Duck meat is considered a healthy dietary product containing the required amount of protein and fat. Ducklings grow very quickly, and already at 2 months they reach optimal live weight. Beginning farmers often make mistakes in calculating how many months ducks grow before slaughter. A duck that is too old may lose its taste properties, and feed costs will increase by 20-30%. Therefore, it is very important to know the slaughter deadlines and comply with them.
How long do ducks grow before slaughter?
Typically, ducklings grow for 2 months before slaughter. In early maturing breeds, the period may be reduced to 45-50 days. The average normal weight gain over the period is 2-2.5 kilograms.At this age, the meat is already quite tasty, and the feathers are not hard and are easy to pluck. For rearing, it is better to select well-moving and large ducklings, which are strikingly different in weight from their peers.
Weight gain greatly depends on the breed of duck, the quality of feeding, and living conditions. When raising young animals, you must adhere to the following standards:
- The right diet is a balanced diet high in protein. Includes crumbled boiled eggs, grains, cracked corn. From two weeks of age, you can give cottage cheese and chopped greens, table scraps.
- Systematic supply of greens - without it, the digestive system of waterfowl does not work properly, so they do not gain weight well.
- Proper lighting - at least 10 hours of daylight in summer and winter. The lighting intensity can be 15-20 lux.
- Daily cleaning and sufficient bedding. The water in drinking bowls and other containers is changed at least once a day, and preferably several times a day in the warm season, otherwise a persistent odor will appear.
- Constant access to water - keeping in dry rooms without a trough or basin for bathing is prohibited.
By following these simple rules, you can hope for good weight gain in the shortest possible time. Peking duck already by 2 months it reaches 2.5, and sometimes 3 kilograms.
What can affect the timing
The timing of cultivation is greatly affected by lack of water. Some owners feed their birds abundantly, but forget to fill the drinkers on time. Because of this, ducklings quickly become dehydrated and their food is not digested properly. Each head needs to be provided with 1.5 liters of water per day or 5 liters per 1 kg of feed.
Too low a temperature leads to intensive consumption of nutrients to heat the body, so ducklings do not gain weight well.
The optimal temperature in the poultry house should be between 20-23 degrees, and humidity – up to 65%. There is no need to overload the house - close proximity provokes constant aggression and fights among the ducklings. Because of this, viability decreases and the risk of death of the bird is high. Accommodation of no more than 16 heads per 1 sq.m. is available. meter of room.
If you don’t give the ducklings a walk in warm weather, this can affect the bird’s immunity. Walking should take place daily, starting from 4 days of age. On the street, birds will be able to independently provide themselves with green food and receive a sufficient dose of vitamins. The sun has a beneficial effect on the condition of the plumage, and active movement has a beneficial effect on muscle and weight gain.
Extended rearing periods lead to the appearance of juvenile molting. After 55-60 days, the ducklings' feathers begin to change. The body expends a large amount of calories, so birds lose weight, lose their presentation, and feathers are much more difficult to pluck. Therefore, the slaughter of young animals is carried out before the feathers begin to change.
Duck meat yield from live weight
The net yield of duck meat in uneviscerated carcasses depends on the breed and ranges from 55-70%.
To calculate the yield, it is enough to make a proportion with the values indicated in the table:
| Age of ducklings | Live weight | Total feed intake in grams |
| 4 days | 95 | 60 |
| 10 days | 260 | 72 |
| 2 weeks | 434 | 82 |
| 3 weeks | 850 | 90 |
| 4 weeks | 1100 | 100 |
| 5 weeks | 1350 | 110 |
| 6 weeks | 1600 | 120 |
| 7 weeks | 1720 | 150 |
| 8 weeks | 1950 | 168 |
As you can see from the table, the rate of weight gain becomes less intense by 8 weeks, so further growing for meat is not advisable.
To calculate the meat yield from live weight, you need to make a proportion:
X = M(duckling mass)*K(coefficient)
The coefficient varies depending on the breed of duck.
An example of calculating the net yield from live weight of Peking duck:
x = 2300 (live weight) * 0.86 (Peking duck coefficient) = 1978 - net weight yield.
