How much does a duck weigh: a table of averages by day and what factors influence

Home poultry breeding for farmers is a profitable business. Ducks are viable, early maturing species, with proper care and nutrition, they gain the desired weight for 60 days. Poultry is bred for meat and eggs, in industrial production - additionally for down and feathers. When breeding game for meat, it is important to know how much ducks weigh in the period of growing up to two months of age. Further fattening the individual becomes unprofitable.

Average duck weight

Ducks have an average weight, an adult by the age of 60 days reaches a weight of 2.5-2.7 kilograms.Weight is also affected by: the breed of the animal, age, gender. Some species of birds can reach a weight of up to 6 kilograms at 2 months. On farms, ducks are placed in poultry houses with limited range. Food, cleaning occur mechanically. This is how poultry is fed for meat. Intensive fattening of meat breeds allows you to get an elite bird of the appropriate weight by day 50.

The average weight of ducks by day is shown in the table:

31-40 Duck weight (average), g220530 1450

Indicator	Age of ducklings, days 21-30
	41-50	51-65				950
2000	2300

A day old duckling weighs, on average, 55 grams. At 10 days, the body weight of the chick is increased by 4-5 times.

Factors affecting performance

Meat productivity of ducks lies in the mass and quality before slaughter.The quality of meat products depends on the breed and age of the individual. Important factors are feeding and proper care. The quality score is also affected by protein levels, metabolic energy, and diet. The level of fatty acid composition of meat depends on the amount of vegetable and animal fats in the diet.

In addition to the proper nutrition of ducks, the issue of their maintenance is also important. Individuals of the meat breed are unpretentious in maintenance and care. When breeding, one of two options for placing the bird is chosen: on a litter or in an aviary. In summer, they are placed in a clearing with fresh grass near a pond. In winter, the livestock is placed in a warm room.

Drinkers and feeders are installed in the house. The enclosures are fenced off from each other. The room must have good ventilation.In the northern regions, heating is additionally installed in the poultry house. During breeding, the birds must observe the cleanliness and freshness of the air inside the enclosures. When raising ducks, important points are taken into account:

1. Place no more than 3 adult ducks per square meter to eliminate the risk of infection or other diseases.
2. Individuals are placed in spacious enclosures of at least 7070 centimeters, with a height of 35 centimeters.
3. On 1 square meter do not place more than 10 young animals.
4. If ducks are kept on a bedding, the floor is covered with hay or straw, after filling a layer of slaked lime.
5. The floor is covered with a net, bottom trays are installed to collect droppings, dirt, feathers.
6. The temperature in the poultry house should be within +7 … +14 degrees, with an air humidity of 70 percent. For young animals, they withstand an air temperature of +22 degrees, with a humidity of 65 percent.

Before the first placement of birds in cages, disinfection is carried out. The poultry house is ventilated, cleaned, feeders and drinkers are treated with an antiseptic. Close enclosures for quarantine for 20 days.

What to feed ducks to gain weight?

Home farming feeds livestock in two ways:

• ready mixed feed;
• natural food.

Feeding livestock with ready-made feed is simple and affordable. Additionally, grass is fed to the bird. On such a diet, birds grow up quickly. The disadvantage of this type of feeding is the high cost. With natural feeding, simple products are included in the diet, grazing is organized. A balanced diet allows you to quickly grow poultry.

You can fatten livestock for rapid growth on available products:

1. Grain feed, including barley, corn, wheat, oats and other crops. The grain is crushed, given in the form of crumbly mash. If it is impossible to crush the product, it is steamed in boiling water for several hours. Juveniles and adults willingly eat steamed food.
2. Juicy food - grass and vegetables can make up to half of the total mass of duck food. Such food is enriched with fiber, vitamins. Pets are grazing or planted in feeders.
3. Feed of animal origin. Individuals in nature feed on insects, snails, worms. Domestic individuals in the diet include: whey or skim milk, cottage cheese, bone meal.
4. Mineral supplements are essential in the diet of duck stock.The menu includes: chalk, eggshells, table s alt. Calcium helps to strengthen bone tissue, sodium helps the rapid absorption of food. Products are left in the feeder, the bird itself consumes the right amount of supplements.

Adults are fed twice a day, young animals are fed 3-4 times a day. When grazing, they organize food for ducks in the aviary only in the evening.

Feeding ducks is not a problem and does not require large financial costs. It is enough for a livestock breeder to monitor the cleanliness, freshness of the feed, and choose the right balanced diet. If you follow simple rules, ducks quickly gain weight and produce quality meat.

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