Individual females have been known to produce 360 or more eggs in a year’s time, although flock averages are nearer 275 to 325.Along with their fine laying prowess, the graceful Indian With proper care, Runners, Magpies and Anconas from good laying strains can produce 200 to over 300 white or blue eggs yearly that average approximately two ounces larger per dozen than Campbell eggs. Proper Protection. For just a couple of ducks, a gallon tin can will suffice—and is easily cleaned. Since ducks are considerably better foragers than chickens, the efficiency of ducks is further enhanced when they are allowed to rustle free foods in bodies of water, pastures or grassy yards.When first exploring how to raise ducks in your backyard, you’re probably asking, “Okay, what are their drawbacks?” After raising and comparing all species of domestic poultry over the course of the last 20 years, I’ve yet to run across a major disadvantage in ducks under most small flock conditions.Waterfowl do like to wash their bills and heads frequently, so their drinking water should be changed at least several times weekly—and preferably daily. This is not the case.For that, you just need to fill up a 5-gallon bucket of freshwater every day, and they will be very happy.Water for swimming isn’t a requirement, but they do love water.
For ducks in general, a windbreak that is bedded on the protected side with dry litter usually provides sufficient protection in areas where temperatures occasionally drop to 0º F. However, for laying ducks, feed conversion and egg yields can be improved if ducks are housed at nighttime whenever temperatures regularly fall more than 5º to 10º F below the freezing level.Because ducks roost on the ground at night, they are susceptible to predators. You might also want to keep in mind that feed stuffs such as corn and dehydrated or fresh greens cause bright-colored yolks, while wheat, oats and barley result in pale yolks.While producing, ducks are very sensitive to sudden changes in their diets. Sad to say, the productivity of many breeding flocks has been allowed to degenerate, and much too frequently, any ducks even slightly resembling Campbells or Runners have been sold as the real article.I would like to emphasize that if you decide to raise ducks for the production of eating eggs, by all means, make sure you acquire birds that have been selected specifically for high egg yields. If you live on a property without a source of swimming water, investing in a kiddie pool is a good idea to keep them happy.Ducks will only swim in clean water, they won’t swim when the pool water gets too colored. One 25-watt clear or white bulb located five to six feet above floor level will provide sufficient illumination for approximately 100 square feet of ground space. On various occasions, we have refrigerated well-cleaned duck eggs for four months and longer with no detectable change in flavor.It is true that, when raised in confinement, a 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 pound duck will consume 20 to 30 percent more feed than a similarly sized Leghorn. They can grow to be 10+ pounds in a matter of 3-4 months. In areas where thieves such as weasels, raccoons and large owls are known to roam, it is much safer to lock ducks in a varmint-proof building or pen at nightfall.For consistent winter egg production—especially in cold climates—ducks, like chickens, must be exposed to a minimum of 13 to 14 hours of light daily. Relatively few people in the Americas realize that, on the whole, ducks are more proficient layers than chickens. If you’re a morning person, you’ll love your ducks because of it.People that have never raised ducks might assume that they need a body of water in order to have them. If you have a dog, you might have to keep the ducks away from it unless it’s one of the dog breeds that can’t run very fast or older dogs who just don’t have the energy to chase down a duck.If you have cats, you have to be even more careful because it’s hard to train cats not to hunt birds.Here’s the list of some of the most common duck predators:Keeping ducks fenced is a wise option to protect them from most predators.If you have a hawks problem, place a taller fence. Giving them a home where they can keep some moisture (not too much) and have lots of airflows seems to be what keeps them happy.The most important thing to have in your duck coop is comfortable bedding made of straws or pine shavings.Nesting boxes are optional because your ducks might prefer making their own nesting area inside or outside the coop.Make sure that their housing is elevated from the ground to keep it dry but still low enough that a duck can enter it with a small ramp. You can expect Pekin hens to lay somewhere between 150-200 eggs per year.Khaki Campbell ducks lay more eggs than Pekin ducks at 280-300 eggs per year, but you’ll get less meat from them. Or, don’t keep any drake at all.Chickens are prone to viral respiratory infections, ducks are not.
One reason egg-laying ducks have been rather slow catching on in this country is that high producing stock has often been difficult to locate.
Plus, you can learn a lot from the process in case you want to sell the meat in the future.Having two males in a small flock is not productive.
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