The duck is the most popular bird, which is being raised in many households. The explanation for this popularity is their endurance, as well as their high adaptability to any weather conditions. In various conditions, these birds demonstrate the highest results, becoming an effective supplier of meat products, as well as eggs. Especially popular are meat breeds of ducks showing good performance.
Meat breeds of ducks
Characteristics of the meat breed
The most popular for households are ducks (broilers), which are raised for meat. This popularity is due to the fact that they are characterized by rapid maturity, high vitality rates, good egg production, and high quality meat. Breeding a beef breed is a simple and affordable process that can provide a decent level of profit.
Among the breeds often grown in our climatic conditions, we can distinguish:
- Beijing look;
- white Moscow;
- black white-breasted;
- Ukrainian gray;
- musky.
The cultivation of each of these varieties has its own characteristics, so they should be considered separately before filling the house.
Peking duck
Peking duck meat is considered one of the most popular species. The place of its withdrawal is considered to be Beijing. According to historical information, this happened about 300 years ago. Later this species was transported to the territory of South America, as well as the European continent, where it soon gained popularity. The Peking species is distinguished by good immunity, early maturity, and an accelerated set of mass indicators.
Outwardly, these birds are very massive, have a large head with a frontal part with a bulge. The orange and black color of the slightly concave beak is also a characteristic feature of the breed. The legs of these representatives of birds are short, massive and located next to the tail. The eyes are deep blue in color, and the bird's plumage is often white with a slightly noticeable tint of yellow.
Strong wings, tightly fitting to the surface of the body, as well as a slightly raised long body can also be attributed to the characteristic features, as, in fact, the length, as well as the width of the back, which has a slight slope towards the protruding tail.
A beef duck can gain more than 2 kg already at fifty days of age, while adults can reach more than 3.5 kg. The egg can be quite large and reach a mass of about 90 g. During the first 3 years, the duck has the highest level of egg production.
Another reason for the popularity of the Peking duck is its omnivorous nature, thanks to which it gladly absorbs plant and animal food, as well as various combined feeds. Given these features, it is very important to correctly compose a daily diet, on which egg production depends, among other things. In addition, these birds are characterized by omnivorousness, as well as easy adaptation to new conditions, thanks to which caring for a duck is not difficult.
White Moscow
The Moscow white meat duck breed is a product of the Peking and Khaki Campbell breeding. Today in the territory of the Russian Federation this particular breed is dominant. Given the nature of origin, this bird has significant similarities with its relatives of the Peking breed. The white color with some pinkish tint, as well as the width of the body, which is slightly raised up, indicate this relationship. The round shape of the chest, as well as the small size of the head, which is placed on a thin neck, are features that indicate belonging to the breed.
The birds have pale pink legs that are placed so that they are widely spaced. The beak is often pinkish in color. Male individuals grow quite quickly and can, with proper feeding, reach a weight of more than 4.5 kg, while for females the maximum weight does not exceed 3.5 kg. At the same time, it should be noted that weight indicators can vary in a positive direction, subject to the availability of appropriate care. During the season, representatives of this species are able to provide larger 120 eggs, therefore, in addition to high-quality meat, they can also make a profit of a good level.
The key attractive factor that ensures the cultivation of this meat breed is considered the low purchase price, provoked by a large population of poultry of this species. In addition, the value of the species can be considered frost resistance and the presence of a strong immune system, as well as unpretentiousness in food. Based on this, every owner of a home poultry house strives to have it in his arsenal. The breed is supported by the excellent commercial quality of meat, which is tender and very tasty.
Chickens of Moscow white ducks are able to survive in the minimum necessary conditions, and also grow rapidly, so that within several months their mass has overcome the mark of 2-2.5 kg.
Features of a black white-breasted species
Another representative of the meat breed, which is very common on the territory of our state, is the black white-breasted type of duck. This duck is great for home breeding. The artificially bred breed was based on the genes of the Ukrainian white-breasted ducks, Peking ducks, and also khaki-campbell ducks.
- The species is characterized by a deep chest and raised torsos, wide and long backs that slope towards the caudal zone.
- Black color, which is diluted with white necks and breasts, is also a characteristic feature.
- The width of the legs apart, which are located in the back of the body, which leads to their wide fit, is a kind of calling card of this bird.
- On a not very large head there are large black eyes and a beak of a similar color.
- The wings of this species are characterized by a snug fit to the surface of the trunk.
The maturity of the black-breasted duck occurs at the age of six months, and it is then that its mass reaches its maximum size, which varies from 3 to 3.5 kg. In addition, in one breeding season, this breed is able to provide about 130 eggs weighing up to 90 g. Thanks to this, raising these ducks is a profitable form of home business.
Ukrainian gray
This breed also belongs to the category of bred by humans, and the main "foundation" in this case is the domestic Ukrainian, as well as wild duck. This species is distinguished by its size and massiveness, which is confirmed by the average mass for drakes of 4 kg and for a female of 3 kg. As you can see, these birds are not the largest, but at the same time they quickly gain weight and develop, which makes it possible to get a mature individual for several months, when their weight "exceeds" for an indicator of 2 kg.
For breeding and normal weight gain, such ducks do not require special feed or additives, while, in addition to good weight, more than 100 eggs can be obtained from one individual during the season. The egg-laying period occurs at the end of winter and may continue until the onset of autumn. At the same time, even in home conditions, in certain conditions, more than 250 eggs can be obtained from a duck, which makes the business of this area the most attractive occupation. The eggs are not particularly large, but everything is compensated by their number.
The simplicity of growing creates a special attraction for the breed, since this duck is not picky in terms of food and gladly absorbs greens and waste from the kitchen. She can also diversify her diet with algae and aquatic vegetation, which is rich in the shore of any pond or small river where walking can be organized. The summer growing period is convenient in that it is marked by the possibility of introducing into the diet only a quarter of the feed in the form of grain, while the rest can be compensated by the above generally available method.
During the cooling period, the duck's diet should contain grain (50%), while the other half should be formed from pumpkin, potatoes, cabbage and apples. Ukrainian grays are among those breeds that easily endure the winter, therefore, their maintenance even during this period does not imply significant difficulties. The presence of heating in the room where the ducks are kept is not necessary, however, warm litter from a thick layer of straw, as well as warm walls, is necessary. In addition, equipping the barn, you should take care to protect the bird from the draft, which can cause illness.
Walking during the winter also should not be forgotten, because even at that time the birds need fresh air, and their immune system allows you to take "baths from the snow", which, in the case of other breeds, could become a serious problem. Ukrainian gray - these are large birds that have a strong physique, as well as short, with a wide arrangement of paws. The impressive length and width, among other things, is also a key feature for the breed, along with the gray color and white stripe on the neck. The beaks of the representatives of the breed are curved and have a dark color, due to which there is an external similarity of such birds with wild relatives.
Musky breed
The musky species belongs to the category of beef breeds that have been used for domestic breeding for many years. According to experts, it is the representatives of this species that are the very first domesticated birds that have gained wide popularity in Mexico and South America. The musky duck is popularly called Indoutki, because it looks very similar to it. Moreover, there is no connection between these species. In our country, the peak of popularity of this breed falls at the end of the 80s of the last century.
The appearance of the musky duck indicates its some relationship with the Spur geese, which is uncharacteristic of other meat breeds already described above, which are popular with breeders.
Indochka has a very calm character, as well as a stable immune system that promotes normal cultivation. Unlike other species, the musky duck does not need a reservoir, which greatly simplifies the process of arranging a barn and a pen for walking. Moreover, it is musky ducks that are the largest representatives of the species, since the weight of an adult drake can exceed 6 kg, while females have average characteristics and rarely overcome the 4 kg mark.
Not the best indicators of egg production, which are at the level of 100 units during the season, are fully compensated by the advantages described above. At the same time, eggs of musky breeds can be stored for a much longer time compared to the production of Peking duck. Musk ducks have strong maternal instincts that make them perfect mother hens.
Indoor meat has a wonderful taste, as well as a delicate structure with a minimum amount of fat, which makes it popular in the market. The correct approach to building a musk breed business will allow you to quickly and without any special difficulties "recoup" investments and come out in profit.
Business is serious
The choice of which of the listed breeds of duck to grow may depend solely on the individual desire of the person, however, any of the listed options can provide the household with serious amounts of meat, as well as eggs, which today belong to the category of goods in demand. The attractiveness of such a business lies in the minimum required investments and a short payback period, which is a decisive factor for a novice businessman who does not have serious start-up capital.
The list of prerequisites consists of:
- the presence of a barn and a plot of land (own or rented);
- the presence of a fodder base (grass, a nearby reservoir, combined fodder, grain);
- knowledge necessary for the proper arrangement of the barn and the further development of the bird;
- a business plan to make growing a profitable business.