WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT
While waterfowl are not considered a major poultry species in the United States they do have potential for production in small and backyard poultry flocks. The main waterfowl species kept are ducks and geese.
Contents: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Ducks | Geese | |
GENERAL WATERFOWL
Management requirements of waterfowl (Virginia Tech)
Raising waterfowl (University of Wisconsin)
Duck and goose from farm to table (USDA / FSIS)
Brooding and rearing ducklings and goslings (University of Missouri)
The homestead waterfowl flock (Backyard Poultry)
DUCKS
Ducks can be raised for both meat and egg production. Selective breeding has developed breeds of ducks (e.g., Campbell and Runner) that are excellent egg producers. Other breeds are most suited for meat production. Some duck breeds are kept simply as ornamentals for poultry shows or ponds.
All the ducks breeds raised today (except the Muscovy, which is not really a duck) are descendants of the wild Mallard. The Mallard is the only wild breed of duck that has curled sex-feathers on the tail. The sex figures are two hard, curled feathers growing from the upper portion of the tail in drakes (male ducks). These feathers grow upward and forward.
The Muscovy duck is the only 'duck' that is not descended from the Mallard. The Muscovy is actually a distinct species. Muscovies are from the southern hemisphere (Mallards are from the northern hemisphere), specifically in the mountainous jungles of Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador near the headwaters of the Amazon river. The Muscovy has a body like a duck; it nests, attacks predators and hisses like a goose; it roosts like a chicken; and has a plump breast like a turkey.
Better Farming Series 39 - Raising ducks: How to begin (FAO)
Brooding and rearing ducklings and goslings (University of Missouri)
Raising ducks (University of Minnesota)
Raising ducks in small flocks (University of California)
Duck housing and management (Cornell University Duck Research Laboratory)
Muscovy duck care practices (University of California)
A management program for raising breeder duck flocks (North Carolina State University)
GEESE
Geese differ from ducks in that they have longer necks. In addition, geese shanks have hexagonal scales rather than the clam-shaped scales found in ducks. Geese were used as guards by the Romans because geese are able to tell the regular, everyday sounds and sights from those that are unfamilar.
Geese have been raised in Europe for centuries. When the first settlers came to the 'New world' geese were brought over with them. Geese were kept for both food and feathers. Very little research has been done to improve the genetics fo geese since most of the attention has been focused on chickens and turkeys.
Raising geese (University of Minnesota)
Geese for meat production (FAO)
Geese as weeders (FAO)
Geese for feather and down production (FAO)
Geese - Fatty liver and fois gras production (FAO)
Egg production, incubation and sex identification of geese (Australia)
DISCLAIMER: References to commercial products or services provided via this Web site are intended for informational and educational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky Extension, or the University of Kentucky as a whole.
