Integrated rice duck farming system offers 0% synthetic input, lower production costs and alternative source of income. By adopting rice duck farming system, you are helping the environment.
In order to start rice duck farming you need the following; 150-300 ducklings per hectare, good water source, 2.5 rolls of nets for inclusion, 400 m, 0.5 Kg of tie wire, bamboo sticks for posts, duck housing, waterer and a brooding box. Proper brooding, housing, feeding, enclosing duck houses with sacks in the evening and proper water management to make the technology work. In this system, the adult ducks are effective in fertilizing the soil and ducklings are efficient is pest control.
Components of the system
It has six components, first is the duck housing which should have enough space for ducks to move and be safe from predators. Include space for mature female ducks to lay eggs and the floor should be elevated and covered with rice straw.
Second component is duck sourcing whereby 18 days old ducklings are transported to the filed for brooding. It‘s best to deliver ducklings during start of rice transplanting to prevent mortality risk.
Additional components
Duck preparation involves preparation of brooding box for ducklings and covered with sacks with an electric bulb at the centre. Net installation component and field release are the last components which involves making a 4 by 5 metre inclusion to newly transplanted rice for practice of ducklings.
Acclimatize ducklings into the rice fields for 5-10 mins. Allow them to dry for 3-5 hours and feeds should be available. When ducklings are completely dry allow them to go for practice for 2-3 hours.
Feeding and care
Ducks should be fed twice a day, morning before releasing and afternoon 2 kg of chick booster. During the first three weeks, feeding should be 3 times a day at a rate of 1 kg per day of chick booster. Mixing commercial feeds with corn rice bran during the fourth week prepares them for alternative feeds.
Duck movements during swimming and beaks touching the stern provides stimulation to rice hence producing healthy and abundant rice tillers.
