covered with gray plumage, to which strong, large wings adjoin. Under the body of the Swedish blue duck are short legs of a dirty orange hue with black spots. The small oval head has a straight yellowish beak with a green tint. The weight of an adult is between three and four kilograms.
The diet of these unpretentious, but rather voracious birds should be dominated by greens. Its absence negatively affects the quality of meat. In addition, Swedish blue ducks need to be walked. If it is absent, the birds begin to get sick and gain weight poorly.
Ukrainian gray
Representatives of this breed were bred through long-term selection. They have a strong constitution with soft bones and well-developed muscles. The body of these birds is covered with light and dense plumage. On a small, slightly elongated dark brown head there are shiny eyes and a strong olive-colored beak.
Similar to many other meat breed ducks, they quickly gain weight. These unpretentious birds are able to winter in unheated rooms. As for nutrition, Ukrainians can eat grass, mixed feed, vegetables and fruits. With particular pleasure they eat various aquatic vegetation such as duckweed or algae.
Rouen ducks
These heavy birds were bred in Normandy. The ancestors of this breed of ducks, a description of which will be presented below, are considered to be domesticated individuals that lived in the vicinity of Rouen. Over time, these birds spread throughout the European continent.
The juicy dark meat of Rouen ducks is distinguished by its high taste and very delicate structure. More experienced farmers should breed these birds, as they require careful care.
Representatives of this breed have a massive body with a wide chest and a strong back. Their plumage is very similar to the color of wild ducks. There are beige stripes on both sides of the dark brown head. The upper part of the long, wide greenish-yellow beak has well-defined spots. Under the massive body of the duck are short, thick legs. The average weight of an adult varies from three to four kilograms.
Aylesbury ducks
This is one of the oldest meat breeds. It was bred by English breeders in 1845. Aylesburys are distinguished by a horizontally set, dense body with a powerful, well-developed bone structure. On the large head is a relatively large pale orange beak and small leaden blue eyes. The impressive massive body of these ducks is covered with pure white plumage. The average weight of an adult is from 3.3 to 4.5 kilograms.
To breed these birds you need to have a small plot of land located on a slope. For year-round rearing of ducks of this breed, it is recommended to equip a large, warm room with a concrete floor. It is advisable to keep young animals in a closed poultry house on deep litter. In addition, these ducks need to be provided with access to a pond.
Bashkir color
The ancestors of representatives of this breed are ordinary Peking ducks. They have a densely built massive body, under which there are widely spaced thick legs. The body of these birds is covered with piebald plumage. The weight of an adult can reach three or four kilograms.
The main advantages of the Bashkir colored duck include stress resistance, the ability to withstand low temperatures, high immunity and rapid growth. The most important disadvantages of representatives of this breed include a tendency to obesity, gluttony and excessive loudness.
Content Features
For this you need to arrange a separate room. The plank walls of the poultry house should be covered with plywood, cardboard and whitewashed. The log building must be plastered and caulked. Walls finished in this way will keep you cool in hot weather, and retain heat in cold weather.
To prevent rats and mice from getting to the ducks, the floor of the poultry house is placed twenty centimeters above ground level. It is covered on top with a layer of peat, wood shavings or dry straw. A comfortable temperature must be maintained in a duck rearing complex. In addition, it must be provided with good ventilation and lighting.
Nutritional Features
In order for a chick to turn out to be a good meat duck, it must be fed properly. Immediately after birth, they are given finely chopped boiled eggs and crushed oatmeal. On the second day, cottage cheese is introduced into the chicks’ diet, and after another five days, chopped fresh herbs.
Two-week-old ducklings can easily eat a mash of potatoes and other root vegetables. During the first few days, the chicks are fed six to eight times. Starting from the tenth day, babies are transferred to five meals a day. Adults are fed only in the morning and evening.
Having dealt with the regime, you need to say a few words about how it is recommended to give them crushed milk in the morning, and mash in the evening. They can be prepared from aquatic vegetation, vegetables, root vegetables and fresh herbs. Since these birds are unpretentious when it comes to food, they are often fed scraps from the owner’s table. Many experienced farmers advise adding whey, fish and meat meal to the menu.
Those who are trying to figure out what to feed ducks raised for meat would do well to remember that the basis of their diet should be grains. A couple of weeks before slaughter, foods containing increased amounts of protein are added to the poultry menu. It could be legumes or cottage cheese. During the fattening period, it is advisable to limit the movement of ducks.
Many experienced experts recommend taking ducklings away from their mother immediately after they are born. In this case, you can immediately begin to fatten them for meat. It is important to remember that babies are very susceptible to temperature fluctuations and drafts. During this period, they should not be released into the reservoir, and it is advisable to add any vitamin and mineral complex to their diet.
Ducks raised for meat require a certain amount of space. There should be at least one square meter of barn area per three birds. Since meat ducks also lay eggs, they need spacious nests. They can be built from ordinary wooden boxes lined with clean straw.
You can raise birds for meat not only in the warm season, but also in winter. During the colder months, birds need to be fed three or four times a day. In the mornings they are given mash, and in the evening - grain.
You don’t have to wait all summer to slaughter a duck for meat. It is advisable to do this before the first molt. The carcass of a sixty-day-old duckling has a more aesthetic appearance, since there are no so-called stumps on its skin. Early slaughter is also carried out for economic reasons. Birds under two months of age consume much less food.
Older ducks become voracious and accumulate fat at a rapid pace. A five-month-old bird can eat about twenty-five kilograms of food. Therefore, it is advisable to keep them for a long time only when you have a body of water nearby in which they will independently obtain food for themselves in the form of duckweed and various insects. Do not forget that the meat of large ducks is too fatty and not so tasty.
Duck breeding has become a very promising and profitable area of agricultural business in Russia. This bird grows quickly and reaches great weight, and is unpretentious in nutrition and care.
From this article you can learn about the most profitable breeds of ducks for breeding on a farm, about the care, maintenance and nutrition of this unassuming bird.
To begin with, it is better to purchase chicks, and in the process you can decide whether new ducklings will hatch in the incubator or from the hen. In the first weeks of life, babies are kept in a warm room, in a container or box with a thick layer of straw or sawdust. Then the temperature begins to gradually decrease. Ventilation in the room should be good, but drafts should not be allowed.
Benefits of Duck Breeding
A bird that does not require special care, lays eggs even in cold weather and is able to independently find food on free grazing is a real find for a farmer.
Duck meat is a valuable farm product. It has a darker color and has more fat content compared to chicken, has large fibers and a full, rich taste.
Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs, but due to their specific taste they are more often used in the food industry, for example, for making sauces.
Optimal breeding conditions
For reasons of endurance and unpretentiousness in food, the process of raising this bird in a private farm is quite simple. First you need to plaster, caulk, upholster with plywood and whitewash the walls in the room where the duck flock will live. In cold weather, warmth will be retained here, and on hot days the birds will not overheat.
The floor is insulated with a thick layer of straw, peat or sawdust. The floor surface must be raised about twenty centimeters above the ground, then rodents will not be able to get into the barn.
Ducks in the barn - photo
Despite frost resistance, ducks need temperatures above +5 degrees, and for proper development of chicks, they need to be maintained at about +28 degrees with a humidity of 70-75 percent. Good health and high egg production of birds are possible in a dry, warm and well-ventilated room.
Duck eggs require especially careful handling during incubation, although hatching chickens is much less troublesome than other poultry. While kept in the incubator, the eggs are cooled according to a certain pattern. Chicks are raised using three methods - open, closed or combined, which is considered the best.
Ducks have a friendly attitude towards other birds and animals, however, keeping birds in too small a room causes inevitable conflicts within the flock. Each adult requires at least 0.3 square meters for maintenance. Ducks have good parental instincts and take care of their offspring. Although ducklings can feed themselves on a free range, they still need supervision.
Without good ventilation in the room where ducks live, it is impossible to create an optimal level of air humidity. The formation of mold in a poultry house will have a very bad effect on the health of its inhabitants. The room needs to be illuminated 16 hours a day, and where the ducklings live, there should be a 24-hour lighting regime.
For full development, ducks not only need constant feeding, but also have an urgent need for water: the drinking bowl is filled to a third of the beak and provides the birds with access to the pond.
In the summer, a land area under a canopy, fenced with a meter-long fence, is set up for ducks to walk, and the swimming area is fenced 0.5 m above the water. In winter, in calm weather, ducks can walk all day long on an area cleared of snow and covered with a layer of straw.
Each nest measuring 0.4 x 0.5 m can accommodate three laying hens at the same time. It should be located in a quiet, dark place against a side wall where it is easy to get to and collect fresh eggs. At night, the house should not be left completely without light, so that the ducks do not worry.
To breed birds, you need to learn to distinguish a drake from a duck: males have a massive build and have a pseudopenis in the cloaca area.
Diet
As soon as the ducklings are born, they immediately begin to be fed with cottage cheese, yogurt and chopped boiled eggs. The chicks' food should be supplemented with finely chopped clover, alfalfa, nettles, chalk, crushed shells, shells and boiled potatoes.
Adult birds eat cereals, which contain many carbohydrates that promote growth and weight gain. Ducks digest corn grains most easily; this food is the most nutritious for mallards and can account for 50 percent of the daily diet.
In second place in terms of nutritional value are wheat grains, containing slightly less protein than corn. One-third of ground barley can be added to grains for feeding young animals, since it is less digestible by the duck stomach. Legumes and oats are also important in duck nutrition for protein and protein.
Feeding Muscovy ducks - photo
Breed selection and comparative characteristics
Once you decide on the purpose of breeding ducks on your farm, it will be easy to choose the most suitable breed. The table shows the characteristic features of the three types, which will make it easier to navigate when choosing.
Among the egg breeds, the Indian Runner is highly valued by Russian poultry farmers, but these birds are not very often found on farms. The gray Ukrainian laying hen has high egg production, although it is not distinguished by its outstanding dimensions.
It is understandable that novice poultry farmers want to breed for their own needs universal meat-egg birds with average weight, good egg production and high-quality meat products.
Khaki Campbell and Muscovy ducks are universal meat-egging breeds, but the Peking duck is the most popular among meat-egging birds, as it is capable of laying up to 120 eggs per year.
The black white-breasted breed is distinguished by its unpretentiousness in maintenance and rapid precocity. Its meat has excellent taste characteristics.
Peking duck
From the name it is clear that the breed is of Chinese origin. The bird appeared in Europe in the nineteenth century, and the breed immediately became very popular among farm owners.
This is a very popular breed in Russia, the large snow-white representatives of which have a wide, dense build, short legs and a convex forehead. Drakes reach a weight of 4 kilograms, ducks can grow up to 3 kg, each carcass produces 70% of meat products with high fat content.
The Peking duck is capable of laying up to 120 eggs weighing up to 90 grams during the year. Ducklings grow quickly and by the age of two months they gain 2.5 - 3 kilograms and are already suitable for slaughter. Each carcass produces about 80% edible products.
As domestic meat poultry, Peking ducks have optimal characteristics: early maturity, the ability to quickly gain weight on inexpensive Russian-made feed, unpretentious maintenance, excellent adaptation and the ability to live without the nearest body of water. These are omnivorous birds, quite sensitive to living conditions.
Moscow white duck
The breed was obtained by crossing Peking and Khaki ducks. Representatives are distinguished by elegant snow-white feathers, a wide squat body, a small expressive head, a rounded chest shape and short, well-formed paws of light pink color.
90 percent of White Muscovy offspring survive. Precocity is a characteristic feature of the breed: chicks at the age of two months are capable of laying eggs, having completely completed the formation of their body and gained full weight. Adult drakes reach 4 kg in weight, and ducks grow up to 3.5 kg. The Moscow White can lay 150 eggs each year, but due to its large mass it is considered a meat breed. Lean meat with a pleasant and delicate taste, thin bones and skin make the breed valuable for producing high-quality poultry meat.
Indian runner
This unusual duck was bred in India, from where the breed spread to other countries. She was appreciated and loved very much in Asian countries. True, ducks of this super-egg breed were not highly rated by domestic poultry farmers.
Indian runners will definitely interest your guests with their funny appearance: their elongated body, long neck and legs make the duck walk in an upright position and run at high speed. Representatives of the breed can easily do without a pond, living in the yard along with other poultry. The plumage color of birds of this breed can be white, black, brown or with a bluish tint.
This breed is truly irreplaceable for producing eggs; ducks lay up to 300 eggs per year. The taste of the meat is reminiscent of chicken. The drake reaches two kilograms in weight, and the female – 1.75 kg. Birds need a varied diet.
Video - Indian Runner Ducks
Domestic ducks of this breed are becoming increasingly common on farmsteads, although many have never even heard of this name. The breed was named so because of the special noble color of its khaki feathers - brownish or fawn with a greenish tint. Active and mobile birds have a neat head with a small beak, sitting on a short neck. Drakes have darker feather color than females.
Females reach a weight of 2.2 kg, and the maximum weight of a drake can be 3.5 kilograms. Khaki hens lay about 200 white eggs, each weighing about 80 grams.
Birds of this breed are not demanding on their diet; they can produce meat products with excellent gastronomic characteristics, and even beginning farmers can breed them.
Khaki ducks, a versatile meat-egg breed, are an excellent choice for a novice farm owner.
Video - Khaki Campbell Ducks
Black white-breasted duck
A bird with black body plumage and a white belly and chest, with a calm, balanced character and unpretentious keeping, has gained well-deserved popularity among Russian poultry farmers. Beautiful ducks seem to be dressed in festive tailcoats, and dark-colored beaks and paws complement the solemn look. Birds have an elevated body, a deep chest, and muscular wings that fit tightly to the body.
The appearance of the Black White-breasted Duck is very similar to the Muscovy breed, which makes them easy to confuse. Although it has smaller body dimensions, unscrupulous sellers can slip it in instead of a musky duck. The main difference between an adult Black Musk is its black beak, lack of crest and red skin on the face.
Although the Black White-breasted Duck does not have outstanding body dimensions, it is a source of very tasty dietary meat. By the age of two months, representatives of the breed manage to gain a decent weight, reaching two kilograms. Over the course of a year, each laying hen can produce about 130 eggs weighing up to 90 grams.
Ducklings of the Black White-breasted breed are very tenacious - the survival rate of ducklings is almost 92%. An adult drake reaches four kilograms of live weight, and the female gains up to 3.5 kilograms.
Rouen duck
There are domestic ducks that do not produce a large amount of meat products and have low egg production rates. They are raised mainly to display poultry at various exhibitions. One such breed is the Rouen duck.
Wild ducks, domesticated in the regions of Northern France, became a new variety of poultry. As a result, after careful selection by French farmers, a meat breed of domestic duck was obtained, which quickly spread in European countries. English breeders, by crossing with local breeds, changed the Rouen duck, which received a heavier and more massive body and dark plumage. This species has more stable characteristics and has therefore spread throughout the world.
Russian poultry farmers note the accommodating and calm disposition of the Rouen duck. She is distinguished by a heavy and leisurely “duck” gait. The bird has a powerful build, a deep chest and a wide back, tapering towards the tail. The head with brown or dark green plumage is framed by two beige stripes reaching to the neck, which is an ornament and a distinctive feature of the breed.
Rouen drakes have a very beautiful appearance. The white color of the beak smoothly turns into a black frame, and the brilliant plumage of the head with dark specks. The male's green neck with a white ring, red-brown breast and gray plumage on the lower part of the body are complemented by a long, wide greenish-yellow beak with dark patches.
The duck has short, thick, widely set legs, a light brown breast and a short beak of brown-orange color with dark specks. Small shiny wings of gray or brown hue are a real decoration of the show bird due to the white frame.
Rouen ducks are bred not only to decorate exhibitions and poultry flocks, but also to obtain good meat. The weight of an adult drake can reach 4 kilograms, and a duck can weigh 2.5 kg. Egg production rates are quite low: during the year, a laying hen is capable of laying no more than 90 light green eggs weighing up to 90 grams.
Video - Rouen ducks
Mulards are a hybrid breed of ducks
This breed with improved qualities was bred quite recently artificially, so its name is still unknown to few people. The Mulard domestic duck is an interspecific hybrid obtained by crossing the Muscovy duck with several popular breeds - Peking White, Orpington and Rouen. The result is a new domestic, highly productive meat bird that meets all the needs of poultry farmers. From Mulard ducks they obtain valuable high-fat liver, which European chefs use in the recipe for the famous delicacy called “Foie gras,” which was prepared only from goose liver.
Many owners of homestead farms choose this breed for breeding on their property, since Mulards are considered the most profitable and hardy domestic duck with an accommodating disposition.
Beginning poultry farmers need to know that Mulards do not produce offspring, but are distinguished by productive egg production and are a source of very tasty and lean meat. Mulard females are capable of laying eggs, from which chicks never hatch, which has been proven in practice. Due to its sterility in terms of offspring, this bird is considered a one-season bird and is purchased for raising ready-made chicks.
Where do the offspring of these ducks come from and how are they obtained? Mulard ducklings are obtained by crossing a female Beijing white (most often) and a musk breed drake.
Many breeders consider the Mulard duck to be a real decoration for a farmer's poultry farmstead. The appearance of the bird resembles a musky duck, but has its own characteristics. Farmers note a real benefit in raising Mulard ducks associated with the breed’s precociousness: at 8-10 weeks, the weight increases by 1.5 kilograms with proper feeding and care of the ducklings.
Ducks have excellent health, quickly adapting to different conditions. This is a clean poultry with an accommodating and friendly disposition, which can be kept on a personal plot without an aviary. Mulard can be fattened much faster than other breeds of ducks and geese, using less expensive feed. Birds eat everything, being unpretentious in food. This breed is ideal for growing on farmsteads. The only drawback can be considered the one-season nature of the hybrid.
Experienced poultry farmers recommend starting to breed poultry with ducks, because this is not only a profitable business, but also an exciting and interesting business. This bird is unpretentious, hardy and not demanding in terms of conditions of keeping and care. To raise poultry on a farm, you need to decide on the choice of breed and study information about its content. Then you are guaranteed excellent results and good profits.
Duck meat is highly valued in cooking due to its taste, nutritional value and beneficial properties. According to experts, boiled duck cleanses the body of carcinogens, improves complexion and skin structure, regulates metabolic processes, and also stimulates potency. That is why modern poultry farmers give preference to meat breeds of ducks (especially since ducks are significantly inferior in egg performance compared to laying hens). Read on to find out how to choose the best meat breed.
Distinctive features of meat duck breeds
A striking characteristic of any broiler-type livestock is intensive growth and increase in body weight. Individuals of meat breeds are distinguished by fertility and excellent health. And their sirloin stands out for its juiciness, nutritional value and taste.
Important! The daily diet of a healthy bird should consist of 15% protein foods of animal and plant origin, 45% cereals, 20% fresh herbs and root vegetables, 3% yeast, 1.5% fish oil, 5% hay meal.
To recognize the meat breed of ducks, just look at their exterior. Representatives of this species always have a more massive body with a well-developed muscle corset. And the weight of the average adult male and female varies between 3.5–4 kg. It is characteristic that at 2 months of age, ducklings are already suitable for slaughter. 
Criteria for choosing ducks for meat
The success of fattening hybrid ducks in households largely depends on the quality of the birds selected for breeding. To be sure of the correctness of your preferences, experts advise taking into account the following qualities of ducklings:
- endurance regarding conditions of detention and temperature;
- vitality level;
- physical health and body characteristics (chicks with crooked legs, broken wings and beak deformities should be immediately rejected);
- rate of weight gain;
- nutritional value of meat (taking into account the fat it contains);
- amount of feed consumed;
- disease resistance;
- timing of puberty and fertility;
- maternal instinct in hens;
- safety of the herd;
- hatchability of chickens.
The best meat ducks
Breeding broiler ducks is not difficult and very profitable. But success in it largely depends on the genetic characteristics of the breed. Let's take a closer look at duck meat varieties, which are especially popular among poultry farmers.
Important! In the first days of life, it makes sense to give broiler ducklings the antibiotics “Bacitracin” and “Grisin” for preventive purposes, which will help prevent possible diseases at the stage of immunity formation.
Black white breasted
The breed was created by breeders of the Ukrainian Institute of Poultry Breeding by crossing Peking, Ukrainian White-breasted and Khaki Campbell ducks. Its distinctive characteristics are early maturity, high-quality meat with high fat content and satisfactory egg production. 
Breed standard
Black white-breasted ducks stand out:
- dense, strongly raised body;
- well developed wings;
- deep chest;
- powerful black legs;
- elongated back;
- convex dark beak;
- big sparkling eyes.
Description and productivity
These birds gain weight very quickly, fully meeting the requirements of the meat type. By the age of 2 months, ducklings weigh about 1.5 kg, but the maximum weight of females does not exceed 3.5 kg, and males - 4 kg. 
Representatives of the breed quickly reach sexual maturity. Each duck produces about 130 eggs weighing up to 95 g. In addition, the breed is distinguished by its high vital activity and good preservation of the herd (the adult and young generations survive by 96%).
Important! When choosing ducklings, be sure to pay attention to their mobility, appetite and external signs of physiological health. Drowsiness, lethargy, and refusal to eat are unacceptable in high-quality young animals. Make sure that the chicks you like have eyes and cloacawere clean.
Among the advantages of the breed, breeders highlight:
- high meat and egg productivity;
- excellent quality of meat (according to experienced chefs, it is the best among other meat breeds);
- omnivorous and undemanding to living conditions;
- precocity;
- endurance and good safety of livestock.
Muscovy ducks
In everyday life, the musk breed is better known as the Indian duck. It originated in the farms of South American Indians and over time became desirable in all countries of the world. The name of the variety is due to the specific smell of the carcasses.
Breed standard
The variety is characterized by:
- long tail;
- short legs;
- large wings tightly pressed to the body;
- wide body;
- all kinds of feather colors.
Black and white and brown individuals are more common, less common are white and smoky ones with a pattern. Some experts discard motley birds, considering only a single color to be a sign of purebred birds. Description and productivity
Muscovy ducks can be easily recognized by their unusual, bright appearance. .
They are distinguished by a narrow and hook-shaped light beak, which, like the eyes, is framed by pink skin without feathers. Very often, red, warty growths form in these areas. 
Red warty growths on Muscovy ducks Fright and surprise in birds is always accompanied by a display of a funny, bristling crest. A characteristic feature of the breed is the hissing that ducks emit instead of the typical quack, which is why they are also called “mute ducks.”
Indian ducks weigh about 6 kg in adulthood, and 2-month-old ducklings weigh no more than 4 kg. Usually at this age they are sent to slaughter. The sirloin part of the carcasses has a delicate structure and low fat content. Experts classify meat as dietary and note that it contains 85 percent muscle mass. During the year, females bring no more than a hundred eggs, each of which weighs no more than 70 g.
Did you know? Wild ducks can live into their twenties.
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
The positive qualities of the musky breed are: :
- well-developed maternal qualities in females (poultry farmers often use them to incubate chicken and goose eggs);
- calm disposition;
- high vitality and independence;
- land-based lifestyle (such pets can easily be raised without a pond);
- little feed requirement.
Experienced owners call the excessive heat-loving nature of their feathered creatures a disadvantage. This feature affects the safety of the herd and requires special conditions.
Video: care and maintenance of musk ducks
Recently, poultry farms have become increasingly interested in this meat variety of ducks, due to the profitability of its industrial fattening. The hybrid was obtained by crossing Muscovy, Peking, Rouen ducks and Orpington.
Breed standard
Distinctive features of the breed are:
- well-developed muscular body;
- oblong back;
- pink-yellow short legs with rounded bars;
- reddish beak;
- non-standard color.
Description and productivity
Mulards grow quickly and are good brood hens, but their eggs are infertile. Therefore, the hybrid is considered one-season. In just a few months, ducklings, even on regular grazing, manage to gain 3–3.5 kg of live weight, and adults can weigh up to 7 kg. Culinary specialists especially value half a kilogram of duck liver, which is a unique ingredient for the foie gras delicacy.
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
Among the advantages of this breed, experts call:
- high taste of meat and offal;
- aesthetic external signs of the exterior;
- precocity;
- cleanliness;
- calm disposition;
- moderate gluttony.
Among the shortcomings noted: - sterility;
- strong domestic dependence on humans, which requires appropriate care and conditions for maintaining the herd.
Did you know? During seasonal flights, wild ducks rise to a height where a person cannot breathe without an oxygen mask. A sad fact went down in history when an American airliner collided with a flying duck wedge at an altitude of 10 kilometers from the surface of the earth.
The first representatives of this breed appeared in the last century in northern France. The best samples of birds domesticated at that time were selected for breeding work. The result is a new generation of meat ducks with a tendency towards obesity and excellent fillet taste. 
Breed standard
The variety stands out:
- horizontally positioned body;
- wide oblong back;
- deep chest;
- small oval head;
- medium thick neck;
- short powerful paws of bright orange color;
- yellow-green or light brown beak;
- brown eyes.
Description and productivity
These birds require a competent approach to nutrition, since they quickly become fat. Therefore, it is important to take into account the amount of fat, protein and carbohydrates in the feed composition from the very first days. With a moderate diet, 2-month-old females weigh about 3.5 kg, and males - no more than 4 kg, but if you increase nutrition, you can achieve a weight of 5.5 kg.
The breed is characterized by rapid weight gain. However, a large accumulation of fat affects the fertilization of eggs. In a year, laying hens can collect up to 90 eggs weighing about 75 g. But most of them may be infertile.
Did you know? Drakes cannot quack. Screaming is characteristic only of females. In addition, the sounds made by ducks do not have an echo.
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
Judging by reviews from breeders, this variety has many advantages, including:
- high meat and satisfactory egg indicators;
- undemanding conditions of detention;
- precocity;
- omnivorous.
But against the background of these positive qualities, significant disadvantages of Rouen ducks are noticeable: - tendency to obesity;
- gluttony, which requires a special approach to the feeding process and the choice of a nutritious diet;
- noisiness;
- variegated color, which is why the carcass has a gray tint (it was this quality that caused the cheapness of Rouen duck and the massive abandonment of industrial production of this variety).
The variety was the result of breeding experiments by scientists at the Blagovarsky breeding plant. Its distinctive features are high meat and egg productivity and ease of care.
Breed standard
Externally, representatives of Bashkirs are characterized by:
- massive powerful body;
- wide back with well-developed muscles;
- concave beak;
- flattened head;
- wide-set orange paws.
They have dark green or white breasted plumage. Description and productivity
Pedigree ducks are a source of juicy, tender meat with a specific pleasant taste. It contains a high fat content. By the second month of life, ducklings gain up to 3.5–4 kg of live weight. The yield of meat products from one carcass reaches 70%. In addition, laying hens produce about 230 eggs weighing up to 85 g per year. Their hatchability reaches 80%.
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
Among the positive characteristics of this duck variety are:
- undemanding to living conditions (Bashkirs easily and quickly adapt to any environment and are not picky about food);
- excellent meat and egg indicators;
- precocity;
- resistance to low temperatures and typical poultry diseases;
- high egg fertilization;
- good preservation of the herd.
The only downside is the need for walking on reservoirs, where the bird quickly gains weight. Important! When keeping poultry, do not overcrowd the pen - in crowded conditions, ducks do not gain weight well and often get sick. Therefore, calculate the area in such a way that no more than 16 ducklings up to 1 month old can fit on 1 square meter. And in the future their number should be halved.
This duck breed was born thanks to the efforts of specialists from the Ukrainian Poultry Research Institute of the Borki state farm. Today it leads the list of popular varieties of meat. 
Breed standard
Expressive signs of purebred gray Ukrainian ducks are:
- wide muscular body;
- powerful build;
- fragile bones;
- thick plumage with a color reminiscent of wild counterparts;
- concave dark beak.
Important! Experts recommendgive for ducks in the summer up to 25% of grain from the total feed composition. But in the cold season this term is increased to 50%. The rest is occupied by potatoes, apples, cabbage and pumpkin.
Description and productivity
This bird is distinguished by its enviable endurance, cold resistance and ease of care. The ducklings grow quickly and gain weight well. By 2 months of age they weigh about 3.5–4 kg. Laying hens produce up to 120 eggs per year with an average weight of 85–90 g. It is characteristic that gray ducks are able to fully develop on grazing and independently obtained duckweed alone. 
But for more intensive weight gain, it is important to introduce cereals and feed into their diet. There is no need for additional additives or special feed.
Experienced breeders note that the gray Ukrainian breed can winter well in unheated poultry houses. The main thing for its representatives is a thick layer of fresh litter.
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
The advantages of these ducks are obvious:
- good meat and egg productivity;
- high resistance to low temperatures and bird diseases;
- intensive growth;
- precocity;
- omnivorous;
- high rates of safety of young and mature livestock.
The disadvantages include: - uncleanliness of feathered charges;
- noisiness.
Important! Domesticated ducks should be allowed out for walks even on cold winter days. But there should be no drafts in the poultry house.
The Moscow White breed originates from the Khaki Campbell and Pekin ducks. It can be found in almost every agricultural farmstead in Russia. Poultry farmers speak well of the meat performance and unpretentiousness of their charges.
Breed standard
Externally, birds are characterized by:
- white-cream plumage;
- wide muscular body with a horizontal stance;
- rounded sternum;
- fragile elongated neck;
- big head;
- bright pink beak.
Many experts tend to think that the presence of yellowness on the feathers is a disqualifying sign of purebred. Description and productivity
Moscow ducks are advantageous in terms of meat and egg production. In adulthood, drakes weigh more than 4.5 kg, and females are only half a kilo behind them in weight. During the year, laying hens lay more than 125 eggs with an average weight of 95 g. In addition, high egg production persists for many years. According to the breeders, the meat is distinguished by its delicate structure, softness, juiciness and excellent taste.
The breed is characterized by rapid puberty, loudness and increased vital activity. The herd of any age category has excellent safety (up to 97%). Ducklings are often suitable for slaughter at 60–65 days of life. 
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
- high resistance to low temperatures;
- good immunity to common duck diseases;
- unpretentiousness to the diet;
- independence and vitality.
- strong loudness;
- uncleanliness.
Did you know? Geese and ducks have a very complex genital structure. The penis of drakes is characterized by a spiral shape and can reach the length of the entire body. A similar design is inherent in the ovary of laying hens, and the more sophisticated it is, the more complex the drake’s penis.
This breed appeared relatively recently in the meat industry. It is based on the genes of black white-breasted, Peking and Bashkir ducks. As a result, the breeders of the Blagovarsky breeding plant received a hardy, productive and early-ripening bird. 
Breed standard
Purebred favorites are characterized by:
- elongated powerful body;
- deep sternum;
- medium elongated fragile neck;
- flat orange beak.
Description and productivity
The authors of the breed set themselves the goal of obtaining highly productive ducks with good meat and egg qualities. At the same time, the instinct of incubation was relegated to last place. Thus, the new variety inherited from its ancestors high vital activity, independence in obtaining food and excellent fattening characteristics. 
Chicks at the 60th day of life weigh about 3 kg, and adults weigh between 4.5–5.5 kg. But the composition of fatty substances in duck fillet is much less in comparison with the Peking and Bashkir breeds.
During the oviposition period, the female lays up to 150 eggs, each of which weighs up to 85 g.
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
The positive aspects of growing representatives of the blue favorite include:
- high vitality;
- omnivorous;
- unpretentiousness;
- independence;
- cold resistance;
- strong immunity;
- good safety of livestock;
- high productivity;
- precocity;
- intensive growth.
Among the shortcomings, one can note only the lack of maternal instinct in females. Did you know? In some species of ducks and geese, the male and female form a permanent pair, but the females are in danger of being "raped" by other males. In order not to withdrawoffspring from strangers, the ovarian cavity of these birds may have several false pockets where unwanted sperm are blocked.
At the beginning of the 19th century, duck breeders first learned about this breed, which is characterized by its bright appearance and high productivity. It was bred by Swedish breeders and popularized by German farmers, who liked the adaptability and endurance of the birds.
Breed standard
Purebred ducks, according to the requirements of the standard, are evidenced by:
- dense muscular body of massive size;
- flat chest;
- oval head;
- flattened beak;
- wide back;
- short tail;
- grayish-black plumage.
Experts say that purebred individuals are distinguished by single large white feathers growing on their wings. Moreover, only the rarest specimens exactly correspond to the standards. Therefore, many farmers classify every duck with a bluish tint of feathers as a Swedish blue breed. Description and productivity
There is no need to create special conditions for this variety. Initially, it reproduced in harsh climatic latitudes, so it stands out among its fellows for its cold resistance and strong immunity. In addition, he easily communicates with people and gives excellent productivity indicators.
Did you know? Ducks are especially popular among the Chinese. They raise more than 2 million birds each year, accounting for three-quarters of global production.
Adults at 2 months of age weigh between 3–4 kg. Females lay about 150 eggs weighing 75–80 g each season. They are also distinguished by their early maturity and well-developed maternal instincts. Young animals practically do not get sick and are characterized by good preservation, thanks to the genetic fund of the body's defenses. 
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
Among the advantages of this breed are:
- ease of rearing due to the rapid adaptation of chicks to any climate;
- unpretentiousness;
- omnivorous;
- high productivity;
- good hen instincts;
- trust in a person;
- excellent survival rate of young animals;
- precocity;
- fruitfulness;
- aesthetic qualities of the appearance of ducks.
- voracity;
- uncleanliness;
- loudness.
Beijing
This meat breed dates back to the 18th century, when the Chinese were actively searching for highly productive poultry. Let us note that during the entire period of its existence it has never disappointed duck breeders and today it is the most widespread in the world.
Breed standard
Peking cats can be easily recognized by the following features:
- an elongated and slightly raised massive body;
- wide chest;
- big head;
- thick neck;
- strongly convex forehead.
They have very wide bright orange limbs, powerful wings with well-developed muscles, dark gray eyes with a specific shine, a medium-sized bright beak and dense pure white plumage. Important! Peking ducks react very painfully to a sudden change in diet. At the same time, the wards often experience sudden molting and a sharp decline in egg production.
Description and productivity
Judging by reviews from breeders, the bird is characterized by a restless disposition, increased loudness and excessive gluttony. These nuances are due to the slight excitability of the nervous system of birds and the physiological characteristics of metabolic processes. Therefore, the poultry farmer must ensure that his animals always have food in their feeders. In general, each head needs about 340 g of feed per day.
The live weight of females is no more than 3.9 kg, and drakes - 4.2 kg. At 23 weeks of growth, hens begin to produce eggs. In a year, you can collect about 140 pieces from one bird with an average weight of 85 g. 
Advantages and disadvantages when breeding
The advantages of the breed are:
- good meat and egg indicators;
- resistance to diseases and adverse environmental factors;
- omnivorous;
- independence;
- increased vital activity.
Important! Lethargy and lifelessness of ducks can be caused by improper temperature conditions in the poultry house.
The disadvantages include:
- poorly developed maternal instinct in hens;
- excessive timidity;
- irritable noise;
- voracity.
In order for duck breeding to be profitable, the breeder should take care in advance about the living conditions of his charges. Experts advise providing for these purposes a spacious and dry room where reliable ventilation is installed.
Before settling the birds, the enclosure must be disinfected by whitewashing the walls and washing the floor with any cleaning products. In addition, you should take into account the level of lighting, as well as the temperature and humidity conditions. The optimal parameters for ducks of meat breeds are a stable temperature of 23–24°C, 65–70% humidity and a daylight period of at least 12 hours.
For small chicks, it is advisable to install round-the-clock heating lamps. Throughout the entire period of chick development, air exchange in the room is of significant importance.
Experienced poultry farmers advise covering the floor with a 20-centimeter layer of straw or peat litter, and under it, to prevent high humidity and to disinfect the air, pour lime fluff at the rate of 0.5 kg per square meter. It is important to keep the room clean and prevent sour or putrid food debris from appearing in the feeders. 
Straw bedding for chickens
At 60–65 days of life, broiler ducklings can be prepared for slaughter. It should be taken into account that birds begin a period of juvenile molting, accompanied by the formation of “pads” that spoil the presentation of the carcasses and contribute to weight loss.
In addition to the floor method of raising meat breeds, many duck breeders prefer to save feed costs by naturally raising their animals. In such conditions there must be a body of water nearby. Although, according to experts, it is very difficult to achieve the required weight of chicks on pasture.
You can recommend this article to your friends!
You can recommend this article to your friends!
29
once already
helped
