Black duck: names and 5 varieties, which one is better to choose and how to keep

The most common domestic duck with dark plumage is the white-breasted meat type. Due to its high productivity and unpretentiousness, the black duck is considered one of the best varieties for growing in a private backyard. There are also wild species with dark plumage, they can be tamed, but this is impractical. Due to low meat and egg productivity, wild duck can only be used as an ornamental species.

Features

Of the wild species with black plumage, the most common is the coot duck with a white spot on its forehead. A wild bird differs from its domestic white-breasted relative in a small body, strong lower limbs and the desire to spend more time out of the water.The white-breasted duck is bred by breeding, is distinguished by rapid weight gain, and provides dietary meat. In breeding work, 3 breeds were used: Beijing, Ukrainian and Khaki Campbell. The duck is characterized by precocity, rapid maturation, high egg production, large egg weight.

The white-breasted duck provides not only meat and eggs, its feather goes to the production of bed linen. The breed is suitable for breeding work aimed at increasing the birth rate and meat productivity.

The rest of the wild black species are easy to tame. But poultry farmers do not see the need for this. Wild duck weighs a little, gives a small number of medium-sized eggs, so its maintenance is unprofitable.

But some hobby poultry breeders breed wild waterfowl with black plumage for decorative purposes.

Varieties of black ducks

Each species has individual features of appearance and behavior that determine the use of birds for decorative or industrial purposes. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you should consider what it looks like, how productive the duck of each variety is.

Black White

Large precocious duck. By 2 months of age, weighs 2 kg. The weight of an adult individual reaches 5 kg. Slaughter for meat is carried out for 60-65 days. Laying hens are kept for 2-3 seasons. Drakes are brighter colored than females, with a greenish-purple plumage and feet closer together.

The external features and productive qualities of the black white-breasted breed are shown in the table.

35-40cmWeight3-5kg Egg production Color

Size
120-160 eggs weighing 80-100g per season
solid black, with a white diffuse spot on the neck and chest; eyes, beak, paws are black , not sweeping, short tail

Pros and consbig weight, precocity;high egg production;puberty at 6 months;survival rate of ducklings up to 95%;unpretentiousness in care;resistance of adults to cold.young animals are sensitive to cold, a temperature of 28-30 ° C is required within a crescent from birth;the duck catches a cold because of the draft.I like it I don't like it

Coot

Wild black duck, belonging to the shepherd family, has an unusual physique: paws are disproportionate to the body, large, with long fingers. Other names of the species are "kashkaldak", "black white-billed duck". The plumage is solid black, the beak and forehead are white, the iris of the eyes is red, the paws are orange with gray fingers.An adult weighs 1.5 kg, grows up to 40 cm.

Sex differences are not expressed. It is possible to distinguish a female from a drake only by her voice; she has a more articulate and sonorous voice. The duck makes 2-3 clutches per season, each with up to 12 greenish-brown eggs. After 3 weeks, ducklings hatch, which quickly become independent, after half a month they themselves get food.

Pros and consdecorative;large and friendly flocks;excellent ability to swim under water for the extraction of algae and shellfish;beautiful courtship of males for females during the mating season;developed maternal instinct.low meat and egg productivity;exactingness to the conditions of detention;the need for a natural reservoir near the poultry house;aggressive behavior during the mating season;the need to clip the wings so that the duck does not fly away.I like1 Dislike

Mallard

The progenitor of all domestic breeds. The female is brown in color with a brownish-gray belly. The drake is distinguished by a green color of the head and neck, the chest is dark brown, the back and belly are speckled gray. During the molting period, the male becomes black with a brown tint. Body length - 60 cm, weight - about 2 kg.

The mallard, if it does not migrate, spends the winter on an unfrozen pond. The nest is arranged on wooded or occupied by high grassy vegetation banks of reservoirs. Reaches sexual maturity at one year of age. Lays up to 13 olive-colored eggs in late spring. A month later, chicks appear, which, as soon as the body dries, immediately show independence.

A relative of the mallard is an African black duck that lives south of the Sahara. Her plumage is black with white spots on the tail and back, and the females are more saturated.

Pros and consunpretentiousness;non-fearful attitude towards a person;trouble-free domestication;possibility of use as a decorative pond bird;quick weight gain ducklings.low meat and egg productivity;without clipping its wings, a duck can fly away.I like 1 I don't like 1

Redhead dive

A small wild duck. Length - up to 50 cm, weight - no more than 1.3 kg. The male head and neck are brick red, the back is gray, the body is black, the iris is red, and the beak is gray-black. The female is more modestly colored, the head and body are light brown. The voice is a low whistling and wheezing. When walking, the duck rolls over due to its paws set back, but it swims and dives excellently, it can linger under water for up to 20 seconds.

Duck does not always spend winter in warm regions, it can stay on an unfrozen pond. The nest is arranged in thickets of high near-water vegetation. It incubates 8-10 bluish-green eggs. After 23-25 days, ducklings appear, which become ready to fly after 2 months.

Pros and consdecorative;the possibility of taming for pond maintenance;silent behavior.the unprofitability of domestication for industrial purposes;low egg production and slow weight gain.I like it I don't like it

Grey-cheeked Grebe

A compact duck with a straight yellow beak, a long red neck and a small head decorated with a black crest. The main color is black with a brown tint.The iris is reddish brown. A duck weighs up to 1 kg, body length - 40 cm. The species is rare, was almost exterminated by poachers, and is gradually recovering.

Pros and consdecorative;beautiful behavior of birds during courtship;the possibility of taming for pond maintenance;The duck swims and dives more than it flies.unprofitability of domestication due to low meat and egg productivity;unpleasant fishy taste of meat.I like it I don't like itFinal ranking tableCootoneblack white breastedMallardred-headed pochardGrey-cheeked grebe

Selection rules

When choosing birds, take into account the purpose of home breeding, whimsicality and productivity of the species. Almost all wild black species can be domesticated, but productivity leaves much to be desired, weight gain is poor. Therefore, wild cherries are not of interest to poultry farmers.

For breeders, the wild black duck is of no interest. But some breeders are breeding poultry with mallards for hardy and he althy hybrids.

For meat and egg production, an exceptionally large black duck with a white breast, which is valued for its rapid weight gain, is suitable. The African black mallard lives well in captivity, it is unpretentious in care and nutrition. The coot is an untamed duck, it can fly away at any moment. When buying ducklings for breeding, pay attention to their appearance. Birds must be he althy, mobile, without anatomical defects and bald spots on the body.

How are they kept?

Sufficient space is required to keep birds. There should be no more than 3 individuals per 1 m^{2 of the poultry house. The floor in the duck dwelling is made of wood, straw or sawdust is used as bedding, laid in a layer of 20 cm, and changed regularly.The optimum summer temperature in the poultry house is 16-18 °C, winter - 14-16 °C. Air humidity - 60-70%.}

The birds are fed according to the regime, every day at the same time. The standard duck diet consists of:

• grains;
• bran;
• garden greens, vegetables;
• algae;
• bone and fish meal;
• shredded fish;
• sources of minerals - chalk, shell rock, eggshell;
• vitamin supplements.

Near the poultry house, a fenced area for walking must be organized. If there is no natural reservoir nearby, then a large basin of water is placed in the paddock. At night, the birds are closed in the aviary.

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