DUCK BREEDING
For efficient and productive duck breeding operation, consider the following tips recommended by experts from the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research in Los Baños, Laguna.
1. Maintain the proper ratio of male to female ducks in a breeding shed or kamalig. Put in one drake for every five to 10 female ducks. Keep extra drakes in a separate shed in case some male breeders die of diseases or become unproductive.
2. The drakes can be distinguished from the females by their voice and appearance. Females `quack’ while drakes provide a hissing sound. Drakes have curly tail features.
3. If possible, the drakes should be one month older than the female ducks. This is to ensure that the males are ready for mating during the breeding season.
4. Choose drakes and females alike with well-developed bodies and good conformation. They should be healthy, have a good set of feathers and with keen, alert eyes. Do not select those that are obviously sickly and thin.
Source: Phil. Farmer’s Journal March 1981