Better Farming Series 39 - Raising Ducks 1: How to Begin (FAO, 1990, 73 p.): Growing your own baby ducks: Putting your new baby ducks with the flock

Better Farming Series 39 - Raising Ducks 1: How to Begin (FAO, 1990, 73 p.)

(introduction...)

Preface

Introduction

(introduction...)

What do you need to raise ducks?

Learning about ducks

Where can you raise ducks?

What kind of ducks can you raise?

What can ducks eat?

How many ducks should you raise?

How to keep ducks safe and well

Now you must decide

How to begin

Choosing a place to raise ducks

Building a shelter for your ducks

The floor of a duck shelter

Building nests

The ducks

(introduction...)

Choosing ducks for your flock

How to choose good ducks

How to tell the difference between female and male ducks

How to handle your ducks

After you get your ducks

Growing your own baby ducks

(introduction...)

Hatching your own eggs

Setting the female duck

The baby ducks

Putting your new baby ducks with the flock

When to use or sell the meat

Taking care of your ducks

Further improvement

Putting your new baby ducks with the flock

161. When your baby ducks are 4 weeks old they can begin to live with the rest of the flock and eat the same food.

3- week old duck

162. If you see that the baby ducks are bitten by the older ducks and that they are not able to get enough food to eat, give them their food away from the rest of the flock.

An older duck may bite a baby duck

163. At first you can leave all of your younger male ducks with the flock.

164. As the young males grow older, it is best to eat or to sell them. This is because the young male ducks may be from the same family as your female ducks.

165. However, as your flock grows larger you will need more male ducks. So, try to buy them at the market or from another duck farmer. You may even be able to trade one or two of your young males for new ones.

Buy ducks

166. Remember, with a larger flock you must be sure to have the right number of male ducks.

FLOCK SIZE	FEMALES	MALES
6	5	1
8 to 12	6 to 10	2
14 to 18	11 to 15	3
20 to 24	16 to 20	4