Studies reveal that the US raises more then 22 million ducks in a given year. Raising ducks is an exciting, rewarding and profitable hobby that is why a lot of people are getting into duck farming. This article will give you guidelines in raising ducks as a complete beginner.

1. First when starting out in raising ducks you should know the reason why you want to raise ducks. Knowing why you want to raise ducks will help you in choosing the right breed for your purpose. If you want to raise ducks for eggs you will probably choose the Khaki Campbell duck breed and if you want to raise ducks for ornamental purposes you will go for Call ducks.

2. Make sure you do your research very well on the breed you have chosen to raise. Dit is baie belangrik dat jy die regte sorg vir jou eende bied,en,Jy kan jou navorsing begin doen uit artikels soos hierdie een of van ander ervare eendboere in jou area,en,Ander hulpbronne sluit koerante in,en,plaastydskrifte en TV-advertensies,en,Jy moet jouself ook voorberei om 'n paar toerusting vir eendgrootmaak te koop,en,Die eerste toerusting wat jy moet seker maak jy kry is die eendjie-broeier,en,Hierdie toerusting word gebruik om baba-eendjies groot te maak,en,eendjies,en,begin met die eiers voor en nadat hulle uitbroei,en,Ander toerusting wat jy moet seker maak jy het voor jou eende aankom, is die eendhok en eendhen,en,Dit is waar jou eende huis toe gaan roep en veilig sal wees teen roofdiere wat hulle kan benadeel,en,Die eendhok kan gevul word met houtskeer en strooitjies,en. You can start doing your research from articles like this one or from other experienced duck farmers in your area. Other resources include newspapers, farm magazines and TV ads.

3. You should also prepare yourself to buy some duck raising equipments. The first equipment you should make sure you get is the duckling brooder. This equipment is used in raising baby ducks (ducklings) starting with the eggs before and after they hatch.

4. Other equipment you should make sure you have before your ducks arrive is the duck coop and duck hen. This is where your ducks are going to call home and be safe from predators that can harm them. The duck coop can be filled with wood shaving and straws. The litter should be changed every once in a while to prevent molds.

5. You should also make sure you provide some form of heating for your ducks especially in winter time. Providing some heat will also help in keeping your ducklings warm which is very necessary for them to grow. You can use a 250-watt heater for this.

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First why would it be a good idea to raise ducks then the other types of livestock? A lot of livestock farmers have now realized that it is more profitable to raise ducks then it is to raise chickens or any other animal. The main reason for this is that ducks cost less to raise compared to chickens and at the same time can withstand very hot and cold weather. And not forgetting that their eggs taste a lot better then chicken eggs.

Since ducks can withstand extreme weather there’s no need to spend a lot in building them shelter. Just a simple shelter that is dry is all that is needed. Ducks eat of lot of other food compared to chickens and are more resistant to diseases as well. Ducks also grow and mature faster then chickens (4 months). The Pekin breed is known to be the most profitable since it produces good quality/quantity of meat.

The United States is known to raise over 20 million ducks in a given year. These numbers are spread across those raised for eggs and meat but raising for meat with a high percentage. The reason why most farmers raise ducks for meat is because it costs more to raise ducks for egg production. Egg laying feeds cost a lot more when comparing them to chickens.

When building houses for ducks simple wood and bamboo can be used thus reducing the costs. But it is very important that the shelter be kept dry so that bacteria does not grow in the shelter and affect your ducks. In order to do this corn cobs and peanut hulls can be spread on the floor. This shelter can be built next to a stream or swimming pool so that the ducks go into the water to cool themselves and exercise.

If you would want to later on expand your business and raise ducks for eggs then one good way to make more profits is to keep the eggs for hatching then later on sell the ducklings. It takes about 28 days for the embryos to develop in the eggs and heated at about 95 degrees Fahrenheit with 75% humidity.

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A lot of people nowadays are raising ducks for profits. The main reason for this is that ducks are easier to raise then chickens. First off is that chickens live shorter then ducks and ducks longer. And since they live longer they can make you profits in their second year of egg laying.

When it comes to housing its much cheaper to house ducks then to house chickens. And on the other hand ducks tend to be less prone to common diseases then chickens. But the sad note is that ducklings can be quit difficult to handle for a beginner farmer thus making them stressful to raise.

Ducks can not be fed just about anything unlike chickens and are quite delicate. But the good thing about them is that as they grow older they become less dependent on you and become more independent. Below are some beginner tips you can use to start raising healthy ducks.

1. The first thing you need to do when preparing to raise ducks is to build a duck house in a cool peaceful location. And there is no better location then near a stream or pond. The duck house can be built using bamboo or cogon materials. The recommended space for each duck can be 3sq.ft to 4sp.ft. And to keep the floor clean and dry you can cover it with hulls.

2. Although this step is not compulsory you can build your ducks an artificial pond or use your home swimming pool to keep your ducks cool. Not forgetting that they enjoying being in water.

3. In order for your ducks to start breeding it is important to acquire one drake. One drake is good enough for almost 5 ducks. A good time to determine a breeder around 2 months old. And eggs that are intended for hatching must be from ducks that are over 6 months old. Young ducks are known to be less fertile.

4. Please also note that when you are preparing for breeding the drakes should be the same age or just a month older. The drakes should not be raised in the same place with the others, they should only be brought to the others when its time for mating.

5. There are also guidelines when feeding your ducks. Only starter mashes should to fed to newly born ducklings. When they turn 6 months old they then can be fed grower mash. This mash should be given to them until they are 4 months old. Ducks that are older then 4 months can be given laying ration.

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