Ducks are considered to be waterfowl. They can be bred at home, they also exist in the wild. In this article, we will analyze how long ducks live, what this indicator depends on, and what factors influence it.
What do they look like?
Even a small child can answer the question of what a duck looks like. It’s mostly about appearance. As for other distinctive characteristics, they are widely described by ornithologists and studied by the relevant science.
This bird has a small streamlined body. From above, it is slightly flattened and passes into a short neck, which is crowned with a small head. The duck has a rather wide beak and small paws with membranes.
The fat layer of a duck is significant, this is a feature of waterfowl. In addition, a special lubricant, which is formed due to the work of the coccygeal gland, makes the plumage impervious to water. As for the color, a characteristic spot is located on the wings.
The average size of a bird is no more than 40 centimeters. However, musk breeds can be 2 times larger and reach 90 centimeters.
As for weight, it is primarily influenced by living conditions. Wild individuals are much more modest in size, while domestic ones are specially fattened in order to obtain meat. The difference in weight can be up to two kilograms.
Varieties
Domestic ducks are divided into groups depending on their purpose. This is evidenced by the names of the varieties. Allocate meat, egg, meat and egg species, as well as decorative birds. As for wild individuals, their division occurs based on the ways in which they obtain food. There are diving and river ducks, the first of which dive for food, diving entirely under water, and the second – living in shallow water bodies.
Lifespan
Ornithologists say that ducks can live up to 20 years. However, studies conducted with waterfowl do not always support this conclusion. In fact, only one out of 20 individuals studied survives to this age. This becomes understandable if we consider that the life of a bird, especially in the wild, is fraught with many difficulties and dangerous moments.
If the duck is kept in the household, farmers are primarily interested in its productivity. This bird is grown for the purpose of obtaining eggs or meat. In the second case, special breeds are started, and the individual’s weight becomes optimal by about three months of life, after which the process continues at a very slow pace. In view of the fact that the content is obtained financially costly without tangible benefits, it becomes irrational.
It is impossible not to take into account the fact that the death of a bird due to any disease or isolated cases of death cannot be ruled out either. For example, a tick bite often leads to the death of an individual. Therefore, the slaughter of ducks when they reach their optimal weight is quite understandable.
If a duck is intended to lay eggs, its life expectancy in the household will increase significantly. A healthy individual can be used for these purposes up to about the age of seven with maximum productivity. When this indicator decreases, the maintenance of the bird also becomes irrelevant.
As for decorative ducks, they have a completely different function. In representatives of this species, the appearance, brightness of plumage, and characteristic features are valued. Therefore, most often healthy and corresponding to these indicators, individuals can boast of a rather long lifespan.
Wild ducks in this respect are not so dependent on human activity, but it also takes place. The cause of death of a bird can be hunting, predators, various diseases and injuries. However, at the same time, a wild duck has every chance of reaching the age of 20 years.
Features of wild individuals
Oddly enough, but in some cases, farmers prefer to breed wild ducks in the household. This is due to the unpretentiousness of birds to the conditions of detention and ease of care. First of all, we are talking about cells. Thinking through their heating in the winter is not required; ducks feel comfortable in a simple brick house.
The main condition is the possibility of regular ventilation and disinfection of the premises, which will help protect the livestock from infections and diseases.
However, we must not forget that these are waterfowl, and they need a reservoir. An aviary is quite suitable, in which a special, rather spacious bathing container will be placed. You will also need a canopy under which ducks can hide from the scorching sun and bad weather. But it is also required to take into account that the height of the enclosure must be at least three meters so that the birds cannot fly over it.
You should also take care of the availability of clean drinking water, fresh grass and small fish. Ducks will also need sand, they are very fond of pecking it, this has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It is strictly forbidden to give black bread.
How long a wild duck will live at home can be determined by making a discount on the breed. Let’s consider the main ones.
- Mandarin – a small duck weighing no more than half a kilogram, and up to 35 centimeters long. Birds have rich feathers that can shimmer from bright orange to emerald green. The paws are black and the beak is red. In decent conditions, life expectancy can reach 20 years.
- Shipun – meat wild duck, giving very few eggs – no more than 100 pieces per year. It has black and white feathers and a bright red beak with a large outgrowth. The bird is able to reach a weight of 5-8 kilograms with a length of about 80-90 centimeters. Mute are distinguished by cleanliness, unpretentious in the conditions of detention.
- The main distinguishing feature of female ducks of the Mulard breed is their ability to actively lay eggs while remaining infertile. This fact is not always taken into account by farmers. From one female, you can get up to 200 eggs annually. They are actively grown for meat, the weight of an adult reaches 6 kilograms. Special care, like the previous breeds, does not require.
Body temperature of waterfowl
The duck is a waterfowl and spends quite a long time in the water. This is due to its ability to tolerate low temperatures well. If it is too hot outside, the body of the bird is cooled by water. A cold snap is not scary for 3-week-old ducklings.
The average body temperature of a healthy individual is 42 degrees. The bird’s pulse is quite frequent and can reach 150-230 beats per minute.
It affects body temperature and the process by which the bird absorbs food. Nutrients are distributed in a rather peculiar way, and this factor affects various functions of the body.
What affects your health?
Considering the above factors, it is necessary to take into account whether we are talking about a domestic or a wild individual. The main danger that can significantly shorten the life of a wild duck is outside interference. It is primarily about predators and hunters.
With regard to domestic breeds, there are other difficulties. The full development and growth of ducks can take place only under certain conditions, the provision of which lies entirely on the shoulders of the farmer. There are several basic nuances that you should pay attention to in order to raise a healthy bird.
When choosing a place for a poultry house, it is better to stay on the hills. This is due to the fact that it will be more difficult for rodents to get close to the livestock, therefore, the risk of the diseases they carry is minimized. Ducks are afraid of drafts, but the room in which they are kept must have good ventilation. Keep the house clean and dry. No more than three adult birds should be placed on 1 square meter of the room.
You should also monitor the temperature in the room. If they reach a negative mark, this can adversely affect the health of the birds. In addition, you will need a walking area, in which you should definitely place a special container for bathing birds. The lack of water procedures, as well as too small a walking area will contribute to the rapid obesity of ducks.
It is necessary to ensure that the birds have free access to clean drinking water and dry food. You should also take care of top dressing containing vitamins and nutrients. If these simple conditions are met, the farmer will receive healthy and productive birds without impressive material and physical costs for their maintenance.
For information on how to breed musky ducks, see the following video.
