Keeping poultry is not particularly troublesome, but it brings high-quality products. In second place after chickens are ducks. And no wonder. These birds are unpretentious, and their meat is juicier and more nutritious. Breeders have bred more than 30 breeds. The most popular in our country are considered Mulards and Muscovy ducks. Before you get these birds, it is worth finding out how the mulards differ from the inducks in appearance and living conditions, and which species is more profitable to breed.
Description of the Indian
Another name - musky - comes from the peculiarity of old individuals, the area on the head of which emits musk.Indo-ducks are also called mute ducks because they cannot quack. The wild ancestors of these birds still live in Mexico and South America.
There are several species of domestic turkey depending on the color of the plumage: black white-winged, black, white, blue white-winged, brown, walnut, blue. Musks are strikingly different from their “colleagues”. They are larger, drakes weigh up to 7 kg, females - up to 3.5 kg. Therefore, the main focus of the breed is meat. On the head near the beak they have a skin growth or “wart” similar to a turkey earring.
Thanks to their strong wings, Indian ducks are able to fly and love to sit somewhere on the roof of a barn or fence, which looks funny and absurd. Musk meat is tender, lean, and tastes like wild duck. Recommended for dietary nutrition. Eggs contain a lot of protein, B vitamins and microelements.
Features of mulards
This new breed appeared only a few years ago in France, but has already proven itself to be excellent. Mulards were the result of crossing a male Indian duck and a female Pekin duck. Their color is white with brown. A distinctive feature is a black spot on the head. Birds are unpretentious, resistant to diseases and environmental conditions. They gain weight at record speed and by the 3rd month of life they reach a weight of 4 kg. And adults of both sexes weigh 6-7 kg.
Mulards are sterile, although females actively lay eggs. The liver reaches a mass of 0.5 kg and is even better suited for preparing foie gras than goose. In this regard, in recent years, the demand for the breed has tripled.
Differences between mulards and indo-ducks
It is difficult to confuse musk and mulard, but it is still better to know the distinctive features:
- Only Indian ducks have a large fleshy growth above the beak and a small crest.
- The part of the head near the eyes of muskies is also covered with red skin. In mulards, the plumage covers this area.
- The hybrid is cleaner and calmer. Mutes, on the other hand, have a grumpy character and often stir up dirt in the enclosure.
- Indo ducks have longer and stronger tails and wings.
- Musks successfully reproduce on their own, even without the help of an incubator. And mulards are sterile.
What's better?
The question of which breed of duck to prioritize in their backyard worries more than a dozen farmers. Definitely both have their pros and cons.
Mulards are suitable for those who are focused on making a one-time profit or a solid supply of duck for the winter. In this case, you don’t even need to build a special aviary, the birds will live on the site, they will simply choose a convenient corner for themselves.
The hybrid is purchased in the spring, and by the end of summer the ducks will gain the required weight. They do not require special granulated feed and expensive corn. Grass, grain and fresh drinking water are all that is needed. The downside is that next year you will have to purchase young animals again. Muscovy ducks are more of an option for farmers who keep poultry for themselves all the time. Individuals will reproduce independently. It is optimal to have several females and one drake.
