|
|
The information below isadapted from information provided by Cornell University's Duck Research Lab.
Duck Nutrition
Regardless of how ducks obtain their food, whether it be by
scavenging, or consuming a complete ration, the food consumed must contain all
the nutrients, in an available form, that are needed for maintenance, growth
and reproduction. Feeding practices will depend in part on the number of ducks
raised. If only a few ducks are kept by a household, and they have access to
areas where they can forage, they may be able to survive, grow and lay eggs by
consuming available food such as green plants, insects, snails, frogs, and
table scraps. Under such conditions, ducks will likely grow very slowly and
produce a small number of eggs. Herded ducks are an exception, but they
require access to large areas where food is available and the care of a
herdsman. If keepers of small home flocks want better growth and more eggs they
will have to provide supplemental feed. At a minimum they will have to feed
some grain. As the size of a home flock increases, it becomes more likely that
the flock will not be able to get enough food by foraging and supplemental
feeding will become necessary. If more than a few ducks are to be kept, or if
increased performance is desired, there are a number of choices of feeding
practices: (1) If available and affordable, purchase nutritionally complete
commercially prepared duck feeds. If duck rations are not available, and
chicken feeds are, they will serve as a satisfactory substitute. (2) If poultry
feed concentrates, which when fed with grain constitute a nutritionally
complete diet, are available at a reasonable price, this may be a good option.
The grain can sometimes be purchased from local farmers at a favorable price.
(3) For those with sufficient knowledge of nutrition and feed formulation,
complete duck rations may be mixed on the farm. This approach is dependent upon
the availability of feed ingredients and vitamin and mineral premixes at
affordable prices. Small batches can be mixed by turning the feed on a clean
floor with a shovel.
Nutrient requirements of ducks
Ducks require the same nutrients as chickens, but in slightly different
amounts, and particularly in terms of the ratio of each nutrient to the energy
concentration of the diet. Suggested nutrient levels for complete duck rations
are listed in Tables 1a and 1b. These levels are set high enough to meet the
requirements of all breeds of domestic ducks. Requirements more closely
tailored to each particular breed are available, and are usually preferred by
commercial duck producers. Because correct nutrient levels for a particular
ration depend on the energy level of that ration (ducks eat progressively more
feed as the energy level is lowered and progressively less as it is raised),
nutrient requirements are listed in the tables in reference to a particular
energy level. For each type of ration, requirements for a high and a low energy
ration are given. Requirements for rations with energy levels different from
those listed in the tables, can be calculated using the nutrient/energy ratios
in the tables. Examples of complete duck rations are listed in Tables 2a and
2b.
Energy
Ducks, like chickens, have simple stomachs, and therefore cannot digest
appreciable amounts of dietary fiber (cellulose, lignin). In contrast to
chickens, however, ducks over four weeks of age have an exceptional capacity to
consume large quantities of foodstuffs that are high in fiber. When such
foodstuffs contain even small amounts of available energy, ducks may be able to
consume enough of such foodstuffs to partially or even fully meet their energy
requirements. However when low energy foodstuffs, such
as cereal by-products, are available at favorable prices, they can be
incorporated into duck rations at fairly high levels, so long as the ration is
well balanced. Examples of both high and low energy
diets are included in Tables 2a and 2b.
Protein
Ducks, like other poultry, do not actually require "protein" but the
individual amino acids contained in dietary proteins. The proteins in the diet
are broken down during digestion to amino acids which are absorbed and used by
the duck to make its own body proteins, such as those in muscle and feathers.
Certain of these amino acids must be supplied in the diet because the duck
cannot make them from other sources. These are called essential amino acids.
When formulating feeds for ducks, primary attention is paid to meeting the
ducks essential amino acid requirements. Protein levels that meet the ducks
amino acid requirements may vary slightly, depending upon the amino acid
content of the ingredients used in each formulation.
Minerals and vitamins
Minerals and vitamins required by ducks and suggested levels of use are listed
in Tables 1a and 1b (only those most important in practical rations are
listed). Close attention should be paid to calcium, phosphorus and sodium. Note
that the phosphorus requirement is expressed in terms of available phosphorus.
A large amount of the phosphorus in plants is bound in the form of phytic acid
which is unavailable to ducks and other fowl. A rule of thumb used by
nutritionists is that only about 1/3 of the phosphorus in foodstuffs of plant
origin (cereal grains, soybean meal etc.) is available to poultry. Close to
100% of the phosphorus in inorganic (mineral) sources such as dicalcium
phosphate is available. A good source of information on the amount of available
phosphorus in foodstuffs is the NRC publication Nutrient
Requirements of Poultry. If a duck producer mixes his own feed, the
simplest way, and often the most economical as well, is to add vitamins and
trace minerals (those minerals listed in Tables 1a and 1b, other than calcium,
phosphorus and sodium) in the form of commercially prepared premixes. If it is
not possible to use prepared premixes, the next best choice is to purchase the
vitamin and mineral sources and make your own premixes. If neither of the above
choices are feasible, it will be necessary to include foodstuffs, high in the
vitamins and minerals that are lacking, in the ration. Books on duck and
poultry nutrition (see References)
provide helpful advice for preparing vitamin and mineral mixes.
Feeding developing breeders
Meat-type ducks, such as Pekins, that are kept as pets or breeding stock will become
excessively fat (which is detrimental to their health and will impair their
reproductive performance) if fed all they will eat during their development
prior to lay. It is therefore necessary to limit their daily intake of feed to
an amount that will supply all the necessary nutrients that are needed for
proper development, while avoiding an excess of calories. For best results,
feed restriction should begin at about 2 weeks of age but for practical reasons
it is often begun at about 7 weeks. From the time restriction is begun, and up
until the breeders are sufficiently mature (about 28 weeks of age for Pekin ducks), their daily
feed intake should be limited to 60 - 70 % of the amount they would eat if
allowed to eat all they want. Examples of the daily feed allotments for Pekin ducks are given in
Table 2b. Feed restriction requires hand feeding a weighed amount of feed to
the flock each day. Since the ducks are very hungry at the time of feeding, the
feed must be spread out so that all ducks have a chance to eat. Feed can be
spread out in long wooden troughs, on a cement slab or on the ground if the
area is dry and clean. For more details on restricted feeding, contact the Duck
Laboratory.
Feeding laying breeders
Nutrient levels that duck breeder layer rations should contain are listed in
Table 1b, and examples of breeder rations in Table 2b. Layer rations contain a
higher level of calcium than other duck rations because of the laying duck's
need for additional calcium for egg shell formation. A level of 3.00% of the
diet is adequate for most breeds of ducks including high egg producing breeds.
When enough calcium is included in the ration, it is not necessary to feed
oyster shells in addition. However, it will do no harm to make oyster shells
available, as is the practice on some duck farms.
Feedstuffs
Examples of feedstuffs that can be used in duck rations are given in Tables 2a
and 2b. More information can be found in books on duck and poultry nutrition
(see Publications). Some feed ingredients contain substances that are toxic to
ducks, and should not be included in duck rations. Groundnut meal (peanut meal)
is often contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxin to which ducks are highly
sensitive. Groundnut meal should not be used unless tests have proven it to be
free of aflatoxin. Rapeseed meal is another feedstuff that is potentially toxic
to ducks. Some older varieties of rapeseed meal contain erucic acid and
goitrogens at levels high enough to be harmful to poultry. Ducks are much more
sensitive to erucic acid than are chickens and turkeys. Genetically improved
varieties of rapeseed (Canola) contain much lower levels of these toxins.
However even Canola meals should first be tested in ducks before their use in
duck feeds on a large scale.
Feed quality
One of the most common causes of poor feed quality is failure to dry grains and
other feedstuffs properly before storage. If grains that are too high in
moisture are stored, without turning or aeration, the grain will heat up and
mold and some of its nutritive value will be destroyed. As explained elsewhere,
some molds may produce toxins that are particularly harmful to ducks. Make sure
that the grains and other foodstuffs used in duck feeds were properly dried and
are free of molds and other contamination. If table scraps, bakery waste, wet
mash or other feeds high in moisture are fed, feed only what ducks will clean
up in a day. If such feed remains in troughs longer, it will likely become
moldy. Feedstuffs that are to be stored for very long should contain no more
than 10-12% moisture.
Water
Plenty of clean drinking water should be available to ducks at least 8-12 hours
per day. During periods when temperatures are above
90ºF, drinking water should be available in the evening until the temperature
has dropped below 80°F, or else made available all night. Ducks do not require
water for swimming in order to grow and reproduce normally. However, providing
some water for wading or swimming can be beneficial, especially in hot
climates. Ducks can expel excess heat through their bill and feet when allowed
contact with water that is appreciably below their body temperature (107°F,
41.7°C). Water temperatures of 50-70°F (10-21°C) are ideal for ducks.
Mash or Pellets
It is a well established fact that ducks grow faster, and utilize their feed
more efficiently, when fed pelleted rations than when their feed is in mash
form. However, pelleted feeds are not available in many areas of the
world, and it may be difficult for small flock owners to get their home mixed
feed pelleted. The problem with feeding dry mash to ducks is that it forms a
sticky paste when mixed with saliva, which cakes and accumulates on the outer
ridges of the mouth. In attempting to free their bills of caked feed, ducks
make frequent trips to water to wash their bills, causing feed wastage. For small flock owners who are not able to pellet their duck
feeds, one solution to the problems of feeding dry mash is to feed wet mash.
Water is mixed with the mash just before feeding. Enough water is added to form
a thick mush without making it watery. Mix only what ducks will clean up within
a day.
Pellet size
When pelleted feeds are fed to ducks it is important to avoid feeding pellets
that are too large in diameter or too long for ducklings to swallow. For newly
hatched ducklings, pellets should be no larger in diameter than 5/32 of an inch
(4.0 mm), and no longer than 5/16 inch (7.9 mm). After about two weeks of age, Pekin ducklings can
consume pellets 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) in diameter, and approximately ½ inch (12.7
mm) in length, without difficulty.
Tables can be found at the Duck Research Lab Website
|
Defending against Predators
Protection against dogs, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and larger birds.
|
