Raising ducks for eggs and meat is so popular in the United States that its estimated that around 20 million ducks are raised each year. People like eating duck eggs because they contain more nutrients then chicken eggs. Duck eggs contain more calcium and iron. Besides raising ducks for eggs or meat other people raise ducks as pets since they are very adorable.
Its very important that you know what you are doing when raising ducks. Below are a few guidelines to follow:
1. When starting out in raising ducks you should consider the reason on why you want to keep ducks. Do you want to raise ducks for eggs, meat or just keep them as pets? Knowing what you want to raise your ducks for will help in selecting the right breed. If you want to raise ducks for meat you may want to the Peking duck breed. If you want to raise ducks for eggs then the Khaki Breed is a right choice. And if you want to have a pet duck then the Call duck can make a good pet.
2. Your next step to raising ducks is setting up a duckling brooder. The brooder can be made from a 3 to 4 inche cardboard which should have dry adsorbent litter. You can use dry wood shavings or peat moss for this. You should make sure that the ducklings are kept warm by using a commercial brooder heater. One brooder heater is good enough for 30 ducklings.
3. You should provide your ducks with duck feeders and waterers. Just like humans ducks need to drink down what they eat. When feeding ducks you can feed them crumbles or pellets and non-medicated starter mash. Snails, green vegetables and worms can be given to them as well. Breads, chocolates and nuts should by all costs not be given to ducks.
Raising ducks is profitable and enjoyable. They lay eggs around the sixth month with each egg being layed in the morning. Since a duck lives average of 12 years, they can lay you a lot of eggs during that period. You can sell the eggs or hatch them for more ducklings.
