CATDOLL : CATDOLL: Can we start raising ducklings in winter?

Can breeding ducks and ducklings be raised starting in winter?

Ducklings can be raised in winter, but you need to be careful. The following are some precautions.

1. Precautions for winter maintenance

1. Breed selection. The available breeds include Cherry Valley Duck, Di Gao Duck, Beijing Duck, etc. These breeds have good characteristics of strong cold resistance and fast growth, and are suitable for breeding in the cold winter season.

2. Site selection. In winter, ducks should be raised in a location that is sheltered from the wind, sunny, secluded, cold-proof, warm, disease-proof, and close to natural water resources. If there is no natural water resource nearby, a pond about 1 meter deep can be built nearby, or a water and land dual-purpose enclosure can be built.

2. Necessary facilities for winter feeding

1. Brooding pen

The pen should have good thermal insulation, good air circulation, dryness, and no cold wind. The pen can be divided into small pens, preferably 1 square meter in size. The ducklings can be raised in cartons or baskets, or they can be raised on a wire rack or directly on the ground. No matter which method is used, clean and dry short bedding grass or sawdust must be used as bedding to keep warm and absorb moisture.

2. Fattening Pen

There are sheds in the pen, and the ducks are raised in pens. Each pen is 10-12 square meters, and each pen can raise 60-80 ducks. The pen needs to be padded with clean and dry bedding.

3. Insulation facilities

Underground flues or heated beds can be built to heat the pens by burning firewood or coal. If conditions permit, radiators can be installed in the pens to provide a suitable temperature for the entire brooding pen or fattening pen. Insulated umbrella-style heating methods can also be used, or light bulbs, electric heating wires, biogas stoves, etc. can be installed in the pens. For farmers who raise a small number of pigs, insulation measures such as adding bedding and covering can also be adopted.

3. Feeding and management in winter

When raising ducks in winter, you should use insulated pens or cages, combined with appropriate grazing methods.

1. Cultivate ducklings. During this period, we must pay attention to the two links of heat preservation and training, and train the ducklings to eat in time. At this time, you can add duckling pellets to the feed.

2. Mid-term management. Ducks are called medium-sized ducks when they are 3-4 weeks old. Medium-sized ducks should be raised in groups. The groups should be divided according to the size and physical strength of the ducks. During the breeding process of meat ducks, medium-sized ducks should be allowed to exercise appropriately. When the weather is fine, they should be driven into the pool for bathing, but each bathing time should not exceed 1 hour. After bathing, the ducks should be allowed to dry their feathers before being driven into the pen. Medium-sized ducks generally begin to fatten rapidly at 5-6 weeks of age, and are required to gain 1-1.5 kg by 8 weeks of age, and reach a body weight of 2-3 kg or more.

3. Fattening methods. There are two methods for rapid fattening:

One is fattening in pens. The method is to use bamboo strips to separate small pens, each of which can hold 2 or 3 ducks. The pen area should not be larger than twice the duck body, and the height should be 45 to 55 cm, which is suitable for ducks to stand. Drinkers and feed troughs should be set outside the pen so that ducks can stick their heads out to eat and drink water. Feed should be sufficient, usually 3 times during the day and once at night.

The second is to adopt forced fattening. The specific method is: mix the daily ration with warm water, make it into 1.5 cm long strips of feed, and stuff it into the duck's mouth manually after it cools down. Start by feeding 3 times a day, and then gradually increase to 5 or 6 times. Generally, 3 or 4 strips are fed each time when feeding starts, and then gradually increase to 5 or 6 strips or more. The specific method of feeding is: the feeder sits on a low stool, grabs the duck's head with his left hand, lifts the duck's body and clamps it between his knees, so that the head is facing up and the tail is facing down. Use the thumb and index finger of the left hand to pry open the duck's mouth, pick up the strips of feed with the right hand, dip them in water, and stuff them into the duck's mouth. After each strip is filled, gently push it into the esophagus with your fingers to help the duck swallow it. But be careful not to mix hard debris in the feed. If conditions permit, add water to the feed to make it into a paste, and use a feeding machine to stuff the feed from the duck's mouth into the esophagus. In addition, during feeding, ensure that there is sufficient drinking water.

4. Do a good job in disease prevention and control

The duck pens should be disinfected with lime powder or strong disinfectant once a week. At 3 weeks old, ducks should be immunized with duck plague vaccine. Immunization can be carried out according to the requirements specified in the vaccine instructions. During normal feeding, the dynamics of the duck flock should be carefully observed. If sick ducks are found, they should be isolated in time. Sick ducks should not be raised together with healthy ducks, otherwise, serious consequences will occur. In normal times, rodent and animal damage should be prevented.