Peking ducks have been bred for over 300 years in China. In the nineteenth century they came to America, and then spread to Europe. Today this breed is very popular. Such ducks are raised in industrial conditions and small farms. In addition, they became the basis for many modern breeds. This type of bird requires special attention to living conditions.
History of origin and distribution of the breed
Chinese breeders received this breed more than three hundred years ago. She was bred in Beijing. Initially, such ducks gained great popularity in China, and then spread throughout the world. First they came to America, and then to Europe.
Today, Peking ducks are often raised in Russia. They are bred in small private farms and on large poultry farms. This is due to its rapid growth and ease of care. More and more new breeds are being developed based on Peking ducks.
Description and characteristics of Peking duck
The Pekin is considered a fairly large duck with a powerful physique. It looks quite attractive and has the following features:
- medium head with a convex forehead;
- flat beak of rich orange color;
- wide chest;
- elongated body;
- short, widely spaced limbs;
- large wingspan;
- dense white feathers - some individuals have a cream color;
- bluish or white tint of eggs.
Peking ducks are characterized by high productivity parameters. Therefore, breeding and raising this breed is quite profitable. The main type of product that can be obtained from birds is meat. It has a high degree of fat content and includes a large number of proteins, including myosin. It also contains valuable microelements.
The main characteristics of the breed include the following:
- drakes weigh 3.5-4 kilograms, ducks - 3-3.5 kilograms;
- the live weight of two-month-old ducklings is 2.7-3 kilograms;
- annual egg production parameters reach 150 eggs;
- egg weight - 90 grams.
With intensive rearing, it is recommended to send ducklings to slaughter at 60-70 days - before the start of the molting period. At this time, weight gain decreases significantly, while feed costs increase by 2.5 times. Product yield after slaughter reaches 80%. After cutting the duck, the number of edible parts reaches 70% of the slaughter weight. Eggs are acceptable to eat. They do not have a specific taste or aroma.
Main advantages and disadvantages
Peking ducks are characterized by certain characteristics.
Requirements for keeping and caring for birds
Breeding Peking ducks is not difficult. These birds are considered low maintenance. At the same time, they find it difficult to tolerate any changes in maintenance or nutrition. Therefore, from the very first days it is important for the birds to provide normal conditions and try to constantly maintain them.
Peking ducks easily adapt to new conditions. They can easily withstand hot or cold weather. It is recommended to equip the poultry house taking into account the number of individuals. There should be 1.5-2 birds per 1 square meter. It is recommended to raise the floor 25 centimeters from the ground surface. This will help provide the ducks with protection from the cold and rodents.
It is definitely worth organizing high-quality ventilation in the room, maintaining a sufficient level of illumination, and installing windows.
The creation of nests is of no small importance. Their dimensions should be 40-50 centimeters. One nest is enough for 1-3 ducks.They should be made from boxes, waste baskets or plywood. Creating a walking yard is of great importance. It is worth sowing herbs inside. In winter, it is important to clear the enclosure of snow and cover it with straw. Thanks to this, ducks will be able to be released outside in warm weather. Peking ducks do not need ponds. Even in their absence, the birds feel good. Sometimes it is permissible to place a large basin of water in the walking yard. Birds can swim in it.
Slaughter should be carried out before molting. This is recommended to be done a couple of months after birth. After molting, the carcasses will not have a very attractive appearance. Cleaning should be done as soon as the house becomes dirty. It is recommended to change the litter in a timely manner, since it is a source of infection.
Diet planning
When organizing the feeding process, it is important to take into account that ducks intensively absorb food. It takes them 4 hours to digest food. Therefore, it is recommended to ensure that there is always food in the bird feeders. Birds should not starve.
Peking ducks can be fed in different ways - wet or dry. In the first case, it is recommended to steam or mix dry food with hot water. As a result, it is important to obtain a mush consistency. It is worth adding fresh herbs, duckweed, and vegetables to the composition. When choosing a dry method, you should use mixed feed. In this case, it is permissible to buy ready-made mixtures or make them yourself. The basis of the feed should be corn, oats, millet, and wheat.
Subtleties of breeding
Peking ducks do not have maternal instinct, so breeding them can hardly be called a simple process. To hatch ducklings, you will need an incubator.It is recommended to maintain the temperature at +30 degrees.
If possible, after obtaining ducklings artificially, it is worth placing a hen on them. If this is not possible, it is recommended to create suitable conditions for the chicks.
They must be kept warm. If this recommendation is violated, the probability of death of the young animals is high. Day-old ducklings require special nutrition. It is recommended to feed them boiled eggs. On day 3, it is permissible to introduce boiled wheat porridge into the diet so that the birds actively gain weight. Peking ducks do not need much time to grow. Already at 2 months their weight reaches 3 kilograms. It is during this period that birds are sent for slaughter.
Possible diseases and prevention
Pekin ducks are susceptible to some diseases. They often suffer from the following pathologies:
- lack of vitamins - the cause is an incorrectly selected diet;
- goiter pathologies - caused by the use of poor quality nutrition;
- coccidiosis - the pathology is infectious in nature;
- aspergillosis - often appears in young individuals;
- Cholera is a very rare pathology.
To prevent infection and the negative consequences of pathology, it is recommended to create suitable living conditions for birds. It is important to follow the rules of hygiene, wash and clean the feeders. Preventative examinations by a veterinarian are of no small importance.
Peking ducks are considered a common breed that has many advantages. For breeding of this species of birds to be successful, it is important to create suitable conditions for them.
