Varieties of ducks for breeding in a personal plot

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Breeding domestic ducks is very profitable. These birds are distinguished by their early maturity, tasty meat and ease of keeping. But first of all, you need to choose which type of ducks you should start breeding. The problem here is that there are many breeds, each with its own merits and demerits. And you need to choose a breed so that the advantages of growing it always overlap the disadvantages. But for this you need to know what breeds exist and how they differ.

Duck breeds for home breeding

Division of wefts into different areas of production

When choosing a breed for breeding, you need to decide for what purposes it will be used. For example, those birds from which broilers are raised in poultry farms are not always suitable for small farms. At the same time, decorative birds are not suitable for meat production.

Duck breeds are divided into several areas of production, just like any other types of poultry. And the farmer should decide which direction is right for him. You will have to choose from the following types:

• Duck breeds for meat production. These birds are distinguished by their early maturity and high maximum weight. Young animals are able to reach slaughter weight already at the age of 7-9 weeks. With proper nutrition, the weight of one bird will be at least 2 kg. Adult birds, in particular drakes, can weigh 6 or more kilograms. The only problem is the low egg production.
• Meat breeds of ducks. These domestic waterfowl are essentially all-rounders, and are what many poultry farmers recommend. On the one hand, they are able to gain weight well: at the age of 2 months, when it is time for slaughter, the young weigh from 1 to 1.5 kg. On the other hand, such ducks have good egg production and are capable of producing up to 200 eggs annually.
• Egg breeds. These birds are not bred very often. They have relatively good egg production, comparable to chickens. But it is more profitable to raise chickens to get eggs than these ducks, especially since it will not be possible to breed them for meat. These waterfowl have a small body weight and a low rate of weight gain. Novice poultry breeders are not recommended to grow such birds.
• Decorative varieties of ducks. They cannot be attributed to one of the available directions, but it is worth mentioning them. They are kept solely because of their attractive appearance. They are not suitable for obtaining meat or eggs. If we mention their other features, then it should be said that decorative ducks often do not cross well with breeds of other types. They are grown only by those who need beautiful birds for themselves or for sale.

When choosing a breed, some other features of the selected variety should be taken into account.First, you need to look at how unpretentious this bird is and how much it will cost to keep it. In particular, it is worth finding out how susceptible she is to diseases. Secondly, you need to know if the eggs are incubating well. Related to this is the question of what hens are obtained from the ducks of the selected breed. Thirdly, it is worth deciding whether the selected breed is suitable for breeding in a given area.

Many poultry farmers do not recommend dealing with ducks alone or dwelling on only one breed. For example, in the same courtyard, you can keep geese of the Linda breed or chickens such as the Dominant and Hercules. There are also local hybrids that are better suited for growing in certain conditions. It is believed that Moldavian, Adyghe, Siberian or Bavarian breeds can be named such ducks.

Meat breeds of ducks

It is these waterfowl that many farmers prefer to grow, because it is tasty and healthy meat products that are needed by those who raise ducks. Of course, one of the main suppliers of meat to farms is the goose. But ducks are also very good at this issue. It is also worth considering such features of their meat as low fat content and excellent dietary qualities. Meat varieties of ducks differ from each other. For comparison, it is worth giving a simple table, which indicates some of the features of a number of breeds:

It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the other differences between each of the available breeds, because they should be chosen based on how much this variety is suitable for breeding in a certain area. It is necessary to find out what food these ducks will need, what temperature regime they need, and other details. It is also worth clarifying whether the selected breed is available in this region and whether it will not be easier to buy another variety.

Here are some other birds you can choose and buy for home breeding:

• Mulardy ducks (incorrect name - Murlans).
• Belarusian cross Temp.
• Cross Medeo.
• Crested breed of ducks (easily recognizable bird with its famous crest).
• Moscow White variety.
• Ducks of breed Star 53.

Cherry Willy duck breed

This is one of those breeds that are recommended for breeding for novice poultry breeders. Cherry Willie (or Chilli Willie, as they are sometimes called) is sometimes referred to as a meat-and-meat breed. By constitution and early maturity, this is a classic representative of the meat production direction, but its egg production is uncharacteristically high. In particular, when young ducks begin to lay, they are capable of producing more than a hundred eggs by the end of the first year of life. At the same time, there is a division into 2 main lines of the breed: the paternal line and the maternal line.

Professional breeders claim that the mother line has the best performance. In these birds, egg production is at least 130 eggs per duck, and they gain mass at a higher rate. On average, young animals are able to gain weight of 2.5 kg and more in 50-60 days, which is why the birds can be allowed to slaughter early.

Unfortunately, Cherry Willy meat is not recommended for people with digestive problems. Poultry meat is tasty, but relatively tough and has a high fat content.

It is not difficult to recognize this bird. Cherry Willie has white, dense plumage, a long orange beak and a large, heavy body with developed muscles.The appearance of this breed is similar to the appearance of Peking ducks. It was from them that Cherry Willie was bred. In Russia, these birds appeared half a century ago, so they are very widespread. When buying ducklings or eggs for incubation, it is necessary to clarify which line the birds belong to. It should be borne in mind that this breed is often crossed with other ducks.

Moscow white duck

The white Moscow duck is considered one of the most widespread breeds in Russia. It is often found in neighboring states. These birds are unpretentious, grow quickly and have good egg production. Every year, 12-13 dozen eggs can be obtained from each laying hen.

Due to its popularity, the Moscow duck is often used when crossing with ducks of other breeds, but crossbreeds are usually easy to distinguish from a purebred bird from a photo or video, you just need to know the main signs of the Moscow white variety.

The first thing that can be seen in the photo is that these birds have pink-red legs and a beak. White feathers and red paws with a beak are the classic portrait of this breed. If the color is colored (there are brown, gray or blue feathers), then this is a cross. The same conclusion can be made if the paws and beak are not red, but red. In terms of early maturity, this is a classic meat duck. Young growth gains slaughter weight in 8-9 weeks and by this time weighs 2-2.5 kg. Adult ducks are capable of gaining weight equal to 4-5 kg.

Black white-breasted ducks

The black white-breasted duck is native to Ukraine, and there are many other breeds among its ancestors. In particular, representatives of the Peking variety were used to obtain this bird. Among the advantages of black white-breasted ones, it is worth noting their good egg production and early maturity. They are also praised for the high quality of meat. A number of farmers even believe that the black white-breasted duck is the best among all breeds in terms of the quality of the product obtained, although it will not be easy to get a lean carcass from them.

An adult large drake can reach a mass equal to 5 kg. Ducks are somewhat smaller, and their weight rarely exceeds 3-3.5 kg. Juveniles reach slaughter weight at the age of 7-10 weeks. With early slaughter, the average weight of a bird is 1.5 kg. And if you slaughter the duck later, the weight will increase to 2.5-2.7 kg.

This black and white breed has only one problem: on average, 2/3 of the livestock survive to slaughter. 9 eggs out of 10 are fertilized, which is an excellent indicator.

The black white-breasted bird is easily recognizable due to its memorable appearance. The main color of the plumage is black with a white feather on the front of the neck and upper chest. The body is elongated, strong, with a broad chest that blends smoothly into the neck. The drake, in addition to its size, is distinguished by the presence of plumage, casting a blue or green sheen. The beak is slightly curved, gray or yellow. A combination of these colors is possible.

The breed is suitable for breeding in southern regions and crosses easily with other varieties.

Rouen duck

This bird was bred in France, but it did not receive wide distribution. This rare species was sourced directly from wild mallards, which were selected for their ability to gain weight quickly. Speaking about the merits of the French Rouen poultry, it is necessary to mention the excellent rate of mass gain and the excellent qualities of the meat. When properly maintained, the duck carcass is lean, soft and tender. The taste of the finished product sometimes resembles a wild bird, but without the unpleasant smell of marsh.

However, the Rouen ducks also have disadvantages.

The first is associated with a high rate of mass gain. These birds are prone to obesity, so they need to carefully consider their diet. The average body weight of the Rouen duck is 3-3.5 kg, and the drakes are not much larger than the females. Well-fed representatives can reach 5-6 kg of weight. The egg production of these birds is average, 80-90 pieces per season, but if the bird suffers from obesity, then it will not produce many eggs.At the same time, the ducks of the Rouen variety are not good hens and queens.

Another problem when breeding this bird is that the young are vulnerable to diseases and demanding to care for. It is worth remembering that overweight drakes are poor producers, therefore, when keeping Rouen poultry, it is important to make the right diet. Physical activity and walks are also important for her, so it is worth keeping the ducks in a spacious aviary. Outwardly, the French Rouen bird looks like large mallards living in the wild. Their color and body proportions are absolutely identical.

Gray Ukrainian duck

The gray Ukrainian duck is known in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This is one of the large meat breeds, which are also characterized by good egg production. The sizes of these birds are slightly above average. On average, adult representatives reach a mass of 3.5-4 kg. Ducklings reach slaughter weight in 2 months, and after 4, these same ducklings weigh the same as adult birds, so the question of which duck is the fastest ripening can be safely answered: gray Ukrainian.

The average egg production of ducks of this variety is about 120 eggs per year. But with the right content, this number rises to 20-25 dozen per year. Some egg breeds give similar indicators. Among the early maturing, it is the gray Ukrainian duck that is easiest to grow in the courtyard. It is unpretentious and best suited for those who cannot provide perfect care, and these birds are also bred in the northern regions, as they tolerate low temperatures very well.

A photo and description of this breed is not required in order to recognize it. The fact is that it was obtained from domestic birds crossed with wild mallards. And their appearance is similar to the classic mallard in color and constitution. Females have gray and brown feathers on the body, while the drake has a black and white body color and a green head. In general, this breed has many positive traits. Ducklings are tenacious and gain weight quickly, with adult ducks there are no problems with care, and their maintenance is very cheap.

Meat breeds of ducks

Many novice poultry farmers prefer to stop at these varieties. They produce almost as many eggs as egg breeds, but they can also be bred for meat. These birds are popular all over the world and are raised in a wide variety of conditions. Among them there are both thoroughbred representatives and various hybrids. As breeds of ducks for home breeding, meat poultry are ideal, because they are more convenient for keeping than egg ones, and in terms of meat quality they are not inferior to classic meat types.

With the correct content of duck layers, you can get a considerable amount of eggs. But egg production is not the only characteristic that farmers love these birds for. They have many other advantages, for example, unpretentiousness and resistance to diseases. Here, however, everything depends on the breed, because there are both new and old varieties. And new breeds are not always better than those that were bred before them.

Here is what experienced poultry farmers write about this:

“There are many excellent meat breeds available to suit a wide variety of conditions. And do not dwell on new, unknown crosses and hybrids. There are birds such as the Saxon duck, the mirror breed or the muskrat. The main characteristic of each of these varieties is versatility. They are suitable for many farmers, both beginners and those who already have some experience. "

Khaki Campbell ducks

In Russia and Ukraine, the birds of the Khaki Campbell species are quite rare guests, although for home breeding they can be very convenient and useful due to some advantages. They were bred back in the 19th century in Great Britain, and their description was compiled a long time ago.

This is a classic beef breed with an average rate of weight gain and excellent egg production.Among meat and beef ducks, Khaki has one of the best, if not the best, egg production. They can be safely bred instead of chickens to obtain eggs.

Khaki Campbell's ducks have only two drawbacks. First, they gain weight for a long time. Young animals are suitable for slaughter only at the age of 3.5-4 months. And even in the best conditions, their weight will not exceed 2.5 kg. And the largest drake cannot weigh more than 3.5 kg. There are no very large birds of the Khaki breed. The second drawback of this bird is that it has a need for large walking spaces, so it is worth breeding them where there is enough space for duck walks.

On the other hand, Khaki Campbell females produce at least 25 dozen eggs per season. And for the best representatives this figure is close to 400. But this is not only an egg breed, with which a good and large egg is obtained. These ducks also have tasty and tender meat, so bad layers are usually sent for slaughter.

Outwardly, this bird is easy to recognize by its description and photo. Farmers say it is a casually painted mallard. The bird is called Khaki for a reason: its multi-colored plumage resembles military camouflage.

Saxon breed of ducks

This breed is known not only for its productivity, but also for its beautiful appearance. She has colored plumage, which is easily recognizable from photographs and videos. At the same time, drakes and females have different plumage. If the ducklings do not differ in any way in appearance, then after the first molt all the differences become noticeable. Females are dominated by brown feathers of various shades, and there is also a small amount of white on the head and wings.

The drake has white feathers on the belly and lower part of the chest, a dark brown top of the chest and gray-blue shades of plumage on the head. The average weight of these birds ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 kg. Drakes are somewhat larger than ducks.

The Saxon breed is distinguished by a good egg production: on average, these birds bring 15-20 dozen eggs per year. Ducklings are distinguished by good vitality. In terms of early maturity, this bird is similar to some meat varieties, for which it is appreciated by farmers.

Duck egg breeds

These types of ducks are rare. Indian runners are almost the only recognized breed of this type. All other varieties, for example, the kayuga, or the mirror duck, belong to the meat-and-meat type, although eggs of the egg direction were often used in their breeding. If we describe these ducks, then the Indian runner should be considered as a standard. It is the most common bird of this type.

The Indian runner is small in size and in body weight. These birds weigh less than the young of many meat varieties. The average body weight rarely exceeds 2 kg, but egg production is at a high level, from 20 to 35 tens per year. These birds got their name for their unusual gait and manner of holding the body, so they are easy to recognize from the photo.

These birds are unsuitable for keeping in northern regions, since they do not tolerate cold well and often get sick in such conditions.

Conclusion

There are many breeds of ducks. And among them, everyone can choose the variety that suits him. You just need to understand which bird will take root best in the existing conditions and what is required of it: rapid weight gain, unpretentiousness or egg production. Having answered these questions, you can safely choose your own ducks for breeding.