Muscovy duck farming is currently a highly profitable venture. However, to ensure success, the initial care and brooding of the ducklings must be managed with utmost care. Today, we will discuss the complete A to Z Muscovy duckling rearing method, from day one to their egg-laying age.
Initial Feed & Water Management (Day 1) :-
First Water Feeding : The first drinking water should be provided between 24 and 40 hours after hatching. When offering water for the first time, you can mix
Lysovit, or lemon juice with sugar/glucose into the water. This helps relieve stress and exhaustion in the ducklings.
Watering Technique : At a very young age, ducklings cannot drink water on their own. Therefore, during the first feeding, you must gently hold each duckling and dip its beak into the water container to teach it how to drink.
First Feed (Starter Feed) : Offer the first feed 20 to 30 minutes after providing water. It is best to use
Broiler Starter or Sonali Starter feed as the initial food to ensure excellent growth.
Feeding Layout : Spread out a jute bag, a clean cotton cloth, or thick paper where you plan to feed them, and scatter the feed on top. Never use slippery plastic or polythene sheets underneath the ducklings, as this can cause their legs to splay or bend.
Brooding & First Week Care :-
Boosting Immunity : Mixing Lysovit in their drinking water for the first 3 to 4 days will rapidly boost the ducklings' immune system.
Careful Watering : Be extremely careful that the ducklings do not get their bodies wet while drinking. If their bodies get wet, they can easily catch a cold, leading to pneumonia. Always use specially designed
poultry drinkers or narrow water troughs for them.
Preventative Cold Dose : When the ducklings are 5 to 6 days old, administer a preventative course of
Enrocin Vet or an equivalent antibiotic to protect them from respiratory issues. Mix 1 ml of medicine per 1 liter of water and feed it continuously for 3 to 4 days. (Remember, if you fail to protect Muscovy ducklings from catching a cold during their early days, the mortality rate increases drastically).
Brooding Schedule : If you have more than 10 ducklings, artificial heat brooding using light bulbs is mandatory. Brood for
10 to 12 days during winter and
7 to 8 days during summer.
Nutrition & Care for Weeks 2 to 4 (Vitamin Course) :-
Preventing Leg & Neck Paralysis : When the ducklings reach 10 to 11 days of age, administer
Thiamine (Vitamin B1 & B2). This prevents neck bending and leg paralysis in ducks. Mix 1 gram of powder into 1 liter of water and feed it for 3 to 4 days.
Appetite & Physical Growth : When the ducklings are 14 to 15 days old, feed them
Zinc syrup. It boosts their appetite and promotes rapid growth. Mix 1 ml of Zinc into 1 liter of water for 3 to 4 days.
Keeping Away From Water : Do not allow the ducklings into open water or ponds
until they are at least 1 month old. At this stage, their feathers are not yet waterproof, and they can easily drown or freeze.
1-Month Diet Plan : Keep the ducklings strictly on
Sonali Starter or Broiler Starter feed for the entire first month.
Management From 1 Month to Egg-Laying Age :-
Introducing Mixed Feed : After 1 month, you can supplement the starter feed with granular mixed feed, rice bran, crushed wheat, and plenty of
green grass or water spinach (Kolmi Shak).
Deworming Course : Once the ducks reach
3 months of age, you must administer the first deworming dose. Always follow up with a liver tonic the day after giving deworming medicine. Repeat the deworming process every 3 months regularly.
Egg Production Preparation : When the ducks reach 4 months of age, or 1 month before they start laying eggs, switch them to
Layer-1 feed. This helps them transition into a healthy and productive laying cycle.
Muscovy Duck Vaccination Schedule :-
1st Dose (Duck Plague) : When the ducklings are
1 month old (30 days), administer the 1st dose of the Duck Plague vaccine.
2nd Dose (Duck Plague) : When they reach
45 days of age, administer the 2nd dose (Booster) of the Duck Plague vaccine.
3rd Dose (Duck Cholera) : When they are
60 days old (2 months), administer the 1st dose of the Duck Cholera vaccine.
4th Dose (Duck Cholera) : When they reach
75 days of age, administer the 2nd dose (Booster) of the Duck Cholera vaccine.
Regular Follow-up Routine : After completing these initial stages, administer both Duck Plague and Duck Cholera vaccines regularly
every 6 months.
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