**Preparation for Ducklings Before Rearing**
The duck house should be located in a dry, sheltered, and sunny area, with a small paddling pool nearby. Three days before the ducks arrive, the floor should be filled, rat holes sealed, and windows and doors repaired. The area must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected using 20% lime solution. All brooding equipment—such as heating systems, waterers, feed chutes, and baskets—should be prepared and disinfected with a 2% caustic soda solution. The pathways between the brooding area, play area, and water source should be leveled and free of puddles to prevent disease transmission.
**Selecting Healthy Chicks and Sexing**
Choose healthy ducklings that have fully healed umbilical areas, are active, alert, and show no signs of illness. To determine sex, use the anal pinching method: hold the duckling gently with one hand, press its neck with your thumb and index finger, then gently squeeze the vent with the other hand. A small protrusion indicates a male, while a flat area suggests a female. This method is safe and non-harmful to the ducklings.
**Scientific Feeding Practices**
**Watering (Test Water)**
Before feeding, provide clean water to stimulate drinking. This should be done on a warm day (14°C or above) using shallow, flat-bottomed baskets. Submerge the ducks’ backs in water for about 5 minutes. Afterward, allow them to dry completely before feeding. Avoid soaking their feathers to prevent cold-related deaths.
**Feeding (Teaching the Mouth)**
Avoid feeding within the first 24 hours to allow the yolk sac to be fully absorbed. On the second day, if the ducklings are dry, active, and showing foraging behavior, begin feeding.
**Feeding Methods**
Feed rice mixed with rice water and 10% chopped buckwheat. Feed frequently during the first week (6 times daily), gradually reducing to 5 times per day by week two. Divide groups into batches of 250 ducklings. Follow the principle of gradual progression—start with soft, finely ground food and increase texture and quantity over time.
**Introducing Animal Feed**
On the third day, introduce animal-based feed at 10-20% of the diet. Include snails, fish, shrimp, and other protein sources. Ensure all feed is fresh, chopped, and properly mashed.
**Feed Formulation**
A balanced diet includes metabolizable energy of 11.7 MJ/kg, 20% crude protein, 0.4% methionine, 1.1% lysine, 1 million IU of vitamin A per kg, 1% calcium, and 0.7% phosphorus. A sample mix could be: 50% corn, 20% cabbage, 10% broken rice, 10% bran, 7.5% fish meal, 1% bone meal, 1% shell powder, and 0.5% salt.
**Incorporating Green Feed**
From day three, add 10-20% green feed like duckweed, vegetables, or dandelion. These not only provide nutrition but also help prevent diseases.
**Enhanced Management Practices**
**Temperature Control**
Maintain temperatures at 32°C for the first day, gradually decreasing to 25-20°C after 15 days. Monitor ducklings closely; if they appear huddled, lethargic, or have fluffed feathers, it may indicate low temperature. Adjust accordingly, especially during rainy or cold nights.
**Stocking Density**
Keep density at 25-30 per square meter for the first week, decreasing to 20-25 per square meter for the next week, and 15-20 per square meter up to 28 days.
**Lighting Conditions**
Provide 24-hour light for the first three days, then reduce to 23 hours per day until natural light takes over. Light helps control pests and maintains a clean environment.
**Exercise and Paddling**
Allow ducklings to paddle in shallow water for 3-5 minutes daily, ensuring the water is calm and warm. If they shiver, dry them immediately. After seven days, when the indoor-outdoor temperature difference is less than 5°C, let them exercise for 20 minutes. Provide sand in the yard for dust bathing.
**Disease Prevention**
Limit access to the area, disinfect tools with UV light, and maintain cleanliness. Disinfect regularly, especially in spring and autumn. Vaccinate ducklings on the day of hatching with a duck hepatitis vaccine to ensure immunity.
By following these practices, you can significantly improve the health and growth of your ducklings, ensuring a successful and efficient rearing process.
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