Additionally, there are countless benefits that come with duck farming. For instance, one could get an egg and meat-based strain hatching eggs and day-old ducklings from a profitable duckery. As such, duck farming presents a lucrative opportunity for small farm owners.
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Advantages of Duck Farming
- Ducks don’t need complicated housing and they require less maintenance compared to chicken or poultry farming.
- Ducks lay around 40 to 50 eggs more than chickens.
- On average, duck eggs are 15-20 grams greater in size than chicken eggs.
- Thanks to their hardiness, ducks have greater immunity to many avian diseases.
- Ducks are less expensive to raise than chickens due to their foraging habits.
- Also, ducks don’t exhibit any cannibalistic and agnostic behavior like chickens.
- Accurate data on egg-laying can be recorded for breeding purposes, saving time and effort.
- Moreover, duck eggs contain more nutrients than chicken eggs per egg.
- Ducks can be raised harmoniously with other animals in integrated farming systems like duck cum fish farming.
- Compared to chickens, ducks are less prone to diseases and parasites.
- Ducks’ small and down body feathers are valuable to many industries, each of which uses them in different ways.
- In conclusion, ducks are effective at minimizing damage caused by potato beetles, grasshoppers, snails, and slugs.
Duck Farming Business Plan Guide
To start, you need to figure out the farm size which is based on the number of birds. Commercial operations can range in size from as small as 6,000 ducks per batch to as large as 50,000 – 100,000 ducks per batch.
Figure out if you want to rear ducks for eggs or meat and subsequently, choose the type of breed.
Estimate the cost of setting up a duck farm, including land prices, housing expenses, regulations, purchasing baby ducks, feed, and medicine.
Seek advice from experts in legal, financial, and business matters. If you’re operating a farm based on contracts with a processing company, this is necessary.
The amount of income you can get will depend on the size of your operation, the contract rate you come up with your processor, and how many batches are raised annually.
Health Benefits of Duck Eggs
- To start off, duck eggs contain a high amount of essential Vitamin A. Eating them is beneficial for people who are not getting enough of this vitamin from their meals.
- Duck eggs are packed with essential minerals. For example, one duck egg supplies 155 mg of phosphorus, 44 mg of calcium, and 150 mg of potassium.
- Duck eggs are amazing sources of protein and provide about one-fifth of the total daily recommended protein intake.
- Duck eggs also contain lots of vitamin E; this type of vitamin is an antioxidant, working to protect cells from free radical damage and promoting favorable digestion.
Selecting the Right Breed For Duck Farming
Khaki Campbell stands out among the egg-producing breeds, providing chances of up to one egg per day for more than a year. Khaki Campbell ducks weigh on average from 2 to 2.2 kilograms, while drakes typically range from 2.2 to 2.4 kilograms.
The sizes of eggs may differ from 65 to 75 grams. Additionally, White Pekin has become well-liked around the world for culinary needs.
Furthermore, it grows quickly while consuming a low amount of feed and yields high-quality meat. It can reach 2.2 to 2.5 Kg in 42 days, giving you a 1:2.3 to 2.7kg feed conversion rate.
Basic Guide For Duck Farming
Brooding
Khaki Campbell ducklings generally need 3 to 4 weeks of brooding, while meat-type ducklings, like Pekin, are good with 2 to 3 weeks. Additionally, you must provide a wire floor, bedding material or brooder for the duckling.
Rearing
Ducklings can be reared in intensive, semi-intensive, or range systems. Make sure to specify a certain amount of space for the system and provide drinkers as well.
Duck Housing
As an alternative to buying a brooder, you could set up a simple housing structure, consisting of a partially enclosed shed, some basic fencing for an inexpensive cost, a wooden feed hopper or trough, and a makeshift watering device. Moreover, make sure to place the duckery on high ground that’s well-drained.
Water
Ducks are waterfowl and highly partial to water. Nonetheless, it is possible to operate a duck farm without giving them water to swim in. This is not necessary, however, provide deep enough containers of drink for the ducks to immerse their heads but not themselves.
Feeding
In most cases, ducks find it difficult to swallow dry mash so they would prefer wet ones. Ducks are skilled foragers. Utilizing a range, pond, or extra vegetative feed can help in cutting back on the cost of food. Nonetheless, never let your ducks get food without properly providing them with water first.
Ensure that your duck farm implements proper sanitation processes. Ducks are normally impervious to regular avian illnesses.
Diseases that ducks contract are similar to those of chickens and some have the same diagnosis for both. Even so, the way the disease manifests in a duck could be different from in a chicken. If there is an unexpected circumstance, it is best to turn to professionals who specialize in medicinal treatments for animals.
How Much Can You Earn from Duck Farming?
Duck farming incomes vary based on the implementation, but owners often make around $15 to $20 per hour.
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