Domestic duck: varieties of breeds and what they are - photos with names

Loading…

Based on their ability to increase body weight, egg production, and plumage quality, domestic ducks are divided into meat ducks, egg ducks, and those raised for feathers and down. Popular breeds of ducks for home breeding most often have a meat or meat-egg orientation. There are also intermediate varieties with good egg production and meat production. Recently, poultry farmers have been paying maximum attention to broilers in the morning - early maturing, with excellent lean meat and decent weight.

All existing breeds, breed lines and crosses are descendants of the common mallard, domesticated and refined in Europe and Asia, and musk ducks, whose homeland is the American continent. Despite the difference in location and natural habitat conditions, these species of ducks performed best when kept in large and very small farms.

A description of duck breeds, their wild and domesticated varieties, as well as promising crosses will help the poultry farmer navigate the diversity on offer and create a highly productive flock in his own backyard.

Ukrainian gray

Meat poultry, which is considered one of the best breeds of this type. The breed was bred by Ukrainian breeders.

Description. Birds have a wide muscular body, a powerful physique and fragile bones. The beak is dark, slightly concave. The animals have thick plumage, similar in color to that of their wild counterparts. Specimens with clay or white plumage are usually found.

Productivity. The little ducklings grow and develop well and gain weight quickly. Already at 2 months the weight of birds reaches 3.5-4 kg. Over the course of a year, one hen produces up to 120 large eggs weighing 85-90 g.

Content. Ducks of this breed are able to fully develop on grazing and independently obtained duckweed alone. The breed can be kept in unheated poultry houses. The main thing is to provide thick bedding and protect the house from drafts.

Advantages. Good productive performance, increased resistance to low temperatures and bird diseases. They also distinguish early maturity, intensive growth, and a high survival rate of chicks.

Flaws. The birds are unclean and also noisy.

Russian Crested

The main feature is the crest on the head. Some people notice that the larger it is, the lower the productivity indicators.

Description. The Russian Crested Duck has a medium-length body and a strong build. Well developed muscles. The back is wide, slightly convex, the chest is rounded. There are no folds on the lush belly. There are specimens with a pure white color, and there are also multi-colored birds: they have thick feathers that fit tightly to the body. Ducks have long wings and an elongated, rounded head. Brown eyes and concave beak.

Productivity. The weight of ducks reaches a little more than 2 kg, drakes weigh about 3 kg. They have tender, juicy and tasty meat. Over the course of a year, one hen produces about 55 white or greenish eggs weighing up to 70-80 g.

Content. Ducks are unpretentious in their diet and are comfortable with water bodies. It is not recommended to overfeed them, as birds are prone to obesity. The room where birds are kept must be clean and dry, otherwise the animals may suffer from diseases.

Advantages. Birds are unpretentious in maintenance and nutrition. Characterized by high productivity and rapid growth.

Flaws. Low weight of Russian ducks.

Indo-ducks or Muscovy ducks

Muscovy ducks are native to Central and South America. Unlike European mallards, who cannot imagine life without water, “American mallards” are calm about the absence of a pond, river or lake nearby. They are calm, and when kept in a common poultry yard, their voice is heard extremely rarely. Because of this feature, the birds were nicknamed mute ducks. Since the birds imported from distant countries were not at all similar to the usual domestic ducks, Europeans began to look for features of other species in them. Obviously, the red growths on the heads of birds, especially noticeable in males, gave rise to another nickname for ducks - turkey ducks, by analogy with turkeys, to which waterfowl have no related relationship.

Muscovy ducks come in a variety of colors. Unlike ordinary poultry, they do not gain weight so quickly, but their meat is low in fat, has a delicate texture and excellent taste.

Purebred American males can grow up to 5 kg in weight, and females, which are almost twice as light, are well known as excellent brood hens.

The meat qualities of indo-ducks attracted the attention of breeders to them. Today, interspecific hybrids of musky and meat European ducks are very popular among poultry farmers.

Bashkir

Breed of meat and egg orientation. Farmers of private farmsteads and industrial enterprises especially fell in love with these birds, due to the fact that they feed on almost any food and are able to independently satisfy their needs while walking in a meadow or on a pond.

Description. Ducks have protruding chests and a strong and muscular build. Large, widely spaced paws on short orange legs. The head is flattened on the upper side, located on a short, concave neck, curved outward. A concave orange beak with a wide growth that allows the birds to grab grass. The wings fit tightly to the body. The plumage is black-gray.

Productivity. Adult drakes weigh more than 4 kg, and ducks reach 3.7 kg. There is practically no fat in the carcass. The meat yield is at least 70%. One laying hen produces from 115 to 125 eggs weighing 70-80 g per year.

Content. The bird is unpretentious in care, so it will feel good in special cages and pens. In the room for ducks, it is imperative to maintain an average temperature in winter, and set the optimal temperature in summer - it should not be hot.

Advantages. High survival rate of ducklings - about 80%. Birds also have increased resistance to infectious diseases, grow and develop quickly.

Flaws. Birds need to constantly drink clean water and change bedding, otherwise the animals may be susceptible to disease.

What do ducks eat

Most ducks have a wide, flat bill, adapted for digging and searching for food, such as:

• herbs;
• aquatic plants; fish;
• insects;
• small amphibians;
• worms;
• shellfish

Some species are herbivores and feed on plants. Other species are carnivorous and hunt fish, insects and small animals. Many species are omnivores.

Ducks have two feeding strategies: some catch food on the surface, others dive. Surface-eating ducks do not dive, but simply bend down and use their long necks to reach for food underwater. Diving ducks dive underwater in search of food!

Beijing

From the name it becomes clear that the origin of the breed is Chinese. The bird appeared in Europe in the 19th century and immediately became valuable to many private farm owners. The Peking breed is considered no less popular in Russia.

Description. Animals have special external characteristics. Pekingese have a strong build, broad chest and large back. The large head has a convex forehead and a bright orange beak. The head is located on a small, short neck. The wings have a large span and are well developed. The birds have thick white plumage. Occasionally there are specimens with cream feathers.

Productivity. An adult duck weighs about 3 kg, a drake reaches a weight of up to 4 kg, sometimes more. The young quickly gain weight and already at 2 months the drakes weigh 2.9 kg. During the year, laying hens lay more than 110 eggs weighing about 90 g.

Content. In winter, ducks need to be provided with a special room so that there are no drafts. It is equally important to maintain optimal temperature and lighting. When cold weather sets in, the temperature in the duck house should be at least +10 degrees, in summer - no more than +25 degrees.

Advantages. Early ripening, undemanding to feed, resistance to heat and cold. In addition, there is no need to keep the bird near a pond.

Flaws. Birds have poorly developed maternal instincts; ducks are overly sensitive to excess humidity.

Musk (indot)

The Muscovy duck comes from South America, where the ancient Indians raised this bird for hundreds of years. In the countries of the former Soviet Union, the Indian duck appeared in the 80s of the last century. The breed allegedly received its name due to the specific aroma of the meat, but contemporaries do not feel anything like that.

Description. The bird's appearance is remarkable. There are bright growths on the top of the head, and it has a narrow beak that curls downward. On the top of the head there are elongated raised feathers; when the bird is frightened or surprised, they puff up even more. Muscovy ducks have blue, gray or brown eyes. The neck is strong and short. The chest is well developed. The back is long and wide. The body is placed almost horizontally. Short legs give it a stocky appearance. Birds come in brown, white, and blue colors. There are specimens with brown and white, black and white with a pattern.

Productivity. Adult males weigh 5-6 kg, ducks - 2-3 kg. At 2 months, the weight of the young reaches 3.8 kg for drakes and 2.2 for females. During the year, laying hens produce 90-100 eggs weighing up to 75 g. Egg products are valuable and healthy.

Content. Birds prefer dry and clean rooms. The poultry house should be spacious and light. Animals are picky about cleanliness for the reason that it affects the laying period. The room temperature is maintained at 18-20 degrees Celsius.

Advantages. Unpretentiousness in nutrition, developed maternal instinct, endurance, ability to live for a long time outside the reservoir.

Flaws. Long-term development and birds’ dislike of cramped conditions and “damp” conditions contribute to the development of diseases.

You can find out exactly what the Muscovy duck breed looks like and how to keep them in the video below:

Better breed of domestic ducks

Meat breeds of ducks

Bashkir duck

One of the most popular breeds of meat ducks in our latitudes today. The Bashkir duck is known for its precocity, resistance to disease, unpretentious maintenance and extremely tender meat with a fairly high fat content. And although it is considered meat, the yield of eggs from the Bashkir is also good.

The Bashkir duck breed was bred in Bashkortostan, at the Blagovarsky breeding plant, and completely by accident. Specialists were carrying out breeding work aimed at improving the performance of the Beijing White Duck, when suddenly “mutant individuals” began to appear - with an uncharacteristic color. The mutants turned out to be so productive in terms of meat and eggs that the non-standard color of the ducks was fixed, and the breed was called the Bashkir Colored Duck.

Bashkir duck: main indicators and characteristics:

The weight of an adult is up to 4 kg, the weight of ducklings at 7 weeks is 3.3 kg. At the same time, the meat yield from the Bashkir breed of ducks reaches 70% of live weight.

Ducks of the Bashkir breed produce 200-230 eggs with an average weight of 85 grams over a 40-week productive period. The hatchability of ducklings in the incubator is 78-80%. However, Bashkir ducks themselves incubate eggs quite well.

The Bashkir breed is easily recognizable due to its wide concave beak, flattened head shape, and muscular, widely set paws. As for the plumage, they distinguish between the khaki Bashkir duck and the Black white-breasted Bashkir duck

Bashkir ducks produce excellent tender meat, without a specific taste, with a low fat content and a high yield of muscle tissue.

Ducks gain weight well when walking on ponds, are not afraid of frost and show enviable resistance to diseases.

Peking duck

If there is a better breed of domestic duck, it is the Peking duck. It has been grown in China for more than three centuries, and in Europe and America for more than a hundred years. During this time, many new, seemingly more productive breeds have appeared, but Peking ducks continue their triumphal march around the world, and their population numbers are steadily growing. What are these ducks good for?

Peking ducks: main indicators and features:

The weight of an adult male is 3.5-4 kg, the weight of an adult female is 3-3.5 kg, the weight of young animals at one and a half months is 2.5-3 kg. It is worth noting that young individuals are kept until juvenile molting (60-70 days), after which the growth of ducklings slows down, new feathers (hemps) begin to form, worsening the appearance of carcasses and the quality of meat, metabolism is aimed not at building muscle mass, but at formation of internal organs. After this, feed consumption increases by 2.5 times, so keeping ducklings after juvenile molting is unprofitable.

A Peking duck produces 80-120 eggs weighing 85-90 g per year.

The White Peking Duck is a weighty bird with a characteristic waddling gait, an elongated raised body, a deep broad chest, and a wide long back.

This meat breed of duck is famous for its extremely active metabolism. Food passes through the Peking duck's stomach quickly, so the ducks grow literally before our eyes and quickly gain weight. Another feature of Peking ducks is associated with intense metabolism - accelerated breathing, increased body temperature (42.2 degrees is normal).

Peking duck meat is tender, juicy, quite fatty (the younger the bird, the less fat), slaughter weight - 80% of live weight, content of edible parts - 69%

Peking ducks are voracious, always hungry, noisy, active, but at the same time resistant to external influences - disease, cold.

Muscovy duck (Indoutka)

The Muscovy duck came to our region from South America, where the ancient Indians raised this bird hundreds of years ago. The musk duck (or turkey duck, as we call it, although this bird has nothing to do with turkeys) came to the countries of the former Soviet Union in the 80s of the last century. The musk duck got its name due to the specific aroma of the meat.

Muscovy ducks: main indicators and features:

The weight of adult males is 5-6 kg, females - 2-3 kg, young animals at 2 months - 3.8 for drakes and 2.2 for ducks. It is customary to keep indo-ducks until juvenile molting (about 2 months), after which their body is covered with “stumps” of future feathers.

Ducks produce from 90 to 100 eggs weighing about 75 grams per year. This is less compared to “Beijing” eggs, but indo-duck eggs are very valuable, in demand in cooking, and can be stored much longer. Muscovy ducks begin laying eggs at the age of 6-7 months. Ducks are good brood hens; they are often used to incubate chicken, goose, and duck eggs.

The appearance of the Muscovy duck is remarkable:

in the upper part of the head there are bright warts-growths, the beak is narrow, with a hooked end, the “top” is covered with elongated raised feathers, which puff up even more when frightened or surprised.

The eyes of Indian ducks can be gray, blue, or brown (depending on the plumage).

The neck is strong, of medium length, wide and long back, well-developed chest, body set almost horizontally.

The plumage is dense.

The legs are short, making Indian ducks look squat.

The claws on the toes are unusually sharp, especially in children, and the membranes between the toes are rounded.

The color of the plumage can be varied: white, blue, brown, brown with white, black, white with a pattern. At the same time, a mixed color does not indicate that the breed is “not pure” - according to European standards (namely, new varieties of indo-ducks are brought from Europe; we practically do not carry out breeding work on musk ducks), not only single-colored musk ducks can be purebred ducks

Muscovy duck meat is low-fat, dietary, very tasty, similar to game meat, but without a characteristic aftertaste. Indo ducks have a very high muscle mass yield (41%).

Peking ducks and musk drakes produce the well-known hybrid – Mulard. However, mulards are any hybrid of a musk duck (with Orpington, Rouen ducks, White Alliers). The hybrids turn out to be early ripening, with a large fatty liver, but sterile (more about mulards later).

Indian women are distinguished by their calm disposition and independence. Compared to Peking ducks, the Muscovy duck breed looks “quiet” (they don’t quack, but seem to hiss, which is why they are also called “mute” or “mute”) and consume much less feed. Heat-loving. Show resistance to diseases. They can live without bodies of water.

Mularda ducks

Mulards are sterile hybrids of Muscovy and, most often, Peking ducks. This is a bird of one season (we bought the chicks - raised them - ate them), because even if the female mulard starts laying eggs, they will be 100% infertile. Mulards were able to take on the best traits of their parents, thanks to which they became incredibly popular all over the world. At our dachas, mulards are raised in the summer, so that in the fall the whole family has meat, and on French farms, 500-gram livers for foie gras are extracted from mulards (yes, the liver for this delicacy is not only goose).

Mulard ducks: main indicators and features:

Adults reach a weight of 7 kg, and the difference between males and females is only 0.5 kg. At the age of 1.5-2 months, mulards weigh up to 1.5 kg, at the age of 3 months (when they are usually slaughtered) - 4 kg. At the same time, they gain weight well just on grass.

If we compare mulards with Indian fathers, then they lack such negative qualities as slow growth, low weight, late puberty, and a highly developed brooding instinct. Pure Indian ducks also benefit in some ways - they are quieter, cleaner, and have much more valuable red meat. Compared to the “Peking” ones, the Mulards have a more gentle disposition, they are quieter, cleaner, less gluttonous, their meat is less fatty, but the Peking females are more precocious, have a weak brooding instinct, and are more fertile.

Thus, Mularda ducks are a meat breed of ducks that were able to overcome the shortcomings of their parents, almost without compromising their own productivity.

Ducks Favorite blue

Ducks of the Favorit Blue breed were bred two decades ago at the Blagovarsky breeding plant by crossing Black White-breasted, Bashkir, Peking and another cross of ducks. The result was ducks of the Favorit breed - very hardy, quite early in maturity, with a completely suppressed brooding instinct and a wide range of plumage colors. The favorite ducks are considered to be meat breed ducks, although they will not leave their owners without eggs either. Despite the name, Favorit blue ducks do not have to be blue, which does not affect their productive qualities.

Ducks Favorite Blue: main indicators and characteristics:

The weight of adult males is 4.5-5.5 kg, females - up to 4 kg, young animals at the age of 2 months - about 3 kg. Thus, the fattening qualities of ducks of the Favorit breed are very high. The meat is less fatty than Peking and Bashkir ducks

During the season, the female produces 110-150 eggs, the young are very viable, and the incubation instinct is almost completely absent.

Favorite ducks have a long dense body, a not too convex chest, a medium-length neck, a long flat beak, and medium-length legs. As for color, ducks of the Favorite Blue breed can be either blue or black, light blue or dark blue. There is also a less common color of the Favorite – red (brown).

Gray Ukrainian ducks

Another breed of domestic duck, perfectly adapted for raising on a peasant farm: it is extremely cold-resistant, not at all fussy about food, gains weight well and lays eggs well. The Gray Ukrainian duck breed was bred at the Ukrainian Poultry Research Institute of the Borki state farm, and today it is one of the most popular meat breeds of ducks.

Ukrainian gray duck: main indicators and characteristics:

The weight of an adult male is 3.5-4 kg, females are about 3 kg, ducklings at the age of 2 months are 2 kg.

Gray Ukrainian ducks lay about 120 eggs weighing 70-90 grams per year, although with proper care they can produce more than 200 eggs per laying.

The gray Ukrainian duck can feed on grass, duckweed obtained independently from a pond, mixed feed, and grain.

Ducks of the Ukrainian Gray breed are characterized by thin bones, well-developed muscles, a strong constitution, abundant and at the same time light plumage, short strong legs, a deep, long and wide body. The gray Ukrainian duck is characterized by the color of its plumage, like that of wild mallard ducks, and it differs in females and males. There are other varieties of Ukrainian ducks – clay ducks and white ones.

Moscow white duck

The parents of the Moscow white duck are Khaki-Campbell drakes and Pekin ducks. From the “mother” Moscow Whites took early maturity, rapid weight gain and loudness, from the “dad” - light bones and decent egg production. This meat breed of domestic ducks was bred in the 50s of the last century at the Ptichnoe state farm near Moscow, setting the goal: to create a bird with good egg production, rapid growth of young animals, and most importantly, tolerance to harsh Russian winters. Judging by the prevalence of this breed of duck in households, poultry farmers coped with the task perfectly.

Moscow white ducks: main indicators and features:

The weight of adult males is 4-4.5 kg, females – 3-3.5 kg, young animals at the age of 2 months – 2-2.5 kg.

During the laying period, a Moscow White duck produces 120-130 eggs weighing 90-100 grams. The survival rate of ducklings is high - up to 90%. Remarkably, females can lay eggs without loss of productivity for several years.

The appearance of the Moscow White duck breed stands out among other white relatives with its unusual pink-red beak and light pink paws, which prevents it from being confused with either the Peking or Blagovarsky ducks, which have an orange beak. Otherwise, the duck is very similar to the Peking duck: white plumage, wide raised body, small head on a flexible neck, widely spaced, short legs.

These are unpretentious in nutrition, frost-resistant meat ducks that produce fairly tender, not very fatty meat.

Black white-breasted duck

This meat breed of ducks was bred at the Ukrainian Institute of Poultry Breeding by crossing Peking, Khaki-Campbell and Ukrainian White-breasted ducks. Ducks of the Black White-breasted breed are good because they fatten up quickly, are very early in maturity, have fatty meat and good egg production.

Black white-breasted ducks: main indicators and features:

The weight of an adult male is 3.5-4 kg, the weight of a female is 3-3.5 kg, the weight of young animals at the age of 2 months is 1.5-1.6 kg, at the age of 2.5 months – 2.5 kg

During the laying period, a duck of the Black White-breasted breed produces 120-130 eggs weighing up to 90 grams, while the hatchability of chicks is 65%, the survival rate of young animals is 90-92%, and the survival rate of adult birds is 95-96%.

Black white-breasted ducks are characterized by a noticeably raised body with a slope towards the tail, a deep chest, a long wide back, an elevated tail, black short strong legs, a concave dark beak, and strong wings. The color of the feathers is black, with a white belly and breast. Drakes of the Black White-breasted breed can be recognized by the blue-violet tint on the upper part of the neck.

Meat and egg breeds of domestic ducks

Cayuga duck

Ducks of the Cayuga breed are amazingly good - in appearance they are not inferior to decorative breeds of birds. However, it is a meat-and-egg breed of duck native to New York's Cayuga Lake. Ducks have been bred as a domestic breed since the end of the century before last. The Cayuga duck breed is distinguished by its calm disposition, unusual dark eggs and fantastic plumage - from blue to black with a metallic tint.

Cayuga ducks: main indicators and features:

Weight of adult males – 3.2-3.8 kg, females – 2.8-3.1 kg

The egg production of Cayuga ducks is 100-150 eggs, egg weight is 70-80 grams. At the same time, at the beginning of oviposition, females lay black eggs (about a dozen); over time, the eggs lighten to light gray or light green. Female Cayuga ducks are capable of not only incubating eggs well, but also carefully guiding ducklings.

The Cayuga duck breed is characterized by a strong constitution, black beak and paws, a medium-length tail pointing upward, and dark brown eyes. The plumage color is black with a greenish tint, but there are also blue varieties of Cayuga.

Cayuga ducks gain weight best when free-grazing, but they are not at all harmful, they do not interfere with gardens, and happily eat worms. They are not afraid of cold weather. This is an obedient, calm breed of domestic duck.

Saxon ducks

Dense, compact ducks with colorful plumage, included in the American Standard of Perfection in 2000, are the Saxon duck breed. It was bred in Germany in the 30s of the last century in the territory of Saxony through long crossing of Peking, Rouen and blue Pomeranian ducks.

Saxon ducks: main indicators and features:

The weight of adult males is 3-3.5 kg, females – 2.5-3.1 kg.

A female duck of the Saxon breed produces 150-200 eggs weighing 70-80 grams per egg laying. The meat of this domestic duck breed is also valued for its excellent taste.

Saxon ducks look plump and dense. They have strong bones, a slightly inclined body position, and a regularly shaped body. The main color of females is yellow-green. Males are distinguished by a dark blue, “metallic” head, neck and throat, a reddish-red chest and the rest of the neck, separated from the head by a ring of white plumage, the belly is light gray, the wings are “metallic” blue.

Ducks Khaki Campbell

This is a light, agile breed of meat-and-egg ducks, bred at the end of the 19th century in Britain. The parents of Khaki Campbell ducks are Indian Runners, Rouen Ducks and Mallards. This breed is loved for its good adaptation to almost any living conditions - be it cold northern regions, tropics or deserts, which does not prevent them from demonstrating excellent egg production. The meat of this bird also deserves attention - it is tender and low in fat.

Khaki Campbell ducks: main indicators and characteristics:

Weight of adult males – 2.5-3.3 kg, females – 2.2-2.5 kg, young animals aged 3.5 months – 1.3-2.2 kg

Ducks of the Khaki Campbell breed produce 250-350 eggs weighing 65-85 grams per egg-laying period, which occurs at the age of six months. Khaki Campbell hens turn out to be unimportant

The Khaki Campbell duck breed is characterized by a streamlined body, small head, dark orange legs, and light bones. The color can be either classic Khaki or white, variegated and dark.

This breed of domestic ducks prefers open keeping - pastures, ponds. Despite their peaceful, obedient nature, Khaki Campbell ducks are very energetic, easily excitable, and need a large open space. Only then will they be able to reach their potential.

Egg breeds of ducks

Duck Indian Runner (Runner)

This is, of course, exotic. But exoticism is productive, because it is not for nothing that the Indian Runner duck breed is the only recognized breed of egg-laying ducks. These ducks come from Southeast Asia; they came to Europe at the end of the century before last, and in those days they were kept in zoos. Amazing creatures, more reminiscent of running bottles than ducks, are very active, noisy, require large open spaces, and do not like cold weather and lack of water. But at the end of the day, Indian Runners are not often bred for eggs - they are a show breed. And, you see, there is something to exhibit.

Ducks Indian Runner: main indicators and characteristics:

The weight of an adult male is 2 kg, females are 1.75 kg. Runner meat is considered a delicacy.

In a year, a female Indian Runner can lay up to 350 eggs, but, as a rule, she is limited to two hundred. The bird lays eggs all year round, and they taste very similar to chicken eggs. Indian Runner ducks are excellent parents (and the ducklings themselves are an unsurpassed spectacle).

The Indian Runner duck breed is characterized by a straight, vertical body posture, long legs, and a long neck, thanks to which they can move quickly (it’s not for nothing that they were called “runners”). The color of the feathers can be completely different - black, white, brown, trout color, wild duck pattern, brown-speckled, etc.

Indian Runners without constant access to water sharply reduce productivity. The ideal option for them is the possibility of free range with a pond. This is a lively, naughty breed of domestic duck that can destroy your garden if you forget to close the gate. In winter, Indian Runners in our area need additional insulation - this is the only way they can delight you with eggs all year round.

Blagovarskaya

Most poultry farmers prefer to breed birds not only to produce eggs and meat products, but also to decorate their farmstead. Blagovarian ducks are just such birds, valued for their tasty meat and external characteristics.

Description. The birds are large in size and have a horizontal, elongated body. A large head is located on a flexible, elongated, short neck. The physique is strong - in appearance the bird resembles a broiler. The voluminous, elongated body with a rounded, developed chest especially distinguishes the bird. The beak is a deep orange hue. The legs are short, widely spaced, with orange or pink paws. The birds have snow-white plumage.

Productivity. The weight of adult drakes reaches 4.4-5 kg, ducks - up to 3 kg. During the year, the laying hen produces about 200-250 large eggs weighing 90-95 g. The shell is white. The fertilization rate of eggs reaches 98%.

Content. In winter, birds need a house to roost at night. The room is equipped with a heating and ventilation system, lighting, nests and feeders, drinking bowls, and windows.

Advantages. Rapid growth and weight gain. The birds have good meat performance and high productivity. The breed has increased resistance to various diseases.

Flaws. In order for birds to be healthy, grow quickly and gain weight, they need to be provided not only with good housing, but also with a balanced diet, which can be expensive.

Mirror

Mirror
Breeding time: mid-century, place: Soviet Union. It was the result of crossing local representatives with Khaki Campbell and Peking ducks. An adult drake weighs almost three and a half kilograms, a duck is half a kilogram less. They can lay up to one hundred and fifty eggs per year. One weighs about eighty grams.

A very beautiful breed. The plumage of the body is light brown with a shine. The head of the drakes has a greenish tint. The body is proportional. Short ponytail. Strong paws.

Agidel

When working with these ducks, breeders tried to improve not only egg and meat productivity indicators, but also increase the animals' resistance to diseases and infections. They managed to achieve this.

Description. Ducks are characterized by a deep, protruding chest, a long and wide back, and a well-set and almost horizontal body. The animals have a long and large head with dark, high-set eyes and a wide beak of a white-pink hue. The neck is slightly thickened and relatively long. The body is firmly supported by short legs of a light orange hue. The plumage is white.

Productivity. The breed is valued for its high productive qualities. At the age of 2 months, birds weigh 3 kg. During this period, if the bird is not kept for breeding or keeping eggs, it is sent for slaughter. A duck produces up to 250 large eggs weighing up to 100 g in one season.

Content. Animals do not need permanent poultry houses because they can easily tolerate temperature changes. The only thing that is important to avoid is drafts. There must be a bowl of water in the room so that the birds can moisten their feathers.

Advantages. Agidel ducks quickly gain weight, produce a lot of eggs per year, and have increased resistance to diseases. The taste of meat is especially valued by farmers.

Flaws. Receiving a brood from an incubator due to poorly developed maternal instinct, fatty meat.

wild ducks

Wild ducks
If previously wild ducks were caught by hunting, now it is not a problem to have such birds on your home plot. The taste of meat differs significantly from homemade meat; it can be slightly bitter or sweet. Eggs also taste different

The most common representatives: mallard, red-headed duck, gray ducks.

On average, the weight of a wild duck is 1.5-3 kg, depending on the breed and conditions of detention. Females produce about 100 eggs per year.

Blue favorite

A breed bred not so long ago - about 20 years ago. Peking duck was used for crossbreeding. At a factory in Bashkiria, breeders selected and crossed ducks for a long time in order to obtain the final positive result. The second name of the bird is Pharaoh.

Description. Blue ducks are considered large birds. At 6 months, the bird is in no way inferior in size to geese of the same age. The Pharaoh has a dense, heavy build, a protruding chest and a long, low-slung body. The neck is strong and of medium length. A wide, large gray beak and large dark eyes. The body is supported by strong, short legs of yellow or gray color. The wings are small and fit tightly to the body. There are specimens with blue, red, gray, white, black and combined plumage.

Productivity. With a balanced diet, birds weigh about 3 kg already at two months of age. The average weight of drakes is up to 5 kg, sometimes 7-8 kg. Females weigh less - about 4 kg. Over the course of a year, one hen produces from 100 to 150 large eggs weighing 80-85 g.

Content. The Blue Favorite is a low-maintenance breed. It is not necessary to equip a special duck pen; a regular pen will be enough for the bird. The animal adapts well to climatic conditions.

Advantages. The Pharaoh has many advantages that make the breed popular for breeding:

• birds have a beautiful appearance;
• animals quickly gain weight;
• Birds produce tasty lean meat.

Flaws. Birds have poorly developed maternal instinct. For this reason, ducklings are hatched only using an incubator or hens of other breeds.

Mulards

Breeders created a hybrid in order to improve the qualities of the parent breeds to obtain a new, improved specimen. For crossing, indo-duck and domestic duck of the Peking white, Rouen, etc. breeds are used.

Description. The birds have a special appearance, making them difficult to confuse with other ducks. The sizes are large, the body is dense and elongated. On a strong, long neck there is an oval, small head. The body is supported on strong legs with short yellow-orange legs. The eyes are dark, the beak is flat, light yellow, and slightly elongated. The feathers fit tightly to the body. The feather color is predominantly white. The birds are calm, not noisy and clean.

Productivity. The hybrid has high productive qualities. In the first 2-3 months, ducks weigh 3.5-4 kg; at four months of age, body weight reaches about 6 kg. Duck meat is lean, especially valued in cooking and considered a delicacy.

Content. It is permissible to keep ducks in an insulated shed where they will spend the night. Birds also need to be given free space to walk. The temperature in the poultry house should be no lower than +16 and no higher than +25 degrees.

Advantages. Calm disposition, precociousness, cleanliness, high meat performance, ease of care.

Flaws. Mulards are not found in the wild and are not able to reproduce on their own. Birds are raised exclusively at home.

A breeder of Mulardy ducks shares his experience of breeding them in the following video:

Breeding ducks in nature and at home

Spring is the time of awakening; it is during this period that the moment comes when females prepare to lay eggs. Before you sit on them, you need to collect the required quantity, usually it is based around 15 pieces. So, by the end of the season, the bird begins its main mission - landing on eggs. Already a month later, offspring are born, which the duck will monitor for a long time and protect from possible threats.

A big plus is that ducks can just as easily breed at home. Moreover, they do not need to provide any specific conditions for this. The main thing is that the bird has a spacious enclosure, dry bedding and free access to water and food, then the owners will not have any difficulties with raising small ducklings.

To breed ducks at home, it is necessary to form a parent flock. Healthy birds of the same age and size are selected for the breeding. The ideal weight for females is 3 kg, for males – 3.5 kg. In a herd there is 1 male for every 6-8 females.

The herd is formed from a brood obtained in late summer or May. There should be no hybrid species among breeding birds. Mobile individuals are selected at the age of 150 days. Females retain egg production for 3-4 years, then they are supposed to be replaced.

The parent stock is kept at a temperature of 18-20 degrees with a day length of at least 16 hours. The bird must be kept clean, so the bedding is changed daily. Ducks need rest and rational feeding.

There are two ways to breed ducklings:

• natural incubation;
• bookmark in the incubator.

The choice depends on the preferences of the owner and the selected breed. Indian ducks have good maternal instincts, so they can cope with breeding on their own. Peking ducks cannot be bred naturally, as they are poor brood hens.

Breeding ducklings by a hen

To breed ducks naturally, nests are installed inside the house. They need to be located in the far corner of the room, in a dark place, away from each other. Thick bedding is made inside the nest.

You need to decide on the choice of hen by observing the birds. A duck ready for incubation sits in the nest for a long time, tramples down the bedding, plucks out the fluff and covers the bottom with it.

As a test, you can place dummies of eggs in the nest. If the duck does not leave the nest, the collected eggs are placed under it. No more than 15 eggs are placed under the hen, and if the incubation process occurs in winter or early spring - no more than 12 eggs. Ducklings, depending on the breed, hatch after 28-35 days.

To prevent the hen from crushing the hatched ducklings, they are placed in a box with straw on the bottom. The temperature in the box must be at least 30 degrees, so a lamp is installed above it.

Note! When all the ducklings hatch, the babies are returned to the hen. At this time, you need to make sure that the mother accepts all the chicks, otherwise one of them may freeze.

Raising ducklings in an incubator

The advantages of breeding ducklings in an incubator are the ability to get a brood at a time convenient for you. You can use an industrial incubator or make one yourself. The industrial version is more convenient, as it is equipped with temperature and humidity regulators, and the most advanced designs have an automatic egg turner.

Before laying eggs, the temperature in the incubator is set 1-2 degrees higher than recommended for hatching. Humidity also increases, since duck eggs have a stronger shell than chicken eggs. The hatching temperature for ducklings from days 1 to 7 is 38.2 degrees, humidity is 60%. From the 15th day of laying eggs, the incubator is opened twice a day, reducing the temperature to 32 degrees for 30 minutes. Then close again and bring to a temperature of 37 degrees.

Ducklings appear on the 27-28th day. During the hatching of the chicks, the humidity in the incubator must be maintained at 50%. During the incubation process, the eggs are periodically examined using an ovoscope. Normally, on the 8th day, a blood network should be visible in the egg. On the 21st day, the embryo is clearly visible. On the 25th day, the condition of the embryo can be assessed visually. If the embryo does not develop properly, the egg is discarded.

Keep hatched ducklings in a special brooder box purchased in a store or made independently from slats, boards or plywood. The height of the brooder walls must be at least 45 centimeters. A container with hot water is placed in the middle of the heating box, the water in which is changed every 3 hours.

No more than 16 ducklings can be placed per square meter of brooder. The temperature for up to 5 days is 29-30 degrees, from days 6 to 10 – 23-24 degrees, from days 16 to 20 – 18-20 degrees.

Note! Both hypothermia and overheating of ducklings should not be allowed. Air humidity in the brooder is 65-70%.

The length of daylight hours for ducklings should be 18-20 hours in the first 5 days. Lighting intensity is 2-4 W per square meter. Weekly daylight hours are reduced by 60 minutes. The lamps are not turned off at night, only the light intensity is reduced to 1W.

In the summer, from the 7th day, the ducklings are released onto the grass in a special enclosure. The day should be warm, but the chicks should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Ducklings are not allowed near water until they are two weeks old. It is also important to protect the chicks from the rain and ensure that they do not fall into too deep a drinking bowl.

Cherry Valley

The breed comes from England. The desire of British breeders was to develop a breed that would have maximum meat productivity without loss of egg production. Peking ducks were involved in the breeding. Selection was carried out simultaneously on the paternal and maternal lines, which in both cases gave good results.

Description. Externally, the birds are similar to their ancestors. At birth, the chicks receive yellow plumage, which lightens over time, becoming snow-white. The body is directed vertically, elongated. Birds have a wide chest, pronounced muscles, and feathers that fit tightly to the body. The body stands on low, strong legs of a red-orange hue. A small head with a convex forehead is located on a thick neck. The beak is curved, yellow-orange. Eyes blue or dark blue.

Productivity. The weight of the duck reaches from 3.4 to 3.7 kg. The drake weighs about 3.5 to 4 kg. Over the course of a year, a laying hen produces 120-150 large eggs weighing 70-90 g. The hatchability of young animals is about 95%.

Content. There are practically no difficulties with maintaining the breed. In order for animals to feel comfortable, they need to equip a warm room, install feeders and drinking bowls.

Advantages. The advantages of the breed include fast growth, attractive appearance, high productivity, and unpretentiousness in food.

Flaws. Birds of the Cherry Valley breed have almost no disadvantages. The only difficulty a breeder may encounter is the need for access to water and walking.

Meat and egg (universal) bird breeds

As a rule, these breeds are not grown on an industrial scale, since average indicators in everything do not provide sufficient profit, but they are suitable for households and medium-sized farms.

Mirror duck

Mirror duck
The breed was bred in Russia, so the bird was initially adapted to our conditions. Belongs to the medium-heavy type. The appearance of the ducks is memorable, the plumage is light brown with a shiny “mirror” tint (hence the name). Small head, medium-length neck, convex wide sternum, strong build.

Mature males quickly gain weight and reach 4 kg, females weigh on average 3 kg. In a year, a farmer will be able to produce about 200 large, tasty and healthy eggs. Birds are unpretentious in keeping.

Saxon duck

Saxon duck
This bird was bred in Germany and then spread throughout the world. This was facilitated by her high egg production.

The bird has a regular body shape, a large head on a thick short neck, a long beak, and small wings. As for color, there are several color options: blue, fawn and multi-colored.

With good fattening and maintenance, representatives of this breed gain weight of 3-3.5 kg and produce 150-200 eggs per year. The poultry meat is tasty and lean, the eggs are large (up to 80 g).

Orpington

Orpington
Orpingtons have an elongated body with a wide convex chest, a long neck, a small head, and medium-length paws. The color of this breed is fawn, the plumage is dense.

During the season, the female produces 200 or more large eggs. Rapid weight gain allows poultry to be slaughtered starting from 2-3 months. By this time, individuals gain about 2.5-3 kg.

No special conditions are required to maintain this breed.

Indian runner

Previously, this breed was called the penguin. This name comes from the unusual shape of this duck species. Even at the beginning of the 20th century in Europe, the breed was considered rare, the birds exotic - ducks were exhibited in zoos.

Description. Externally, the Indian Runner differs from other duck breeds: it has a unique body shape, resembling an elongated bottle. The feathered animal has a slender and tall body with a vertical orientation and a rounded chest. The feathers are smooth, lying close to the body. The color of the plumage varies.

Productivity. The weight of adult runners can reach one and a half to two kilos. Females are smaller than drakes. Already in the first month of good fattening, ducklings catch up with adult birds in weight and size. Egg indicators are much better - a laying hen produces 200-250 large eggs per year, sometimes the number reaches 300-350 pieces.

Content. If ducks have the opportunity to graze on pasture near a pond, maintenance costs will be minimal. Indian runners can find their own food all day long.

Advantages. Animals run fast and are active. They have increased resistance to diseases. They grow quickly. They are not afraid of snow and frost.

Flaws. Ducks are shy and can panic at the slightest noise. It is not advisable to raise birds for meat.

Productivity Areas

Ducks are raised for meat, eggs, both, feathers and down. But one type of duck cannot provide all this with equal success. Therefore, it is necessary to breed ducks of different breeds. Or decide on what interests you the most. Then a specific type of duck with the qualities you are interested in is selected.

Meat ducks are large in size, but typically lay fewer eggs than egg ducks. Although they don't have many of them. On average, you can get from one hundred twenty to one hundred and forty pieces per year. The record number is 260 eggs.

Ducks are rarely raised for their eggs. Because of their specific smell, they are not liked. But they buy them for breeding ducklings. In this case they are highly valued. They are rarely used in home baking, but in vain. Their protein is more oily and contains more fat than chicken. Therefore, biscuits and baked goods are more tender. In industrial production, for example, mayonnaise, they are always in demand.

Meat-egg ducks have average indicators for these parameters. They are not as large as meat ones, but they lay more eggs. It is believed that it is better for novice poultry farmers to stick to these breeds of ducks. Broiler breeds of ducks are also in demand. They quickly gain weight and have a great meat taste.

Let's look at bird breeds popular among private owners.

Star 53

Star-53 is a cross from the Peking duck. The cross was created by a French breeder at the Grimaud freres selection company.

Description. Externally, the bird is similar to its ancestor. She has snow-white plumage. Large dimensions. Bright yellow beak and feet. Massive back, elongated body, powerful and wide chest, protruding forward. The round head rests on a thick, muscular neck. The tail is strong, the wings are long.

Productivity. By the age of two months, the bird weighs about 4 kg. The percentage of meat in the carcass is more than 60%. Over the course of a year, a laying hen produces up to 300 large eggs weighing about 90 g or more.

Content. Birds should not be kept in close quarters. If the birds do not have space, they will behave restlessly, fussily and noisily. In the poultry house, it is important to adhere to the optimal temperature regime - it should not be hot and not cold.

Advantages. Already at 2 months they receive large meat carcasses with minimal fat content. Birds are also valued not only for their appearance, but also for their high egg production and ease of care and maintenance.

Flaws. It is impossible to keep them indoors all the time; it is problematic to purchase really high-quality young animals, the high cost of hatching eggs, and the high cost of feed.

Peking duck

Among duck breeds for home breeding, birds originally from the Middle Kingdom can be considered one of the most ancient. Peking duck became famous more than three centuries ago and has not lost its relevance to this day. Early maturing, with excellent meat quality, hardy and unpretentious birds are happily raised both on large farms and in private farmsteads, and are also the progenitors of many modern breed lines and hybrids of meat ducks. One of them is the today famous mulard, which not only holds the record for gaining live weight, but also produces a fatty, delicious liver.

Purebred representatives of the Peking breed are white ducks with a strong physique, indicating a meat orientation, a yellow-orange beak, and widely spaced legs. The birds have a long back, convex chest, raised tail, strong wings and dark bluish eyes.

Peking ducks are extremely precocious. By one and a half or two months, young individuals gain up to 2.5 kg of weight. By the time of slaughter, with proper feeding, drakes weigh about 4 kg, and females are only 500 grams less.

The meat yield per carcass reaches 66%, however, these meat ducks easily build up not only muscle mass, but also fat, which must be taken into account when preparing a diet.

Moscow Whites

The Moscow white duck was obtained by crossing a Peking duck and a Cambell drake. The breeding was carried out by Russian breeders, who managed to obtain birds with high productivity indicators.

Description. The birds have a rather large, slightly oblong head and a massive, strong body. Wide chest and back. The body is placed horizontally relative to the ground. The beak is pink or red. The short legs and paws are orange.

Productivity. The average weight of adult individuals reaches 3.8-4 kg. During the year, one female brings about 150 large eggs weighing 85-90 g. But more often the breed is bred for meat.

Content. An important characteristic of the breed is its ability to quickly adapt to different weather conditions. The birds are unpretentious in keeping and have strong immunity. In winter, it is permissible to keep them in an unheated but insulated poultry house.

Advantages. Fast growth, tasty and soft meat.

Flaws. Requires good nutrition, but this allows the bird to gain weight faster.

Egg breeds of ducks

Egg-laying ducks are focused on an increased rate of egg laying. These are low-fat layers that differ from their relatives in appearance. Small birds begin to lay eggs relatively late, after reaching the age of 6 months. Over the course of several weeks, they actively increase the rate of laying and maintain stable indicators for a long time.

For home rearing in order to obtain eggs, Dutch and Spanish ducks are purchased, as well as a breed called the Indian runner. The clutch of such ducks reaches 360 pieces annually. A special feature of the runner is the formation of a cylindrically elongated body. Runners most often move around the territory quickly, in small groups.

Runners have a calm character, do not get into fights, and get along with other relatives. Birds can be white, black or grey.

Coloring depends on the parental line. Today, runners are considered the most egg-laying ducks. The runner cannot be confused with other species due to its special elongated body and small size. Female runners exhibit a unique ability to care for their offspring for a long time.

Common egg species:

1. Favorite. The artificially bred breed produces up to 250 eggs annually. The meat is characterized as medium fatty and juicy. Birds must be provided with open range. They can do without bodies of water and be kept in cages. Favorites have good immunity.
2. Moscow white. Laying hens produce 130 eggs, but the specimens weigh 100 grams each, which is higher than generally accepted norms. In 2 months, ducklings are able to gain 2 kilograms of weight. This ability is valued when raised for slaughter, when short deadlines are set.
3. Ukrainian gray. A beautiful, artificially bred duck intended for breeding for the purpose of producing eggs. The downside of the species is the need for walking on a pond.
4. Agidel. Broilers related to meat, but at the same time capable of producing 250 eggs annually. They have good immunity, quickly adapt to new conditions, and exhibit high frost resistance.

Information! Keeping egg-bearing breeds requires the creation of special conditions. Such birds need good walking, as well as the creation of a comfortable nest for hatching.

Rouen ducks

Previously, ducks of this breed were wild birds. Farmers value it for the good taste of meat and its minimal fat content.

Description. Ducks have a heavy build with a horizontal stance, a deep chest, an oval back and a tail with curls. The body is supported by short limbs. The beak is large with a greenish tint. The head is small, located on the neck with a strong bend.

Productivity. On average, an adult duck weighs 3.8 kg, and a drake weighs about 4 kg. One female produces only 90 eggs per year.

Content. Caring for birds is simple and practically no different from keeping other birds. Ducks need to be provided with artificial reservoirs in the absence of natural ones. To do this, use large containers or troughs.

Advantages. The breed is often bred to decorate a farmstead or take part in exhibitions. But those who raise poultry for meat can safely say that the product is juicy, aromatic and very tasty.

Flaws. Tendency to obesity and poorly developed maternal instinct.

What types of ducks can be raised at home?

The duck family is divided into two large groups: domesticated varieties and wild ones. The former live only near humans, the latter mainly live in the wild, but if desired, they can also be kept in a farmstead. In turn, domestic species should be divided into 4 main classes:

• meat - large, fast-growing breeds with a solid body weight;
• egg-laying - produce more than a hundred eggs annually;
• universal - I demonstrate high achievements in both indicators;
• decorative - they have a bright appearance, and are grown to revitalize artificial reservoirs.

In each category there are a number of the most popular species that farmers breed most often

Table 1. Domestic species of ducks

Wild ducks include:

1. Common mallards.
2. Red-headed Pochards.
3. Common goldeneyes.
4. Killer whales (ducks).
5. White-cheeked pintails.

Variety of species

How to choose the right option

Table 2. How to choose a breed?

Video - Duck breeds

Swedish blue

A meat breed bred in Sweden. Today Swedish blue ducks are popular in Germany and Russia.

Description. Birds have a large, dense build. They have a non-convex chest, a wide and straight back, a short and straight tail. The head of the birds is oval in shape, the beak is flattened. The main definition of the breed is the blue tint of the plumage.

Productivity. Adults reach an average weight of 3-3.6 kg, drakes - about 4 kg. Over the course of a year, a laying hen produces 100 to 150 small, oval eggs with a blue or greenish shell.

Content. Birds are not picky about their maintenance. During the warm season, a fenced area is set up for them, the area of ​​which should be spacious. This place is often equipped with artificial pools and planted with various vegetation.

Advantages. Unpretentiousness in care and nutrition, resistance to diseases.

Flaws. Slow weight gain. In order to send a bird for slaughter, you have to wait a long time.

Black white breasted

The breed was created by breeders from the Institute of Poultry Science of the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences. Khaki Campbell, Peking, and Ukrainian White-breasted ducks were used for breeding.

Description. Birds are characterized by a massive body, a long, broad back, and a large and concave chest. On the long neck is a small head with a short, blunt beak and large black eyes. The legs are short, the tail is small, and the feathers fit tightly to the body. The birds have black plumage and white down on the chest.

Productivity. The average weight of ducks reaches up to 3.5 kg, drakes - up to 4 kg. During the season, a laying hen produces 110-130 white eggs weighing 85-100 g.

Content. Black white-breasted ducks are waterfowl and therefore require ponds or small containers of water. When keeping a large number of birds, it is recommended to arrange a brooderhouse, where separate sections are provided for the free movement of birds.

Advantages. Well-developed maternal instinct, rapid growth and weight gain, unpretentious maintenance, calm disposition.

Flaws. Under inappropriate conditions and poor nutrition, there is a risk of decreased egg and meat productivity.

Popular meat varieties

Large breeds of ducks, which are bred for slaughter, are most in demand among farmers. These birds have very tender and tasty meat, which is considered a real delicacy. Maintaining even a large population of several dozen individuals is not too expensive, because waterfowl are omnivores, with good feeding they grow quickly and gain weight, so young animals can be slaughtered after 97-12 months.

Peking ducks

The leader in popularity is the Beijing variety. It combines all sorts of advantages that poultry farmers primarily pay attention to. Representatives of this breed extremely quickly reach a substantial meat weight - 1.5-2 months after hatching. After three months, the birds weigh 3.6-4 kg and can be slaughtered. And this is even with a standard diet - ducks are not whimsical in this regard, regular feed is enough for them.

They also do not require any special conditions of detention, which is also a significant advantage. At the same time, the females also lay well - a little more than a hundred fairly large (90 g) eggs annually. The external characteristics of the Pekin are completely white (without markings) vestments, legs and beak of orange color.

Beijing variety

Black white-breasted duck

An interesting meat cross is the Black White-breasted ducks, obtained by scientists from the Ukrainian Poultry Research Institute, who combined the genes of the three largest varieties: Khaki Campbell, White Russian and Pekin. The result was a hybrid with meat of high fat content and solid weight indicators - 4-3.8 kg. The appearance of the birds is quite remarkable: a dense body with an open chest, powerful wings and back, and muscular legs.

The color is almost completely black, and there is a large white spot on the front of the body. Representatives of this breed grow quickly and can go to slaughter at the age of 3-4 months. The advantages include the high survival rate of young livestock - 96 individuals out of 100, omnivorousness and good immunity. A significant drawback is the low hatching percentage - 65 out of 100.

Representatives of the Black White-breasted variety

Mulards

Mulard species belongs to the broiler class and is an artificially bred hybrid (based on the Peking and Musk variety). These are record holders among meat varieties, because young animals reach the 4 kg mark at three months of age, but do not stop there and continue to grow. The peak level is 6 and even 7 kilograms.

This species does not lay eggs well, and the hatching rate of ducklings is extremely low. This is a meat variety that can only be kept for the sole purpose of being slaughtered for meat.

Mulard ducks

Muscovy duck

of the Musk breed are endowed with a specific smell , since South America, the habitat of aboriginal Indian tribes, is considered their homeland. They are also very large birds, gaining weight up to 6 kg upon reaching sexual maturity.

It is better to slaughter young animals after 3 months - before the first molt, otherwise the meat may become tough. This species can be easily recognized by the characteristic pink warty growths on the beak and the adjacent part of the head. Indo-duck meat is dietary and contains very little fat, unlike other varieties.

Musk breed (Indochka)

Rouen duck

The Rouen variety is named after its place of origin, as it was developed in northern France. Breeders set out to create a meaty species with very high quality fillets that could be used in haute cuisine recipes.

In addition, when the calorie content of the diet increases, birds gain fat very quickly, which makes it possible to obtain from them extremely tender fillets with translucent fat, which is considered a special delicacy. The optimal weight for mature individuals is 5.3 kilograms.

Ducks from Rouen are famous for their variegated plumage, and the drakes have a bright emerald head and a white necklace.

Moscow white duck

The Russian breed, one of the most popular in our country, is the Moscow White. In appearance it resembles the Pekin, from which part of the genetic material for selection was borrowed. The second “donor” was the Khaki Campbell species. Individuals are quite large - 4.5 kilograms when reaching sexual maturity, and have tender, not fatty, but juicy and tasty meat.

This species is characterized by snow-white plumage without a hint of yellowness (which is characterized as culling) and a rich red beak color.

Moscow variety with white plumage

Khaki Campbell

A British breed of duck, bred in the late 19th century by poultry farmer Adele-Campbell. It received its name not only from the name of the breeder, but also due to its unique coloring.

Description. Ducks are small, which is why they have relatively small body parts. An oblong sheepskin coat with a deep chest and strong, short legs. On a thin brown neck is a small head with dark, shiny eyes. The wings are not fully developed.

Productivity. The weight of an adult drake reaches up to 3 kg, ducks - 2.2-2.5 kg. Starts to gain most of the weight by 3-4 months. Laying hens produce up to 350 eggs weighing 80 g per year.

Content. To keep birds comfortably, the farmer needs to take care of good pastures and ponds. A water diet can easily replace most of all feed.

Advantages. High egg production rates, delicate taste of meat, active birds and calm character.

Flaws. If the conditions of keeping the birds are not observed, they not only gain weight poorly, but also behave restlessly.

Bashkir duck

The leaders in obtaining new breeds of ducks and crosses for domestic and industrial breeding in Russia today are the breeders of the Blagovarsky breeding plant in Bashkiria. Thanks to their work, “Bashkir duck” has become a recognizable brand not only in our country, but also abroad.

Based on Peking ducks with a manifested “wild” plumage gene, the breed of Colored Bashkir ducks was created here. This is a highly productive, early-ripening meat bird, which has two color options: khaki or brown and black with a white breast.

A characteristic feature of Bashkir ducks is the low fat content of meat compared to the Peking or Blagovarian breeds.

Another well-known cross of Blagovarsky ducks was also obtained from the Bashkir breed. This is a universal meat-egg bird, growing up to 3.4 kg by seven weeks and at the same time capable of producing up to 240 high-grade eggs per year.

The ducklings of this cross are distinguished by excellent vitality and unpretentiousness. They grow well both in industrial-type farms and in personal backyards.

Pace

Breeders who have been working with the X-11 duck breed for a long time were able to achieve good results and develop a new species. Tempo, compared to other breeds, is characterized by good productive characteristics and early maturity.

Description. The birds have a large, oval body with a small tail and yellow, large paws. The bird has a small head with a large, yellow beak and two black eyes. The head is supported on a pronounced, long neck with a slight bend. Wings with dense snow-white plumage.

Productivity. Birds at two months of age already weigh about 3 kg. Typically drakes are larger than ducks. Laying hens produce 150-160 large eggs per year.

Content. The bird can do without a pond, but water containers are installed in the walking area. It is also necessary to equip the place with a canopy to protect the birds from rain or sun.

Advantages. Birds are easy to care for and can get used to low temperatures.

Flaws. Good weight gain requires proper nutrition, which can be expensive.

Medeo

The birds were bred in Kazakhstan. After several cycles of crossing the X-11 cross with the Peking duck, it was possible to obtain this breed with improved egg production and early maturity.

Description. Externally, the bird is especially similar to Cherry Valley ducks, and the color has passed from the Peking duck: white plumage, yellow-orange beak, large reddish-orange paws.

Productivity. Already at two months, the female weighs 2.5-2.9 kg, the drake - 3.3 kg. In adulthood, the weight of a duck can be up to 4 kg, a male – up to 5 kg. During the year, the female produces up to 140 large nutritious eggs.

Content. The birds are easy to care for and can thrive in a small area or in cages. It is advisable to provide the birds with a free run, but this is not a prerequisite.

Advantages. Minimum feed consumption, birds' adaptability to life in any conditions, high productive performance.

Flaws. No negative aspects were noticed.

Meat direction

Meat birds are considered the most popular, they are fertile, they have a developed immune system, which protects owners from unnecessary worries. Fillet obtained from meat birds is distinguished by its juiciness and richness of taste.

A feature of meat types is the ability to quickly gain weight. The fastest growing breed purchased for slaughter is the Bashkir breed. The large broad-breasted duck produces 70 percent clean meat after slaughter. The disadvantage of the Bashkir duck is the mandatory requirement for a pond when keeping it at home.

Meat types include:

1. Black white breasted. A breed bred on the territory of Ukraine. In adulthood, the weight of the carcass reaches 4 kilograms. Moreover, the weight of clean meat after processing reaches 65 percent of the total mass.
2. Musk. Birds quickly gain weight; a special feature is the special aroma of the meat. An adult bird reaches a weight of 6 kilograms. Muscovy duck fillets are classified as dietary products.
3. Beijing. Delicacy meat is purchased for restaurants, and a traditional dish called “Peking duck” is prepared from it. Rearing is due to the fact that Pekin cats are very noisy and require a lot of food. The yield of meat after slaughter reaches 80 percent.
4. Cherry Valley. A new breed with high productivity, which is a cross of the Peking duck. The duck was bred specifically to produce tender dietary meat.
5. Mulards. White birds with black spots that weigh about 7 kilograms as adults. These are hybrids created on the basis of the Peking gene. Mulards are called “birds of one season.” They are widely raised for slaughter. Mulards gain weight even when the basis of their food is grass. With a good egg production rate, these birds are classified as meat animals due to their ability to actively gain weight and produce tasty dietary meat.

See also

How to breed decoy ducks and raise ducklings, what to feed them and the top 6 breedsRead

Reference! The meat of some ducks tastes like game, which is actively used in the restaurant business.

Cayuga

Unusual black birds were discovered in 1809 near Cayuga Pond in New York. Residents began to domesticate wild birds that flew in for the winter, crossing them with local breeds. The result of selection was the formation of the Cayuga breed.

Description. A characteristic feature of the birds is their beautiful, dark plumage, shimmering in various shades of blue and green, with a metallic sheen. The oblong body of birds is massive and strong, with thick plumage and wings that fit tightly to the body. The animals have a wide chest, a small, erect tail and short, strong legs. A small round head with a wide, black beak and dark brown eyes.

Productivity. Females weigh about 3-3.2 kg, drakes - 3.5-4 kg. During the year, ducks produce up to 150 eggs weighing 75-100 g.

Content. Birds are unpretentious and undemanding when it comes to food. It is recommended to keep them if they have free range.

Advantages. They provide tasty meat and egg products with minimal care and economical feeding.

Flaws. If birds are poorly maintained and fed with low-quality food, they can often get sick.

Today, numerous breeds of ducks are bred on private farmsteads and large farms, giving preference to those varieties that have good productive performance. After all, it is these characteristics that make it possible to obtain a high-quality product and profit from the sale of meat carcasses or eggs.

0

0

Copy link