How to clip wings to ducks: how to do it right and at what age

Duck breeding is considered a popular direction in poultry farming. These birds mostly walk on the ground. However, they also have the ability to fly. In order not to lose your pets, it is important to periodically clip their wings. It is important to do this in compliance with a number of recommendations so as not to harm the birds. So how do you trim duck wings?

Do I need to trim duck wings

Ducks are naturally endowed with good flying abilities. Wild individuals living in nature are often faced with the need to travel long distances in search of food and water. The ability to fly often protects them from predatory animals.

Domestic ducks face fewer dangers in their lives. However, they still have flying skills. This creates a danger that the birds will simply fly away from the farm. Most often this happens with Indians and individuals that belong to the Beijing breed.

To prevent ducks from flying, farmers prefer to clip their wings. When performed correctly, the procedure is simple and considered quite safe. It is important not to injure the wings, so as not to cause pain in pets.

Sometimes poultry farmers do not cut their wings, but feed their pets heavily. Ducks, which are overweight, fly with great difficulty. However, this is not a very good path. With systematic overeating, there is a risk of developing all kinds of pathologies in birds. In addition, individuals need to walk in open areas. It is difficult and unprofitable to keep livestock in the barn all the time. Therefore, it is recommended to periodically monitor the length of their wings.If you cut them, you don't have to worry about the ducks flying away.

At what age should I have the procedure?

It is worth trimming the wings of domestic ducks in the first half of autumn. Experienced poultry farmers are advised to perform it in September. But at the same time, it is worth focusing on the period of seasonal molting. Pruning is usually done after this period, when new feathers appear.

For the first time, manipulation is best done at 4 months - at this time, puberty occurs in birds. As a rule, wing trimming is carried out once a year. When the procedure is performed correctly, the birds do not experience discomfort. In doing so, they may experience stress.

Required inventory

To perform the procedure, prepare the following:

• gloves - they should be tight enough to help protect hands from all kinds of damage;
• sharp scissors - it is permissible to use special tools that can cut metal;
• burlap - required if ducks resist strongly.

Cutting rules

It is best to cut the wings of the Indochka together. In this case, one person must hold the bird tightly, and the second must stretch the wing and perform the appropriate actions. Many farmers are careful not to harm the duck and cut off the excess.

To properly trim the wings, before carrying out the manipulation, you should familiarize yourself with the main types of feathers.

They are divided into 2 categories - covering and flywheels. The latter are located on the back of the wing and help the bird take off. These are the largest feathers. Therefore, it is impossible to confuse them with others. Today, several trimming methods are known:

1. The first method is mainly used by hunters.It is used for decoys to help attract game. For this purpose, domestic birds need to be given the maximum resemblance to wild ones. In this case, it is recommended to cut only the wide part of the feathers that are along the base. This method allows the birds to fly, but they can only travel short distances.
2. The second method is used by hunters and farmers. It helps to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the ducks. For this purpose, the feathers are cut in a checkerboard pattern. When carrying out the procedure, it is required to remove the wide part of the first flywheel, and shorten the second one only by 50%. By alternating it is possible to trim the entire wing.
3. The third method is considered the easiest. At the same time, the farmer shortens all flight feathers, with the exception of 2-3 feathers. These elements are used to maintain aesthetic characteristics.

All of these options are used exclusively for one wing: if you cut both, the duck will still be able to fly.Such manipulations are recommended after the end of the molting period and after reaching 15 weeks of age. Chicks are not allowed to trim their wings. Also, do not carry out the procedure with females that incubate eggs.

In other situations, feathers can be trimmed. In this case, the procedure should be repeated several times. A year later, it will need to be repeated. At the same time, you should not be afraid to trim the feathers. Manipulation is considered completely safe and does not cause pain.

Wound treatment in case of errors

Sometimes when performing a manipulation, the farmer accidentally damages the vessel. In such a situation, it is recommended to take immediate action. First of all, it is important to stop the bleeding.

The following substances can be used for this purpose:

1. "Betadine" - is an iodine solution that has a water base.
2. "Miramistin" - has pronounced disinfecting properties and helps to heal damaged areas.
3. Hydrogen peroxide.

If a blood vessel is damaged during wing trimming, ordinary iodine cannot be used for processing. Before the procedure, it is important to prepare all the necessary preparations.

If pruning results in a deep wound and the bleeding cannot be stopped, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Trimming the wings of domestic ducks is considered a simple procedure. It is important to have the necessary skills and act as confidently as possible. Before carrying out the manipulation, it is worth preparing all the necessary devices. This will help make the process much easier for the bird and the farmer.

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