Ducks are quite popular birds in the household. They are characterized by unpretentious care and high productivity, so farmers are increasingly paying attention to them.
Types
Birds are grown to obtain meat and egg products with good taste. All breeds of ducks are divided into several types:
- meat;
- egg and meat;
- egg;
- decorative.
Each subspecies has its own characteristics and distinctive properties. Varieties belonging to the first species are characterized by rapid weight gain (300-400 g daily), and their meat belongs to the category of dietary products, since it contains a large number of valuable elements necessary for the human body.
The meat and egg direction is considered the most profitable and profitable, since the birds of this species are characterized by high meat productivity, and their egg production is above average. Egg-type ducks are distinguished by a small amount of meat products, but are able to carry 3-4 eggs per day. Decorative breeds are bred exclusively as decoration.
Females of all breeds can hatch ducklings on their own, although ducks of meat species are often distinguished by their lack of maternal instinct. For growing at home, meat and meat-egg breeds are more suitable.
Overview of popular breeds
There are quite a few varieties of ducks. Meat species are represented by a fairly large number of breeds. Birds are taken for slaughter from 3 to 5 months, during this period the meat is the most tender and has a high nutritional value.
Beijing
The breed is considered the best among domestic species. Although it has been bred for a long time, it does not lose its popularity, in addition, thanks to it, many varieties of domestic ducks have been bred. The bird has a large physique and a slightly raised body. The chest and back are wide. The head is medium with a protruding forehead and a strong beak, the neck is long.
Feet not too large, set wide apart, strong wings. Feathers are most often white in color, although there are cream. A significant fatty layer under the skin protects from frost. The female lays about 100 eggs per year. Peking ducks weigh about 3-4 kg.
Young animals aged 60-70 days are taken for slaughter until they begin to molt, because after molting the quality of meat products deteriorates and feed costs increase significantly. This variety of ducks is characterized by a very good metabolism, in connection with which they grow extremely fast. The meat has a delicate, juicy taste, although quite fatty. It can be added to the characteristics that Peking ducks have a good appetite, are quite noisy and active, and are highly resistant to diseases and frosts.
Musk or Indian
It originates from South America, where it was bred several centuries ago. The bird got its name because of the peculiar smell. Ducks have a strong physique with well-developed muscles. The sternum is wide, well rounded, the back is straight. Indo-ducks have strong wings that are pressed close to the body and short legs.
The head is small, elongated, with large eyes and a narrow red beak, hook-shaped at the end. On the upper part of the head are bright outgrowths of small forms, similar to warts, and a crest of elongated feathers. The plumage is quite dense, white, black, brown and gray in color. Muscovy ducks weigh an average of 5-6 kg. For meat, which is distinguished by its nutritional properties, young individuals are taken before the onset of molting.
Meat products contain little fat and are distinguished by dietary properties. Egg production is up to 100 eggs. Female Indians are excellent hens, they are often used as decoys for incubating the eggs of other birds. A characteristic feature of birds is that they do not make piercing sounds, are very calm, eat little food and may well exist without water bodies.. They are also resistant to various diseases, but not adapted to frost, they are heat-loving.
Mullard
Breed – a hybrid species of musky duck with other varieties, more often with Peking duck. They differ in that they do not give offspring, their eggs are clean. They gained their popularity due to the presence of the best qualities of their parents. Birds are characterized by a large body, a wide chest and a straight back. The neck is long, the head is small with a light elongated beak, black dots are located at the base.
The limbs are squat, powerful. Coloring is white and black. Adult ducks in weight can reach 7 kg. Meat of good quality and taste, lean.
Blue Favorite
A relatively new breed, which was bred by hybridization of several varieties of ducks. As a result of crossing, the breed turned out to be quite hardy, fast-growing and with a diverse color palette (regardless of the name).
The color of the feathers is predominantly bluish or ash-gray, although there are black and even brown ducks. The physique is powerful, the body is somewhat elongated, the sternum is not too voluminous. The neck is of medium length, the head is small, with a long strong beak.
Paws are short, powerful, yellow. Females are not at all adapted to incubating eggs. Adults weigh 5-6 kg, their meat is very nutritious, contains little fat. A duck produces about 120 eggs per year.
Gray Ukrainian
One of the most common and popular breeds of meat type. The bird perfectly adapts to the cold, is picky in food, quickly builds up mass and has good egg production. The body of the birds is strong, muscular, slightly elongated, the legs are squat. The breast is slightly rounded, the wings are strong, pressed to the body. The plumage is quite dense, varied, similar to the colors of wild ducks.
The coloration of males and females is different. The drake has an emerald head, with a white neck ring, a dark brown breast and a white belly. The end of the back and tail are black in color. Females, on the other hand, are distinguished by a creamy tint, feathers have small patches of brown and bluish stripes. There are varieties of straw or white color.
They can not do without water bodies, they live on a free range. The Ukrainian breed is distinguished by good health, ducks practically do not get sick. They can get food on their own, eat grass, duckweed. Weight is 3-4 kg, eggs give 100-120 per year.
Moscow white
Derived from crossing the Peking duck with the Khaki Campbell breed. A fairly common variety due to precocity, rapid weight gain and good egg production. The Moscow variety is distinguished by frost resistance and low demands on food. Among other white-colored ducks, these are easily distinguished by their pinkish-red beak and pink paws. In all other respects, Moscow whites are similar to Beijing ones.
Adults weigh 3,5-4,5 kg, their meat is tender, not too fatty. One female produces about 130 fairly large eggs per year.
black white breasted
The variety is a hybrid of several breeds at once. Birds grow quickly, are characterized by fatty meat products and a sufficient number of eggs. Ducks are rather large in size, the color is predominantly black with a white breast and upper belly, and malachite color is present in the plumage of males. They have feathers on the top of their necks with a bluish-purple sheen. The head is small with a concave beak of a dark tone.
The body is vertical, slightly oblong, the chest is deep. Paws are short and black. In weight, ducks can reach 4 kg, their meat is quite tender, with a small amount of fat. Females lay about 130 eggs. A distinctive feature of this breed is omnivorous.
Agidel
A relatively new breed that has managed to prove itself from the best side. Regardless of the conditions of keeping, the birds gain weight very quickly, are distinguished by their rapid adaptability to different climates and disease resistance. The body is elongated, massive, the feather cover is white, the beak is distinguished by a bright orange color. The breed is quite productive both in terms of meat (up to 3 kg) and egg products (about 200 pieces per year).
Crested
Belongs to European breeds. Representatives of this species have a decorative appearance, their head is decorated with an unusual crest of feathers. The body is medium in size with a strong constitution, the breast is slightly convex, the back is even. The coloration is predominantly white, cream and grayish tones, the feathers are dense, densely spaced. Ducks weigh about 5 kg, females lay 100-110 eggs a year.
swedish blue
It is characterized by resistance to frost and good productivity. The birds are quite large, with a wide back, long wings and orange paws. The head is oval in shape with a flattened beak. The plumage has several colors: white, gray and red. The weight of an adult bird is 3,5-4 kg, 120 eggs can be produced per year.
Rouen
The breed belongs to the French crosses and has a strong physique. They are similar in color to wild ducks. They have a green beak and orange paws. Rouen duck meat is very tender.
ducks pace
Differ in undemanding care and frost resistance. They can do well without water bodies and practically do not get sick. The color of the birds is white, the beak and limbs are orange. The drakes are larger than the females. Birds grow quite quickly, weighing 3-4 kg on average. The meat has a pleasant taste and high nutritional value. The female brings about 100 eggs per year.
medeo duck
Bred from representatives of the Beijing breed, therefore, it has improved performance. The color of the bird is very similar to the parent: the body is white, the paws are reddish-orange in color, and the beak is orange-yellow. In keeping and care, ducks are unpretentious, they can be placed in relatively small areas. Weight is about 4-5 kg, egg production per year is approximately 140 eggs.
The meat and egg species is also represented by many breeds that are considered universal in terms of productivity.
Bashkir
The breed is one of the most popular. It is characterized by rapid growth, strong immunity and undemanding care. The Bashkir duck is distinguished by a wide beak, slightly curved, and a flattened head. The constitution of the bird is strong, the back is flat and wide. The breast is voluminous, the neck is short.
Paws are powerful, set wide apart. Birds are brownish-green or black with a white breast. Meat products are distinguished by a delicate taste and the absence of a characteristic aftertaste. Bashkir ducks quickly gain weight in the presence of a reservoir, feel good at low air temperatures and practically do not get sick. As the name implies, the breed was bred in Bashkortostan during breeding work to improve the productivity of the Peking duck.
Birds bred by chance showed rather high rates of meat and egg production and they were identified as a separate breed. Adult birds weigh up to 4 kg, one female is capable of producing up to 250 eggs. Breeding does not require costs and special care.
Cayuga
Breed according to the description of the appearance is quite can compete with ornamental duck species. The species of birds got its name from its habitat – the lake of the same name in New York. They differ in the color of the feather cover – it is completely black with a beautiful greenish tint, the head is colored more intensely. Ducks have a large physique, the body is slightly elongated. The back and chest are wide, the neck is long.
The beak and short legs are also black in color. Representatives of the breed are characterized by a peaceful disposition, quite obedient. Weight is better gained on free range, reach 4 kg. Duck eggs can lay up to 150 pieces, they are black or gray. The females incubate the chicks themselves and take good care of them. The breed is frost-resistant.
Saxon duck
It has multi-colored plumage and a dense constitution. The skeleton is strong, the landing of the body is slightly inclined. The plumage color in females is predominantly yellow-green, and drakes have a blue-black head, neck and throat, their chest is reddish-red. Between the head and neck is a white collar. The abdomen of males is gray, and the wings have a metallic sheen. Adults weigh an average of 3-3,5 kg, and the yield of egg products is 150-200 pieces per year. The meat has a very delicate taste.
Khaki Campbell
It is characterized by rapid adaptability to completely different conditions of stay, and this does not affect the quality of egg production. The body of the bird is streamlined, with a medium-sized skeleton. The head is small, the limbs are dark orange. Ducks can have both a classic color, khaki, and dark, white or even variegated. Free range is suitable for this species of birds; they love pastures and ponds.
The weight of an adult duck is about 2,5-3,5 kg, the meat is tender and contains little fat. Egg production is quite high, about 200 eggs.
cherry valley
Breed has Peking ducks as its progenitors. Ducks have gained great popularity due to their high productivity, they are distinguished by high egg production (females) and fairly rapid weight gain (drakes). The body of the birds is massive, with an elongated, slightly vertical body and a wide, convex chest. The legs are short, reddish-orange, the beak is yellow with an orange tint. The color of the plumage is white, like that of Pekingese, although the chicks are born yellow.
The average weight of an individual is about 3,5 kg, adult drakes can have 5 kg. The meat has high nutritional characteristics and is close to red in value. The female lays up to 150 eggs per year.
Star 53
Quite a popular breed of ducks. Due to their fast metabolism, they gain weight at a rapid pace. The complete set of birds is quite powerful, with a strong chest and back. The feathers are white. The breed is highly productive, the breast, which can weigh a third of the total mass of the bird, and the liver of foie gras are especially valued.
Meat is classified as dietary because it does not contain fat. The weight of ducks is about 4,5 kg, they give about 120 eggs per year.
Orpington
This breed of duck is also called fawn. Feather colors can have different shades: white, grayish, cream and black. The plumage on the head is dark gray, the rest of the body is painted in cream shades. The size of drakes is much larger than females. The constitution of birds is strong, with well-developed light bones.
The head is medium, with a strong yellow beak, the back is wide, and the breast is rounded. The paws of representatives of the Orpington variety are powerful and squat. The average weight of ducks is 4 kg, egg production is about 150 eggs per year.
mirror ducks
They have a strong constitution and a fairly wide body. The head is medium in size, with a powerful dark gray beak. Drakes have plumage on the head and neck of a blue-green color, the rest of the body is covered with light brown feathers. The females are predominantly brownish. Birds weigh 3-4 kg, the female brings about 150 eggs.
Sometimes in the yards you can meet representatives of wild ducks. They are kept mainly as decorative birds, they are much smaller in size and weight than their domestic relatives, their meat does not differ in special taste, although it contains many valuable nutrients. They serve as a wonderful decoration of reservoirs on the site. Wild varieties are undemanding in care and have a calm disposition. All they need is space, a pond, enough food and additional insulation in the winter.
To prevent the birds from flying away, their wings are clipped. Wild ducks, due to their friendly nature, get along well with other birds. The most common types of wild ducks that are suitable for home rearing are several varieties.
Mallard
The most popular wild duck suitable for domestic breeding. The plumage of males and females is very different. Ducks have a feather cover of various brown shades, this helps easy camouflage in reeds and bushes. The belly is colored in a more intense color, the beak is a brilliant olive or dark gray tone, the paws are orange or red. The plumage of drakes is much brighter, the head and neck have a rich dark emerald color, there is a wide white collar on the neck.
The chest is rather wide, chestnut in color, the rest of the parts are light gray. Both drakes and females have characteristic violet-toned mirrors on the outer side of the wings. They are clearly visible during the flight.
red-headed pochard
It is characterized by small size, dense body, short neck. A distinctive feature of the duck is its paws: when the bird is standing, it strongly pushes them back, and it seems that it bends over. The head of a reddish hue is quite large, the beak is also of impressive size, slightly expanded at the top. The feather cover has characteristic fuzzy patterns of a grayish tone. During the mating season, the color of males changes to a brighter one.
Gogol
A species that is difficult to confuse with others. Feather color is predominantly black and white. The drake has a dark green head with an emerald sheen, below the eyes of a rich yellow color there is an oval-shaped or crescent-shaped spot. Females have a brown head and gray body. The weight of birds is 1-1,3 kg.
Pintail
It has an original tail with several long feathers resembling an awl. Because of this feature, the duck got its name. The constitution is neat, light, slender body is small in size, the tail and wings are pointed. The color of females is dominated by gray-brown tones, drakes, in addition to these colors, have blotches of black and white on the feathers. The wings of birds have a mirror of a bright purple color with a slight bronze tint.
Savka
It has a dense body, short neck and large head. Males have a dark cap on the head, plumage on the neck is also dark in color. On the back and sides, the feathers are reddish-gray with black patches, on the breast and lower neck are red-brown, and on the abdomen are light yellow. The beak of a bird of an unusual gray-blue color, has a wide outgrowth at the base. Paws are red with black webs.
The female has a brown head and a white neck; a light strip with brown dots runs from the beak to the back of the head. The plumage on the back is light brown with a pattern of black stripes and gray spots. The limbs of the duck are bluish-gray, and the beak is dark in tone.
Mandarin
Impressive with its spectacular color, especially males. They have a purple chest, a white belly and a black top of the tail. The head, back and neck are decorated with feathers of bright colors: green, red, orange and blue. The beak of the duck is scarlet, and the paws are yellow. On the head is a crest and sideburns of long feathers.
The female has a more modest plumage: the back is brownish with ripples, the head is gray and the belly is white. A small crest adorns the head.
caroline duck
Differs in different colors of males and females. Drakes have bright plumage with an unusual purple and green tint. The head is decorated with a white crest with stripes. The color of females is dominated by brown shades with a slight addition of gray and white patches.
Ogar
Or a red duck has very beautiful orange-brown feathers. They are much lighter on the head, almost white in females. Paws, beak, tail and primary feathers are black. This breed is quite large in size, as for ornamental birds. During the mating season, a dark stripe forms on the drake’s neck.
maned ducks
They have distinctive white mirrors on gray wings and black edging. Drakes are distinguished by a dark brown head and motley breast, and the eyes of the female are underlined with white stripes below and above.
Red whistling duck
Or wood stands out with an unusual color of feathers. Adults have reddish-brown feathers that are darker on the back. The head has an orange plumage, the neck is white with black dashes, the belly is a rich beige-orange tone. The undertail and undertail are white, with feathers of the same color on the sides. The tail is dark, grayish-blue beak has a black insert, blue-gray rings are located around the eyes, paws are gray. The plumage of the female is the same, only duller.
Peganka
It has white as the main color, but the color of the drake stands out with brighter colors. His head is deep black with a green tint, chest and shoulder blades are red chestnut. The middle of the abdomen has dark stripes, the neck is white, and the paws are pink. On the wings are bright green mirrors. The beak of the drake is red, with a slight outgrowth at the mandible. Females differ in plumage of lighter tones, they have no thickening, but the beak has a white border.
emerald duck
They are characterized by unusual plumage, it is black, with a spectacular emerald sheen, which is especially distinct on the head and neck. Birds have an average size of the body and head, their neck is short. The beak is black, rather large.
What color are there?
Birds such as ducks have a fairly wide range of colors. Domestic breeds have a palette of more muted tones, mainly white, gray, brown, black with the addition of different shades. Decorative ducks have plumage of various tones, here nature has played out to the fullest. Wild ducks are distinguished by brighter colors of feathers. In addition to these colors, they are orange, red, blue with different tints, the emerald reflection on the feather cover of birds looks especially beautiful.
How to choose?
When choosing a bird, first of all, it is worth considering its purpose, that is, what is needed from it – meat or eggs. Ducks of meat breeds are capable of producing a sufficient amount of meat products of excellent quality, but their egg production is not too high. Universal meat and egg breeds give less meat, but they have more egg production.
Decorative varieties are not productive, they are bred to decorate the site.
Whatever species the bird belongs to, it must be absolutely healthy:
- beak without damage;
- feathers are dense, whole;
- paws are straight.
How to choose ducks, see the video below.
