Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
If you must hold a duck, support it under the feet and body as shown.
HOW MANY DRAKES?
HOW MANY GANDERS?
The proper ratio of drakes and ganders to their female counterparts is dependent on
the breed. Laying breeds need fewer males per flock and heavier meat breeds need
more. As a general rule, you'll want six to seven hens for every drake and three to
five hens for every gander.
It is much easier on ducks than chickens to lay eggs in the cold months because
a duck's body organs are less exposed and therefore less vulnerable to freezing. With
warming down, an insulating fat layer, and no combs and waddles, ducks adapt well to
the cold weather and prefer to take their rest when it is hot.
Predators
A raiser's biggest challenge when rearing ducklings is to make sure the shelter is
predator-proof. Ducklings are easy prey for most any animal; weasels, skunks, opos-
sums, cats, dogs, mink, snakes, and birds of prey will all snap up these balls of fluff in
an instant. Ducklings are not able to move very fast and tend to be a bit too trusting, so
make sure your shelter and daytime facilities are secure. Lock up the birds in their shel-
ter at night.
The biggest time of worry is when the ducklings are young, but even adult ducks are
easy prey as they are not able to move at great speeds and cannot fly or roost. They are
truly “sitting ducks.”
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