Ducks lay their eggs in the early morning. An average duck egg weighs about 65-70 g. Ducks normally lay when they are about 5-6 months of age. Peak production is obtained 5-6 weeks after commencement of lay. A photoperiod of 14 hours is considered optimum for inducing high egg production. Ducks are fed only twice in a day - one in the morning and the other in the evening. The quantity to be fed is that which can be cleared in about 10-15 minutes time. Layer ducks can be fed with mash or pellets. It is preferable to feed wet mash. The feed should have 18% protein and 2650 K cal/kg of ME. The feeder space suggested is 10 cm/duck. Under intensive system a floor space of 3710 to 4650 cm2 per duck is essential, but in cages it can be reduced to 1350 cm2. In semi-intensive system, a floor space of 2790 cm2 in the night shelter and 929 to 1395 cm2 as outside run per bird would be adequate. Layer ducks must be provided with nest boxes. A nest box measuring 30 cm wide, 45 cm deep and 30 cm high would be sufficient. One nest box for every three layers has to be provided.
| S.No. | Ingredients | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Yellow maize | 42.00 |
| 2. | Rice Polish | 20.00 |
| 3. | Gingelly Oil cake | 7.00 |
| 4. | Soyabean meal | 14.00 |
| 5. | Dried fish | 10.00 |
| 6. | Oyster shell | 5.00 |
| 7. | Mineral Mixture | 1.75 |
| 8. | Salt | 0.25 |
| Total | 100.00 | |
For every 100 kg, add vitamin mixture (VitaminA 600mg VitaminB2 600mg) and nicotinic acid 5 g.