How to Care For Laying Ducks: Best 15 Tips

Always try to take good care of your birds and animals who are producing nutritious foods for us. You must have to fulfill all their needs or demands and keep them happy.

Ducks also a good creature of nature. They produce tasty and nutritious meat and eggs for us.

For proper growth and production from ducks, you must have to take good care of them. Your laying ducks will live happily and produce higher quality eggs, by proper care and management.

There are some duck breeds are available that can produce eggs like chickens throughout the year.

How to Care For Laying Ducks

For better egg production, you have to manage them well and take good care of them. You have to apply the same rules in caring for your ducks for both in your own backyard flock or if you run a large scale duck egg production business.

Here we are describing about how to care for laying ducks. Follow all the process and your ducks will be happy, healthy and produce their maximum.

Feeding

Regular feeding habit of duck affects it’s health. Egg production and egg quality of an egg laying duck are greatly influenced by the food that she is eating.

So, it’s very important to feed your laying ducks balanced diet feed containing sufficient amount of necessary vitamins and minerals.

A feed mixture of laying ducks should contain about 16% to 18% protein. But the amount of protein can vary according to the breeds of duck.

Generally, an egg laying duck consume about 6 to 8 ounces of feed daily. And she will supplement her diet by scavenging for bugs or other types of insects, grasses etc.

You can also serve her small treats like fruits, vegetables, greens or mixed corn. Always provide sufficient amount of clean and fresh water to your ducks.

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Keep watering pot directly next to the feeder and make it available for almost all time. Because without water, the ducks could choke.

Housing

Good and comfortable housing is also another important factor for raising egg laying ducks. Overcrowding environment is certainly not an ideal and comfortable environment for laying ducks because this situation can lead to peckish ducks.

Proper ventilation system is a must. So, ensure proper ventilation system in your coop.

You have to ensure a minimum floor space of 3 square feet per laying ducks. Keep some large sized nesting boxes inside the coop. Keep one nesting boxes for each 3 to 5 ducks. Ensure good protection for your ducks from various types of predators.

Lighting

Proper lighting is another important component for caring your laying ducks. The ability of producing eggs is mostly dependent on how much light is present during the day. The amount of sunlight decreases from July to December and increases from January to June.

When the days become shorten, increase the amount of artificial light gradually in in half hour increments at the beginning and end of each day, until the ducks are exposed to 14 hours of total light daily.

At the same way decrease the amount of using artificial light slowly when the sun stays for long time. This help the ducks for producing more eggs and also warm them during cold winter season.

Other Caring

An egg laying duck will produce her maximum if she feel less stress that means sticking to a routine. Complete the feeding and egg collecting process by the same person and same time daily.

Check the bedding of your laying ducks daily and always keep it clean and dry. If you are in need of fertilizing duck’s eggs, then keep one drake for every 5 to 6 laying ducks.

Keeping sufficient number of drakes is very important. It will help you preventing aggression and injury. Swimming water is a must while mating of ducks. But water is not so necessary for your laying ducks.

Swimming water is only necessary during mating or breeding period. You can use small pool or pond for making suitable swimming place for your ducks. They will enjoy swimming there very much.

However, I think you have learned something about how to care for laying ducks. For producing good quality and fresh eggs you must have to take good care of your ducks and provide them good housing, nutritious feeding and good care. Enjoy!

Tips for Caring Laying Ducks

If you have laying ducks in your flock, then there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure they stay healthy and happy. In this article, we’ll go over some of the best tips for caring for laying ducks.

Provide plenty of water

Ducks love water and require access to it at all times. Not only do they need water to drink, but they also use it for grooming, cooling off, and even mating.

Make sure you provide your ducks with a shallow container of water that’s large enough for them to submerge their entire head in. If possible, consider setting up a small kiddie pool or pond for them to swim in.

Feed them a balanced diet

A balanced diet is crucial for the health and productivity of laying ducks. Ducks require a diet that’s high in protein, vitamins, and minerals.

You can feed them a commercial poultry feed that’s formulated specifically for ducks, or you can provide them with a mix of grains, seeds, and vegetables. Make sure to provide your ducks with fresh, clean water at all times, as well as plenty of grit to help them digest their food.

Provide a safe and comfortable shelter

Your laying ducks will need a safe and comfortable shelter to protect them from the elements and predators. A duck house should be dry, draft-free, and well-ventilated.

It should also be raised off the ground to prevent flooding and predators from getting in. Make sure to provide plenty of nesting boxes for your ducks to lay their eggs in.

Keep them clean

Ducks are naturally clean animals and will spend a lot of time preening and grooming themselves. However, it’s important to make sure their living area stays clean and free of waste. Clean out their bedding regularly and make sure their water containers are kept clean and free of debris.

Monitor their health

Keeping an eye on your ducks’ health is essential to catching any potential problems early on. Watch for any signs of illness, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, or abnormal droppings.

Regularly check their feet, eyes, and beaks for any signs of injury or infection. If you notice anything unusual, consult a veterinarian who specializes in poultry.

Allow them to free-range

Ducks love to forage and will happily spend hours searching for bugs, worms, and other tasty treats. Allowing your ducks to free-range is a great way to keep them active and engaged. Make sure to supervise them when they’re outside and keep them safe from predators.

Provide plenty of shade

Ducks are sensitive to heat and can become stressed if they don’t have access to shade. Make sure to provide plenty of shade in their living area, whether that’s through trees, umbrellas, or a shaded structure.

Protect them from predators

Predators such as foxes, raccoons, and coyotes can pose a serious threat to your laying ducks. Make sure to secure their living area with a sturdy fence and keep their food and water containers inside the coop at night. Consider installing motion-activated lights or an alarm system to deter predators.

Keep them social

Ducks are incredibly social animals and thrive in the company of others. Consider adding a few more ducks to your flock or even keeping them with chickens. Make sure to provide plenty of space for them to move around and interact with each other.

Be patient

Finally, caring for laying ducks requires patience and dedication. These birds can be messy and unpredictable at times, but they’re also incredibly rewarding to care for.

Take the time to get to know your ducks and enjoy the unique personalities and behaviors that make them so special.

Collect eggs regularly

Laying ducks are known for their high egg production, but it’s important to collect their eggs regularly to prevent them from becoming dirty or damaged.

Make sure to provide plenty of nesting boxes for your ducks to lay their eggs in and check them at least once a day. Collect any eggs that have been laid and clean them if necessary.

Keep them away from toxic substances

Ducks can be very curious creatures, and they may try to eat or chew on things that could be harmful to them. Make sure to keep them away from any toxic substances such as pesticides, chemicals, or poisonous plants.

It’s also important to provide them with clean drinking water to prevent them from drinking any contaminated water.

Provide them with a dust bath

Ducks love to take dust baths to keep their feathers clean and healthy. Provide them with a shallow container of sand or dirt, and they’ll happily roll around in it to clean themselves. You can even add diatomaceous earth to the sand to help control any parasites or mites.

Watch for signs of egg-binding

Egg-binding is a condition that can affect laying ducks, especially as they get older. It occurs when an egg gets stuck in the reproductive tract, causing the duck to become lethargic and unable to lay.

Watch for any signs of egg-binding, such as straining or sitting in a hunched position. If you suspect your duck is egg-bound, seek veterinary care immediately.

Provide them with plenty of enrichment

Ducks are intelligent and curious animals that need plenty of mental stimulation to prevent boredom and stress. Provide them with plenty of toys and objects to explore, such as mirrors, floating toys, or even a small pool filled with ping pong balls. You can also scatter treats around their living area to encourage foraging behavior.

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