Most often, owners of farmsteads in Russia contain, of course, chickens. But waterfowl is quite popular among farmers in our country. Moreover, in most cases, geese and ducks are bred in suburban areas. There are many breeds of such feathered breeders. But in any case, the content of waterfowl, of course, has some of its own characteristics.
First of all, a farmer who decides to have geese or ducks needs to build a convenient barn for the bird. Feeding of waterfowl also has some of its own characteristics, which a novice poultry farmer should be aware of.
The best breeds of ducks
The pluses of both geese and ducks, of which there are many breeds, are attributed primarily to the low demands on the conditions of detention. However, the last variety of waterfowl is still considered more unpretentious. Ducks are bred on farmsteads more often than geese. At the moment, the best breeds of this variety of waterfowl are:
Peking
black-breasted;
khaki campbell.
All breeds of geese and ducks are classified into meat and meat and egg. The top two varieties from the list relate to the first area of productivity. Beijing drakes can reach a weight of 4 kg, ducks - 3.4 kg. The egg production of the representatives of this breed in this case is about 85-125 pcs. in year.
Black white-breasted ducks already at the age of 60-65 days reach a weight of 1.5 kg. The plus of this breed, among other things, is considered tasty meat.
Khaki Campbell ducks are a meat-and-egg direction of productivity. Adult drakes of this breed reach a weight of 3 kg, ducks - 2.2-2.5 kg. Egg production of birds of this species is 350 pcs. in year.
The best breeds of geese
With such waterfowl, breeding work was also carried out very extensive. The most popular breeds of geese at the moment are:
Kholmogorsky;
large gray;
legends.
The weight of the drakes of geese of the Kholmogory breed can reach 12 kg, geese - 8 kg. This bird, among other things, is characterized by early maturity, resistance to various diseases, and calm character. Large gray geese by the age of 9 weeks can reach a weight of 9.5 kg. Moreover, such a bird carries about 60 eggs per year.
Legion geese with a proper diet gain weight in 9-11 kg. This bird is also characterized by good precocity and a peaceful character.
Are there breeds of crossed geese and ducks
Both of these bird species belong to the group of waterfowl. Their biological characteristics are similar. And the technology of keeping such a bird is not much different. In this regard, some farmers are interested in whether there is a duck-goose breed. It is, of course, impossible to breed such a bird, despite all the biological similarities.
Some novice farmers are interested in the name of the crossed duck-goose breed. Of course, there are no hybrids of these two representatives of waterfowl in the world. However, many farmers breed mulard on the courtyards of ducks. This bird is often called the goose duck. The fact is that it is usually used for growing foie gras on the liver. Before the appearance of this breed, only geese were thus kept.
To the advantages of mullard ducks, farmers include primarily quick weight gain and very tasty liver and meat. Also, the breed of duck-geese mulard is characterized by unpretentiousness in care. Many farmstead owners recommend that beginners choose this kind of bird for breeding.
Waterfowl house
The barn for any breed of ducks and geese in most cases is erected shield or block. In such facilities it is cool in the summer and warm enough in the winter. The area of the house for waterfowl should be large. Hens, for example, can be housed in roosts at different levels. Geese and ducks in private farms in most cases are kept on the floor. With a lot of crowding, not being able to find an individual place, such a bird will experience severe stress, which will negatively affect its health and productivity.
It is allowed to place no more than 1-2 geese and 3 ducks on 1 m 2 of a shed for waterfowl. The height of the house for such birds should be approximately 2.1 m. This will save on heating the building in winter.
Of course, in a shed for waterfowl windows should also be provided for lighting and ventilation. Straw is usually laid on the floor in such a house. Ideally, the thickness of the litter in the shed should be 40-50 cm. In this case, the waste products of the bird will overheat naturally, and they will not have to be constantly cleaned. In winter, this litter will become an additional natural source of heating the barn.
Aviary and pond
Above, we have given descriptions of duck and geese breeds that are best suited for keeping on the farm. However, regardless of the species, most of these birds, of course, love to swim in the water. Therefore, it is very good if an artificial pond will be equipped next to the farm for the maintenance of such a bird. But in any case, the condition is still optional. Most modern breeds of waterfowl are quite capable of doing without a pond.
The peculiarity of the breeds of geese and ducks in most cases is the need for walks. Therefore, an aviary near the house will have to be equipped. Having the opportunity to walk in the fresh air in winter and summer, birds develop much faster and get less sick. In the aviary, among other things, you can dig an old bath into the ground and fill it with water. It will turn out a small artificial mini-pond. In the bathroom, you need, among other things, to equip walkways for lowering and raising the bird.
How to equip a house
Of course, nests should be installed in the shed for waterfowl. Also in poultry houses for such living creatures, feeders are mandatory installed. In this case, the sizes of these structures are chosen so that when feeding geese and ducks do not crowd.
Drinking bowls, unlike chicken coops, are not installed in such sheds. Ducks and geese will certainly begin to swim in them and breed dampness in the room. Drinking bowls for such a bird are usually placed only in aviaries.
Feeding small chicks
The 5-day-old young animals purchased for breeding in the household were initially kept in boxes and brooders. This is done with the chicks of all breeds of ducks and geese. In the photo below you can see how the bird is kept at that age.
Chicks are fed at this time with usually starting ready-made purchased mixtures. Also, children are often given a chopped egg (respectively a goose or duck) and finely chopped greens. Starting from day 5, millet and milk powder are introduced into the diet of chicks. From the 11th day, millet is replaced by waterfowl with a chopper, and fat-free cottage cheese, chalk, yeast, fish waste and other adult food are gradually introduced into the menu.
Types of feed used
Waterfowl is given food usually in the form of wet mash. The diet of such a bird must necessarily include feed:
The best juicy foods for geese and ducks are considered:
beet;
swede;
turnip;
potatoes.
Also, waterfowl often include food of animal origin in the diet:
Of concentrates for ducks and geese, barley grain is best suited. Also in small quantities, such a bird can be offered wheat and in some cases rye. In addition to grain, peas and corn are often used from concentrates to feed such living creatures on farmsteads.
Breeding
Many farmers are interested, of course, in how to breed ducks and geese in the compound on their own. In order to get the chicks directly on the farm, you need to purchase an incubator. For breeding ducklings most often use conventional chickens. In this case, a lattice with a larger cell is simply installed in the incubator.
Waterfowl usually begin to hike in March. The incubation period of eggs of such a bird is approximately 29-30 days.
Content Features
In the summertime, goslings and ducklings are released into the barn and enclosure from boxes and brooders at the age of 2 weeks. As soon as the kids get comfortable, they are left in the house for the night. In summer, this bird is allowed to be released from the age of one month.
Bathing containers in the event that the chicks are kept without a brood hen are installed in the aviary only after the feather appears in the babies. Fluffy young waterfowl do not yet have subcutaneous fat. And therefore, after swimming, such ducklings and goslings, not having the opportunity to hide under the brood hen, can easily catch a cold and subsequently die.
When slaughter is done
The age of slaughter of waterfowl directly depends on their breed. Some species of ducks and geese grow faster, others slower. But in any case, the slaughter of such a bird is carried out before juvenile molting. Usually this procedure is performed in 2.5-3 months. It does not make sense to keep longer waterfowl bred for meat. After juvenile molting, ducks and geese begin to consume a lot of food. At the same time, their weight is added slowly.
Do I need to trim wings
Farms may contain different breeds of geese and ducks. The cultivation of such birds in any case has some of its own characteristics. For example, unlike other birds, geese and ducks usually trim wings. This procedure is considered necessary by most farmers.
Some breeds of ducks and geese have a great tendency to leave the compound through the air, while others are practically devoid of this drawback. However, almost all ducks and geese can succumb to the instinct to go flying with wild relatives. Perhaps, due to its high weight, such a bird will not fly away. But you still have to search for it in the vicinity.
Waterfowl do not undercut, usually only when they are kept in enclosures covered with a net on top. Also, this procedure is not performed with hens. After all, such a bird needs large wings in order to cover their chicks.
How to trim wings
With ducks, this procedure is allowed to be performed at the age of at least 15 weeks, with geese - 17 weeks. Only one wing is cut off by waterfowl. This is usually quite enough. When trimming leave a few feathers in the center of the wing. This is necessary so that the bird does not look “plucked”.
To trim the wings, farmyard owners usually use sharp heavy metal scissors. Waterfowl are supposed to take off shorter feathers. The length of the remaining stumps should be no more than 2.5-5 cm. The feathers located in the bend of the wing (the whole angle) are usually removed from waterfowl. More than once a year pruning is not allowed for ducks and geese.