Hi
Duck is a very good income generating occupation for those who are small and marginal farmers. This can be even reared by landless classes and women.
Duck rearing is profitable and simple in management because ducks are (i) less hazardous bird, (2) have disease resistance, (3) have longer economic egg-production life, (4) duck eggs are heavier and fetch a better price, (5) meat is also a delicacy and is relished by the people, (6) they do not need elaborate housing, and (7) ducks kill snails, slugs and other crop pests.
Duck rearing can be done in all Indian states. Marshy river sides, wetlands, ponds, tanks, barren moors, etc. are good for ducks. Land based duck farming is being recently started on artificial water stores, near big cities on small and large commercial scale.
There are a number of advantages of duck rearing over chicken or other poultry birds. They are the following.
1. Ducks lay on an average 40-50 more eggs than the layers of chicken.
2. Duck eggs are about 15to 20 grams heavier than chicken eggs.
3. They require less care and attention compared to other birds.
4. They are good foragers and are able to meet part of their feed requirements.
5. Ducks have longer economically laying period than chicken.
6. They are hardy and more easily resistant to many avian
7. Ducks flourish well in marshy and wet land where most other domestic animals can not survive.
8. Ducks are free from cannibalism and other objectionable tendencies.
9. Ducks lay their eggs before 9.00 a.m. and hence egg collection is easy for the keeper.
10. They are easily trained to manage themselves.
11. They live longer than chicken.
12. They are suitable to integrated farming systems such as duck cum fish farming, duck cum pig cum fish and duck cum kitchen garden.
13. They are resistant to a number of diseases that are usually found among chicken.
14. Ducklings are easily sexed compared to chicks.
15. They are good predators of insect pests.
16. Ducks do not need elaborate housing
Breeds of the ducks can be classified into three main groups: A. egg types consisting of Khaki Campbell and Indian Runner breeds, B. meat type consisting of White Pekin, Muscovy and Aylesbury breeds, and C. ornamental type consisting of Crested White breed.
REf:
www.inseda.org/... Ducks (DKS)/Duck Rearing-222.doc
REgards
Ashwini
