Duck from USA

Nearly all the breeds of ducks that are common today can trace their origins to the wild Mallard, Anas Platyrhynchos. The name comes from the Latin anas (a duck) and a combination of two Greek words, platus (broad) and rhynchos (bill).
No one knows for certain when Mallards were first domesticated, but there is some evidence to suggest that the Egyptians used ducks in religious sacrifice (see picture which shows Akhenaten sacrificing a duck, ca. 1353-1336 B.C) and possibly also bred them for food. The Southeast Asians were also raising ducks in captivity prior to 500 B.C and the Romans certainly enjoyed the company of ducks so long as they had been properly roasted first. Until the 19th century, ducks were kept mostly for eating rather than their wonderful eggs. This was most unfortunate for the white feathered breeds as their paler meat was considered tastier.

There is only one duck which isn’t a decendant of the Mallard. The Muscovy is a large, heavy duck which in the wild roosts in trees and originated from of Central and South America. Next time you take a trip down the Amazon you could still spot one. The Spanish Conquistadors brought the Muscovy back from such a trip in the 16th century.

Wild ducks are excellent fliers and have also traditionally been hunted for sport and for eating. A lovely little breed of duck known as the Call Duck was used by hunters to lure in wild ducks because she had a very load and frequent quack. In more recent times though the Call Duck has become an incredibly popular garden duck because of its size, beautiful colours and shape.

Duck eggs are larger and richer than chickens’ eggs which makes them popular with cooks. There are now many breeds which will lay as many eggs every year as the best chickens.

Let us first look at why the Indian runner is a good choice for anyone keeping ducks.

Irish Duck

The Indian Runner duck has some characteristics which make it an excellent choice for anyone considering keeping a few ducks. The first thing you will notice about the Indian Runner ducks stance is different from all other ducks. A runner duck’s stance can be considered to resemble that of a penguin; in fact they were originally known as Penguin Ducks, but unlike penguins they are a fast mover, but for a reason.

Indian Runners prefer to spend their day predominately foraging than on water, unlike almost every other duck. This foraging characteristic has gained them the reputation as a real gardener’s friend, by being highly effective in organic slug control. In Germany, runner <strong>ducks</strong> can be rented for the purpose of organic slug and insect control – link. They are also used in South Africa, where a large flock of runner ducks are used daily in a Vergenoegd vineyard for natural pest control. It should be noted that slug pellets should not be used if you have runner ducks as these are poisonous to ducks also.

Indian Runner ducks are a great choice for anyone wanting their own duck eggs. Few other pure breed ducks can match their laying ability. Runner ducks typically weigh no more than 2kg, which means they will not eat a lot compared to some other larger laying ducks, yet they will reward a keeper with up to 200 eggs per year. This is why they are recognised as one of the most efficient laying ducks. Runner ducks typically begin laying eggs at around 6 months of age, but the start of laying may be delayed when the days are too short during the winter months. Adult ducks typically don’t lay during those months due to insufficient daylight also.

Indian runners are not fussy eaters and will eat most cereals and greens. It is very important that keepers are careful to ensure that the diet meets the nutritional requirements of the any birds kept. Layers pellets contain this nutritional need when it comes to runners, so it is important that they have access to a feeder containing a ready and fresh supply of these, particularly during the laying season. Poultry layers pellets are fine, but if you can find a specialist waterfowl pellet, that is even better. Wheat is a good supplement in their diet, particularly in winter. Runners are by no means glutens and if they have good free ranging they will eat surprisingly little.

Ducks occupy an important position next to chicken farming in India. They form about 10% of the total poultry population and contribute about 6-7% of total eggs produced in the country. Ducks are mostly concentrated in the Eastern and Southern States of the country mainly coastal region with non-descriptive indigenous stocks, which however are poor layers. Central Duck Breeding Farm under Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India was established in the year 1981 during the 5th Five Year plan with technical collaboration of Government of United Kingdom in order to introduce high yielding variety of ducks for the benefit of farming community. This farm had also imported meat variety ducklings (VIGOVA SUPER-M) from Vietnam under bilateral program between Government of India and Vietnam during the year 1996.

Indian Duck

ACTIVITIES

1. To supply good quality hatching eggs & day – old ducklings of egg and meat type strain
2. To replenish the foundation stock of State Duck Farms.
3. To serve as centre for training in Duck Production and Management.
4. To introduce low input Technology birds and upgradation by exotic blood under scavenging system.

MANAGEMENT GUIDE ON DUCKS

1. Duck farming has following advantages:-
2. Ducks lay more egg per bird per year than chicken.
3. The size of the duck egg is larger than hen egg by about 15 to 20 gms.
4. Ducks require lesser attention and thrive well in scavenging conditions.
5. Ducks supplements their feed by foraging. They eat fallen grains in paddy fields, insects, snails, earthworms, small fishes and other aquatic materials.
6. From commercial point of view, ducks have a longer profitable life. They lay well even in second year.
7. Ducks do not require any elaborate houses like chicken
8. Ducks are quite hardy, more easily brooded and more resistant to common avian diseases.
9. Marshy river side, wet land and barren moors upon which chicken or no other type of stock will flourish, are excellent quarters for duck farming.
10. Ducks lay 95 – 98% of their eggs in the morning before 9.00 AM. Thus saving lot of time and labour.
11. Ducks are suitable for integrated farming systems such as duck-cum-fish farming, duck farming with rice cultivation. In duck-cum-fish farming the droppings of ducks serve as feed for the fishes and no other feed or manuring of the pond is necessary for fishes (200-300 ducks per hectare of waste area). Under integrated duck farming with rice cultivation, the ducks perform four essential functions viz., intertillage as they search for food, their bills loosen up the soil around the rice plants-weeding, insect control and manuring.
12. Ducks are good exterminators of potato beetles, grasshoppers, snails and slugs. In areas plagued liver flukes, ducks can help correct the problem (2 to 6 ducks per 0.405 hectare of land). Ducks can be used to free the bodies of water from mosquito pupae and larvae (6 to 10 ducks per 0.405 hectare of water surface)
13. Ducks are quite intelligent, can be tamed easily, and trained to go to ponds and come back in the evening of their own