Ducks can be raised without water by keeping them inside the house but keeping in mind that incase of raising them without water they will lay unfertilized eggs meaning they can‘t hatch the eggs hence male ducks and water are essential if you want fertile eggs as well as preventing blindness.
As for ducklings, they require heat until they are fully feathered thus brooder temperature at the first week of life is 90 degrees Fahrenheit and every week thereafter adjusted five degrees lower.
Duck breeds
Pekin bird is most popular for meat production given it‘s high growth rate attaining 2.5 kgs in 7-8 weeks and are also dual and ideal since they can lay eggs. The muscovy breed is popular due to it‘s high adaptation and scavenging conditions suitable for meat but has low growth rate.
For egg production consider the khaki campbell breed since it‘s able to lay 300-330 eggs per year under intensive system and 175-225 eggs per year under semi intensive system.
Conditions for housing
For intensive system, allow floor space of 4-5 square feet per duck for laying breeds and 3 square feet per bird for meat breeds. For semi intensive systems, the house should have easy access to the outside grounds.
Provide 3-4 square feet per duck for night shelter and 10-15 square feet per duck for outside confined run.
Advantages of ducks
They can be housed in cheaper, simple and non- elaborate structures, have shorter brooding period, they are highly resistant to common avian diseases and therefore have less mortality rate.
