As many dedicated farmers would think, raising a duck farm of your own is no walk in the park. Farming ducks require all the special love and attention breeders would be able to provide, and each breeder have their own tailored routine on how to raise them. This, of course, depends on each breeders’ individual needs and wants.
Breeders would tailor their routine from their living spaces, up to the meticulous details of a feeding schedule. On thing most breeders would take into consideration would be the process of feeding the farms themselves. Though tailored according to every breeder, most breeders would agree that it requires a form of art to this effortlessly.
In this article, we will explore more on this idea to have a better understanding on what its details and discuss a general rule of thumb on how to do it properly. So, without further ado, here are ways to feed your egg-laying ducks.
1. Feeding Dried Rice
When feeding your farm, it is important that you understand what goes in to their feed. Generally, most farms require a minimum of 155 grams of feed a day when it comes to processed and organic food. However, when breeders opt to feed their egg-laying ducks some dried rice, the amount is limitless and flexible of all ages. They are harmless and safe to consume, so any amount should be fine.
2. Feeding Bran
Aside from dried rice, egg-laying ducks require wet feed such as bran. However, unlike rice, the intake of brans should be limited to 1kg a day for two ducks. This depends on the health and capacity of each duck, as we would not want to bore the ducks by feeding them the same mood always. Though brans are packed full of vitamins, it does not hurt to explore other nutritional options that could provide as much benefits as brans would.
3. Feeding Fresh Fish
Ducks of all forms love fish, so breeders should consider feeding their egg-laying duck farm this vitamin packed protein. Fresh fishes would not only provide your ducks nutritional value, but could also boost their appetite to feed on other forms of food. However, breeders should remain extra conscious in feeding fresh fish as it has to be – well – fresh. Rotting and un supervised fish, when fed to ducks, could potentially do more harm than good.
Another thing breeders should consider when feeding fresh fish to your ducks is the frequency. Though packed with proteins and omega 3, breeders should limit the intake as too much of a good thing is never a good idea. This may cause either boredom, or unwanted stomach problems.
4. Feeding Fish Flour
Fish flour is a viable option when a duck farm requires a wet feed. In a day, breeders could provide up to 220 grams of wet feed, and fish flour on the side. Fish flour contains the nutritional benefits that could help with their overall health and boost their appetites. Egg-laying ducks with a good appetite would be able to produce healthy eggs and live longer – which in return would rank higher in market value than their peers.
5. Special Cage
When feeding your farm the right feed, another thing they should also consider is to provide a special cage for their farm. Most breeders take this for granted, but a healthy and spacious living space encourages the appetites of their farms. Egg-laying ducks should be placed in a comfortable enough cage when eating, to avoid stress and distractions.
6. Living Space Capacity
In line with the previous point, breeders should consider the living space capacity when they’d want to properly feed their farm. In order to be comfortable, their duck farm should have enough space to move around and eat without feeling suffocated. More so, the ducks should not fight with their peers for their feed – therefore sufficient living space is required to boost their appetites and consume a good value of nutritional feed.
7. Separating Pregnant Ducks
Amongst their crowded and large farms, some breeders might spot some of their female ducks have gotten pregnant. Therefore, it is wise that breeders separate the pregnant ducks away from the other ducks in the farm – as they require different nutritional feed than the rest. Special attention is needed to the mother ducks to produce high quality eggs.
Breeders should also isolate pregnant ducks from stress inducing factors such as heat, predators, and overpopulation. A stressed out pregnant duck may be in the way of producing healthy eggs, and would have cause a reduced appetite. Though every pregnant duck have their own needs, the general rule of thumb requires breeders to feed their pregnant ducks for about 2x a day (at 7 in the morning and at 5 in the afternoon).
8. Consistent Feeding
In terms of feeding, it is wise that breeders change the types of feed every now and then to prevent boredom. However, this is not necessarily the case specifically for egg-laying ducks. For pregnant ducks alone, be sure to keep the feed consistent to avoid the stress of the sudden change. More so, pregnant ducks require consistent high levels of nutrients to be able to grow and reproduce healthy ducklings. Be sure to consult medical professionals first to be able to tailor a good diet plan for your pregnant ducks.
9. Feeding Tofu Dregs
Tofu dregs are thick chunks of soy that is usually formed during the tofu making process. You could easily purchase these dregs at your local market, or make some of your own. These dregs are wet in consistency and are prone to fungal growth, so it it wise that you dry them out first – until it contains less than 13% of water – before feeding it to your farm. Tofu dregs contains high levels of proteins that provides high benefits in their growth.
10. Maintain Feeding Station
Last, and certainly not least, breeders should keep an eye on the sanitation and conditions of their feeding stations. Egg-laying ducks are prone to stress and cannot eat comfortably if they habituate in unkept places. Breeders should routinely commit to check ups to ensure that their living spaces are free from infectious bacterias and fungal growth.
So this marks the end of the list of ways to feed your egg laying ducks. Note that these are just general tips, and may not be effective to all farms. It is the breeder’s responsibility to do more prior research and consult with others before being able to tailor a routine.