Recently, the Indo-duck has become one of the most sought-after birds in household and farming activities. All thanks to its unpretentiousness to growing conditions, feeding and productive characteristics - high egg production, as well as tasty, tender and healthy meat. Muscovy ducks require little maintenance and can be productive in almost any environment.
Origin story
Some people believe that indo-turkeys are a hybrid of turkey and ducks, but this is a misconception, although they look a bit like turkeys in terms of beak appearance. Perhaps that is why musky ducks have come to be called that.
This breed originated from wild ducks that lived in South America and Mexico, and were tamed by the ancient tribes of the Indians. Later, this species spread throughout the world. Indoor women came to the territory of the former USSR from Germany, back in the 80s of the last century.
Description and characteristics of the breed
Almost all Indo-women have external similarities. Differences are found only in individual breeds, mainly:
- feather coat color;
- habits;
- fruitfulness;
- egg production;
- taste qualities;
- growing time;
- feeding features.
Appearance
Musk ducks have a great variety, differ in many characteristics, but they have one thing in common - characteristic features relating to appearance. Indochka have a large body and a wide, drooping sternum.
The strong, webbed feet of the indole are much shorter than other poultry. They have large, strong wings that fit tightly to the body and a short neck.
On a small head, there is a flat beak, and around the eyes there is a kind of red growth, which distinguishes them from ordinary ducks. If you touch it, you can feel a faint musky smell.
The feathers of the indoor fish are closely adjacent to each other, forming a waterproof coating, which gives them a huge advantage, being in the water. They love water, especially swampy bodies of water, which are home to many different insects and larvae. It's not scary if there are no ponds nearby, they also feel great on land, and can splash around in a normal trough.
The color of musky ducks varies according to the breed. These are mainly dark colors with a greenish or purple tint.
As for weight and size, they do not have strong differences. The weight of a drake can reach up to 6 kg, and a female - up to 4 kg. However, wild ducks are 1.5-2 times smaller than domesticated ones.
Indoor varieties
Many novice farmers or ordinary household lovers can not decide on a breed of indochka. Each of them has its own characteristics, so you need to correctly and profitably choose a breed that is more suitable for breeding or keeping in specific conditions. Muscat ducks are of the following types:
- Black Indians. They fully correspond to their name, since their paws, metatarsus and beak are also black. Only a greenish tint on the back and a purple tint of the remaining feathers separate it from complete blackness. Their eyes are brown.
- White Indians. They have the appropriate color of the feathers, without any shades and tints. Pink beak with lightening at the tip. Paws are yellow and eyes are gray-blue.
- Black and white Indoor women. They have corresponding shades, in which a dark color with pronounced tints prevails. White patches appear on the sternum, neck and head. Their eyes are light brown. Paws are yellow, sometimes with black spots, and the beak is red.
- Brown wild breed... It has a beautiful and rich brown color. White feathers may appear on the wings, the number of which increases with the growth of the duck. The red beak has dark spots at its tip. The eyes, like the legs, are brown. Sometimes the coloring may be slightly different - brown feathers are cast in green, and white feathers are present on the breast and head.
- Blue and Wild Blue Indoor... This breed is very rare and really has a blue feather color with darkening at the edges. The paws and beak of this duck are black in color. Eyes with a brown tint. The wild muscovy duck has a similar feather color, but with a narrower rim. And when fully ripe, the top cover turns white, and the black flat beak changes color to purple-red. Paws and eyes of the same color.
Black Indoor
White Indoor
Black and White Indoor
Brown Indoor
blue indochka
Experienced poultry farmers argue that the brighter the color of the indochka, the more productive it will be, so when choosing ducklings, you should pay attention to their appearance.
Lifestyle and behavior
Poultry get used to the owners and their territory, so they do not go far and do not cross borders. This is one of the benefits of nutmeg ducks when breeding. In addition, they do not need to be grazed constantly, they quickly get used to their route, and can independently move around familiar territory.
This bird species is very calm, but with a large number of them in one territory and the presence of several adult drakes, they can be aggressive towards each other. This is usually due to feeding. Stronger males can kill weak, and sometimes even young offspring. In stressful situations, the female can stop laying or abandon her nest.
Indoor women love fish, so they are attracted to everything brilliant. It is better to remove all objects that remind them of a tasty treat: shards of glass or mirrors, metal waste and other debris.
Habitat and habitat
In the wild, Indo-girls can be seen next to lakes, rivers, and other freshwater bodies. They form into small groups to give birth to new offspring. They rarely gather in large flocks, and practically do not make flights.
Their feather lube is not as greasy as other ducks, so they don't like swimming in cold water. In winter, it is dangerous for them to swim, since at sub-zero temperatures, the wings freeze and the bird can drown.
Advantages and disadvantages of Indoor fish
Breeding indorets does not require special knowledge and skills, but has its pros and cons. Among the advantages, the following factors can be noted:
- resistance to various diseases, which to a greater extent affects the survival of young offspring;
- unpretentiousness to feeding;
- high egg production;
- feel great in any environment;
- Indo-mothers are good brood hens, even for brooding other bird species;
- tasty diet meat.
As for the disadvantages, there are much fewer of them than the advantages:
- little ducklings can peck each other if they are not provided with the necessary conditions;
- addiction to shiny objects;
- slow growth and mass gain.
About the content and breeding of the Musky Duck, see the video below:
The direction of the breed
Depending on the purpose for which the musk breeds of ducks are grown, their living conditions do not change, but the period of keeping and feeding is completely different.
Egg production
An average adult musky duck produces about a hundred eggs a year. If you create all the necessary conditions, this figure can increase to 120 pieces, and each egg will have a mass of 60 to 70 g. For this, the bird needs a warm atmosphere in the winter, as well as regular maintenance of cleanliness in the house.
They need good lighting and ventilation. If you add to this a list of useful substances and vitamins, then the pets will surely become record holders in egg laying.
Under favorable conditions, adults begin to rush from the beginning of the year, otherwise the difference will be about two months. Young ducks begin to rush from six months, gradually increasing the number of eggs, every month. First, the monthly clutch is about 8 eggs, and when the bird reaches 12 months of age, the number of eggs reaches 16 pieces.
Egg laying is a cyclical process. After intensive laying, which lasts about 5 months, a molt period of 2-3 months begins.
Meat cultivation
Young offspring raised for meat, with proper feeding, gain weight in the first six months. The mass of a drake is up to 4 kg, and a duck - up to 3.5 kg. If the house is cold and damp, then they will gain weight less rapidly.
Many try not to keep the bird for a long time. Indoor women can gain 2.5 kg for 2-3 months, which allows you to send her to slaughter. At the same time, it is important to maintain cleanliness, observe conditions, adhere to feeding rules so that the birds do not get sick. Otherwise, they may not gain weight, and their meat will not be so high-quality and tasty.
Features of breeding and raising ducklings of the Muscovy duck
Regardless of the method of hatching ducklings, to get a brood, choose eggs from the first days of laying. Then carefully select them according to their characteristics - so that they are the same shape, weight and size.
The most fruitful eggs are considered to be selected for 14 days. When collecting, store them lying on their side, at a temperature of 11 degrees.
Formation of broodstock
To breed in the traditional way (brood hen), arrange a separate mother queen, in which there will be 3-4 females and a drake. Then build a nest with dry leaves, sawdust, or hay.
Eggs selected for hatching do not touch. Indo-ducks are excellent brooders, so when 10 eggs are collected in the nest, the female sits on the nest.
The room should have water and food so that the brood hen periodically feeds. In the process of heating the eggs, she regularly turns the eggs over and moistens them with water.
The period of hatching ducklings is 32-35 days.
Breeding ducklings hen
Despite the fact that musk ducks are good brood hens, ducklings cannot do without the help of the owner. After the first chicks hatch, the duck continues to sit in the nest until the entire brood has hatched. Therefore, babies need to be placed in a warm, cozy place and provide them with good lighting. An ordinary incandescent lamp is suitable for this, which will speed up the drying process.
In the early days, feed the ducklings with hard-boiled eggs. At the same time, grind them and sprinkle them on the backs, since during this period they only react to movement. When they begin to move, the crumbs roll down and the chicks notice, eat them.
After the end of the period allotted for laying, unproductive eggs become unusable and the duck leaves the nest to take care of the offspring. When the day-old ducklings are dry and strong, place them under the hen.
In the morning she can already walk and feed them. After a week, they can already take a bath, but before the procedure, a caring mother lubricates their feathers with her fat.
Incubation
For incubation breeding of ducks, the device must be warmed up to 38 degrees. Then, lay the fertilized eggs horizontally. First lay the largest, and after 5 hours the rest. Do not use small eggs.
The incubator must provide the required air humidity. If such a function is not provided, then do it as follows - spray the eggs with a weak and warm solution of manganese, twice a day. So the eggs get cooling and at the same time the metabolism is accelerated.
Eggs need to be periodically turned over and swapped for uniform heating. Hatching eggs may take a little longer to hatch than brooding eggs. At the end of the period, reduce the air temperature gradually, and check the eggs and help the ducklings to hatch by opening the shell.
Place the hatched chicks in a brooder. If they are properly cared for within 10 days, they will grow strong and healthy.
Feeding and keeping chicks
Their further development depends on the correct feeding of the muscovy ducklings. First of all, you need to take care of the favorable conditions in the house. This will require regular maintenance of cleanliness and, if necessary, disinfection. The same drinkers and feeders require.
An overview of duck drinkers and instructions for making them can be read in this article.
In the first week, daylight hours for ducklings should be at least 18 hours, so the house should be equipped with appropriate lighting. As they grow older, daylight hours should be reduced by 1 hour, every week. This is necessary for full development, since as they grow up, Indo-girls need metabolism, which occurs better in the dark. If these rules are not followed, rickets may occur.
For development, ducklings need good nutrition. From the very beginning, feed them with cereal mixtures and products containing starch, protein and calcium:
- shell rock;
- a piece of chalk;
- starting feed;
- grain mixtures;
- corn, bone and barley flour;
- shredded meat and fish waste;
- boiled potatoes;
- fresh carrots.
Don't forget about greenery. If there is the possibility of walking on fresh, juicy grass, then this will be the most acceptable option. The ducklings themselves will find suitable and healthy greens that they need for full development.
Maintenance and care conditions
Provide the Indo-woman with proper housing conditions and proper care. Only in this way will she be able to grow quickly and have good egg production.
Room requirements
To keep muscovy ducks, you do not need to build rooms with a stove or heating, let alone electric. It is enough to insulate the house with straw, hay, wood and other wood materials. The main thing for this bird is comfort and cleanliness.
The size of the room should be selected taking into account 3 birds per square meter. In addition, it must be well ventilated. If the owner holds several tens of birds, then it is best to plant them as separate families, as in the wild.
Power features
The diet of the adult and younger generations of muscovy ducks practically does not differ. The difference is only in the food supply, since ducklings in most cases require chopped food. Indook can be fed:
- grain crops - wheat, barley, corn;
- wheat bran;
- greens - beet leaves, meadow grass;
- boiled potatoes;
- grated beets;
- cottage cheese;
- carrots;
- bone meal;
- fish and meat waste;
- bread yeast;
- elements containing calcium - chalk, granite chips, crushed shells, table salt.
The favorite delicacy of the Indo-duck is kitchen waste, milkweed and dandelion greens, corn, beet tops and boiled potatoes.
Diseases of ducks
If the owners show insufficient attention to pets, they can get sick. Most often, musky ducks are exposed to infectious, viral and parasitic diseases:
- rickets;
- lack of vitamins;
- cloacite;
- catarrh and blockage of the goiter;
- vitelline peritonitis;
- intestinal poisoning;
- cannibalism.
If you follow all the rules and conditions of poultry, carry out preventive measures, then the immune system of indigenous animals will not allow various diseases.
The profitability of breeding musk ducks
Many livestock farmers, farmers, and household holders know that breeding indochoke can be very lucrative if done right. The meat of this bird is appreciated for its taste characteristics and dietary benefits.
This breed of bird does not require special care and is not picky about feeding. They do not need to be constantly monitored, they are completely independent and can move to the pond and back without the participation of the owners.
Significant expenses are not required for the equipment of the house, especially if feeding troughs, drinking bowls and other amenities are done by hand. The only costs are grain feed and vitamins. In any case, the money spent will soon pay for itself and bring a good income.
According to experts, the profitability of breeding Indo-dogs for meat is about 70%.
Farmers Reviews
Nikolay, 36 years old, farmer, Voronezh region.The small weight of the Indo-duck is compensated by a large brood of drakes. I found this out from my own experience, when out of two hundred ducklings, 120 turned out to be males. More than others, I enjoyed raising brown muscovy ducks, which are superior in weight to some of their relatives.
Yulia Menyeva, 53 years old, summer resident, Moscow.I have known the Indo-woman since childhood, when I still came to my grandmother for the holidays in the village. She always cooked soup with this bird. Now I realized that it is not only tasty, but also healthy.
Vladimir, 47 years old, farmer, Crimea.Breeding musk ducks can be a lucrative business if this is the goal. In any case, this bird is able to bring additional income if there is no desire to engage in a full-fledged business.
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Indoor woman not only has delicious meat, but also does not require special care. Simple guidelines will help you build a profitable poultry farming business.