Indian Runner Duck - description of the breed

The Indian Runner duck is an interesting bird. In a private farmstead it can be kept as a meat and egg plant, but it is most in demand and loved by poultry farmers as a decorative one.

Our readers will be interested to learn about this useful and beautiful breed, to get acquainted with its characteristics, specific breeding and care.

“Indian runners” (pictured) are ducks with a very recognizable specific appearance

History of the breed

The runners are originally from the East Indies. Indian runners began to be bred in India more than 2 thousand years ago. At the beginning of the 19th century, ducks were brought to Europe, and a little later they appeared in the USSR as penguin ducks or penguins. But during this period, birds were considered decorative, and they could be seen in zoos.

It is believed that this name was given to the breed by Charles Darwin. The scientist described the taste of poultry meat as delicious. The birds were later renamed Indian Runner.

These ducks have only one characteristic behavior:

fast movement on land;
high adaptability to cold climates;
do not fly away from the place where they live;
Great lovers of swimming and excellent swimmers, they calmly tolerate the lack of water procedures.

Origin

The birds got their name because of their ability to run quickly - unlike other breeds, runners do not waddle when moving from side to side. Runner ducks are excellent swimmers. The history of breeding goes back about 2000 years, ducks come from Asia.

The ancestor is considered to be the penguin duck. Initially, birds were brought from Asia to Germany and England. There, their characteristics were improved through systematic selection work. Later, the improved Asian breed spread throughout the world.

In Russia, the Indian Runner duck breed was initially raised in limited quantities - its representatives could be seen in zoos and at exhibitions. Now it is in demand among farmers not only because of its unusual appearance - its egg productivity is highly valued.

Differences in color

Indian Runner ducks are divided into species, which are classified according to the color of their feathers. These birds are taken to exhibitions. Individuals should not be too tall or short, have a plump belly, a short neck, and a long tail.

Based on the color of ducks, the following varieties are distinguished:

Wild. Drakes are characterized by a black head and an emerald neck, which is girded at the base of the back with a white torn ring. The lower and upper areas of the chest are the color of chocolate. The remaining parts - the abdomen, the upper part of the legs and the tail - are pearl with a mother-of-pearl tint. The lower back and tail are anthracite with a greenish tint. The ashen wings are decorated with a dark blue mirror ringed with black and white stripes. The wings are beige on the inside. The beak is emerald green with a black spot, the legs are bright orange. Females are less bright, their overall color is yellow-brown, and their feathers have a dark horseshoe-shaped marking. The beak is light brown, with a darker color at the tip.

Silvery wild. The drakes are pearly-cream, the head is black with a green tint. The feathers on the back of the head, lower neck, chest and at the base of the wings are terracotta. The tail is dark chocolate color. The tail is light yellow, the wings are white with a silver tint. The mirror on the wings is edged with a white stripe, bright green. All feathers are edged with a light silver border. The beak is greenish-gray and the legs are orange. Females are milky in color. The top of the breast, base of the neck, back of the head, back and tail are speckled. The lower back is light yellow with grey, speckled. The feathers are edged with a snow-white border. The lower chest area and abdomen are cream. And the mirror on the wings is mother-of-pearl blue.

Trout. The neck and head of males are emerald green, framed by a non-integral ring at the base of the neck. The breast is brown with small black dots. The wings are gray with a pearlescent tint and a blue-green mirror. The back is darkish with a light gray stripe in front of the rump. The beak is green with a dark tip. Females are brown-pearlescent, with oblong speckles on the back and abdomen. Wing feathers with dark brown edging. The beak is orange with dark speckles.

In monochromatic runners, ducks and drakes have no differences in color.

white - the legs are bright orange, the beak is deep yellow;
black – anthracite-colored paws, black-green beak;
brown - the feather color can have shades from medium brown to dark chocolate, the feathers on the neck, mirror and tail are darker, the beak is grayish-brown, the legs are coffee-colored;
blue - bright blue color, there may be specks of black, beak - dark gray or light olive with a characteristic dark spot at the end, paws - dark gray or gray-brown.

In addition to these colors, there are pea, yellow-blue varieties of Indian runners and representatives of khaki colors.

Productivity

The description of the duck breed indicates that the runner has an egg production direction. Females lay from 280 to 350 eggs per year. Such indicators are typical for the first year; subsequently they decrease.

The average weight of eggs is 80 g. They differ from chicken eggs in taste and composition - duck eggs contain less fat, they are well digestible, have high nutritional value, and are stored for a long time. The shell is predominantly white, but can take on an unusual color - it can be greenish or blue.

The characteristics of egg production depend on the color - ducks with white plumage lay better in the cold season, and ducks with black plumage lay better in the summer. Puberty occurs at 5-6 months. Females make good brood hens.

Meat productivity in birds is modest - adult females weigh about 2 kg, males are slightly larger. It is interesting that by the age of 2 months the chicks almost catch up in size with the adults. The meat of runners is dietary, tasty, tender, and the amount of cholesterol is minimal.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Indian runner has the following advantages:

high egg production;
good body resistance to diseases;
ducklings grow quickly;
belong to the grazing species (does not require a lot of feed);
the taste of the meat is high, the fat content does not exceed 32%;
the meat is dietary and does not have the specific odor inherent in other types of ducks;
high demand for hatching eggs and young ducks.

The main disadvantages of this breed:

difficult to find breeding ducks;
low carcass weight;
ducks are very shy and can make noise and fly away at the slightest sign of danger.

Types of Indian Runners

This breed of ducks has several varieties that differ in plumage color. Mostly brown feathers are found, the most rare are ash-red ones. This type is for exhibition. In general, the main features of beauty are considered to be a plump tummy, a small neck and a long tail. The colors of birds are incredibly diverse.

Silver Indian Runners

There are several types of duck colors:

Wild. The head and neck are emerald, the breast is brick red with a white ring on the neck. The tail is black with greenish speckles, the beak is pure green. The wings are chocolate, the beak is yellow.
Trout. The duck looks like this: the breast is red, the back is dark, the wings are gray, the neck is green with a white ring, the feathers are brownish, the beak is bright yellow.
Silvery wild. The head has a bright black color, shimmering with emerald. The breast is brown-red, rich, the belly is silver, the wings are white, the feathers are yellowish, the beak is green.
White. Ducks of both sexes are white with a lemon-colored beak.
Black. The feathers are rich black, shimmering with emerald, and the beak is bright green.

Origin

Ducks were once called penguins due to their appearance. At the beginning of the last century, birds were considered exotic in European countries. Two thousand years ago, runners were bred in the East Indies and are still common in South Asia.

Then they became popular in England, and in 1926 they appeared in Russia. Charles Darwin mentioned in his writings about an unusual breed of ducks. Sometimes Indian runners are used in the production of new breeds of poultry.

Feasibility of reproduction

Due to their exotic appearance, ducks are exhibited at various competitions. But the purpose of breeding is to obtain a valuable product - eggs. Meat is also a valuable dietary product:

Meat. Although Indian runners weigh a little, they are incredibly tasty, lacking the specific taste of duck. The main advantage of meat is the presence of protein, which is completely free of cholesterol. The product also improves immunity.
Eggs. Birds are distinguished by extremely high egg production. Their eggs are tasty, contain little fat, and are well absorbed by the body. In one day, a duck can lay 350 eggs. The egg weighs about 80 grams. Their color is most often white, sometimes with a bluish or greenish tint.

This breed produces good chicks, which are born strong and healthy.

Content

Indian ducks are unpretentious birds and adapt well to environmental conditions. They are able to withstand the cold winter of the Russian climate in a cold poultry house. But egg production in such conditions is reduced by half.

To achieve high performance results, a runner must adhere to proper care. To keep ducks you need:

a room equipped with heating and lighting;
the presence of a reservoir - artificial or natural;
walking area with grass with an area of 10 sq.m per bird.

With short daylight hours in winter, it is necessary to extend the lighting in the coop up to 14 hours a day. Ducks need bathing to clean their feathers; when the birds' plumage becomes dirty, their productivity decreases and the likelihood of various diseases increases. Walking is also necessary for runners, as they feed on pasture (snails, insects, worms, seeds, etc.). During the period when birds are grazing on the range, it is enough to feed them once a day.

Poultry house

When choosing a room for raising runner ducks, you must take into account that there should be no more than 6-8 birds per 1 square meter. A denser population of ducks will result in decreased productivity. There should be dry bedding on the floor of the poultry house. In the autumn-winter period, with short daylight hours, artificial lighting is necessary. Ducks should have at least 12 hours of daylight. It is necessary to take care of heating the room for the winter period. Birds tolerate cold weather well, but at the same time begin to lay eggs less.

Access to water

One of the main conditions for keeping ducks is the presence of a natural or artificial pool. Indian runners are very fond of water treatments. In summer, birds spend a lot of time in the water, where they also get food. The absence of a water pool negatively affects the egg production of ducks.

Feeding

Taking care of nutrition for runners is not difficult. In the spring and summer, ducks feed on pasture, and one feeding per day is enough for them.

The food of Indian runners is similar to the food of other ducks:

dry feed;
wet mash;
crushed grains - wheat, barley, corn;
chopped greens - lettuce, dill, nettle, vegetable tops;
boiled root vegetables;
special vitamins and minerals for ducks.

From time to time, small shell rock, chalk, crushed egg shells, and sand are added to the food. If the birds do not have a place to walk, and also in winter, they are fed 4 times a day.

During the summer

In the summer, if the birds are not kept indoors, feeding is based on the birds independently obtaining food. Birds eat grass, snails, larvae, seeds, and worms. The ducks are fed once in the evening with crushed grains. The diet should include (per one duck):

boiled potatoes – 30 g;
carrots – 20 g;
bone meal – 10 g;
legume flour – 10 g;
bran – 25 g;
grain flour – 130 g;
greens - no restrictions.

In winter

In winter, special attention should be paid to the nutrition of ducks. The diet of an Indian runner should be enriched with vitamins and minerals. The menu should include:

special combined feeds;
crushed grains - wheat, barley, corn;
wet mash;
bone flour;
boiled vegetables, bran;
small shell rock, sand.

The productivity of birds depends on the quality of nutrition.

How are runner ducks bred?

This process should begin with the design of a proper poultry house with insulation. Ducks of this breed are completely unpretentious to living conditions and easily make contact. Before you begin breeding, you should decide on its purpose: obtaining eggs or new individuals and, based on these options, plan the number of birds in the aviary.

To start, one strong drake and 5 females are suitable, which should be selected in the fall. Eggs that hatch in the spring must be used for subsequent hatching. Future applicants for the title of best Indian runner should be selected based on the weight of the egg and its color. Females of different colors lay eggs at different times: black ducks in winter, and white ducks in summer. The reason for these seasonal preferences has not yet been studied.

Indian runners on the run

The breed is famous for its excellent egg production, which greatly facilitates the breeding process. The main task will be to take care of the ducklings. Female Indian runners are excellent brood hens. From the first days of life, chicks are very energetic and hardy. Males at sexual maturity are so active that they can cover females of other species, so they should be kept separate from other breeds. The offspring obtained from different species of birds will be small, and egg production rates will drop.

When breeding ducks using an incubator, it takes several days to collect the required number of eggs to completely fill it in a small farm. Indian runner eggs should be kept at the proper level of humidity: 70 - 75% and temperature: from 8 to 120C. Eggs can be stored for no more than 8 days.

Prices for egg incubators

Egg incubators

Indian runner eggs in the incubator

If you follow the correct regimen, it will take 1 month for incubation hatching

It is very important that duck eggs have a fertilization rate of up to 88%. This will allow to achieve 70% hatching of young animals

Considering that the yolk contains a lot of fat, you should be especially careful when observing the temperature regime. If the temperature in the incubator exceeds the required level, it will kill the future chicks.

Indian runner eggs in a nest

To prevent this result, you should cool them for 14 days:

It is recommended to carry out the process of lowering the temperature twice, 12 hours apart;
during this procedure, all heaters must be turned off;
you need to open all the doors and provide half an hour of ventilation;
for the first time, cooling should be carried out, alternating irrigation with air flows, exposing the eggs to a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, then 15 minutes with an air flow. Reduce temperature to 380C;
close the door after completing all procedures and restart heating and ventilation.

If you adhere to the above rules, the chicks will mature in exactly 1 month. After birth, ducklings immediately begin to rapidly increase in height. The weight of a 2-month-old baby is 1.5 kg.

Indian runners have tasty dietary meat

Features of breeding ducklings

For breeding in the fall, suitable individuals that hatched in the spring are selected. 5 females are placed with one male. Indian Runner ducks do an excellent job of breeding offspring. A duck can hatch up to 350 chicks per year. But for breeding, a duck must have the following parameters:

sufficiently developed breast;
wide pelvic bones;
large soft belly;
with solid smooth plumage.

While incubating eggs, the duck stops laying eggs (about 2 months). After 28 days, the chicks hatch. After a couple of months, the ducklings reach the weight of their parents. The chicks practically do not get sick and get along well with each other. Ducks are good hens, but the maximum number of eggs a hen can hatch is 10. Therefore, incubators are used to produce more ducklings.

Incubation

For incubation, it is necessary to select fresh, undamaged eggs without deformations and the correct shape. Before being placed in the incubator, they are stored for up to 8 days at a temperature of +9 - +11°C and a humidity of 70-75%. During incubation, the following rules should be followed to obtain the maximum number of healthy offspring:

Days 1-7 - humidity 70%, temperature 38°C;
8-14 days - humidity drops to 60%, temperature - to 37.8°C;
14 -25 days - humidity level 60%, temperature 37.8 °C;
26 and before hatching - the humidity level is increased to 85-90%, the temperature is 37.5°C.

Runner eggs contain a large amount of fat in the yolk. When the temperature in the incubator rises, future offspring may die. It is recommended to cool the incubator on day 14 or 15. To do this, turn off the heaters and turn on the fans. Cool for about 30 minutes.

The cooling rules are as follows:

turn off the heating of the incubator completely twice a day with an interval of 12 hours;
open the doors and turn on the fans for half an hour;
during the first cooling, it is necessary to combine air cooling with wet cooling: the first 20 minutes with air, then irrigation with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
When finished, close the incubator and turn on the heating and fans.

Ducklings appear 28-30 days after the start of incubation.

Care

Runner ducks are good and caring mothers. But if left with the duck after hatching, the egg production rate will decrease. Therefore, farmers begin to look after the offspring. Little runners should be provided with a warm environment, dry bedding, good food and fresh water. The offspring of runners are strong, friendly and quickly gain weight.

Nutrition

Indian runner ducklings are fed 6 to 8 times a day, initially only with boiled chicken yolks, then protein is added. From day 4, feed soaked in water is added to the diet in small quantities. The ducklings' diet must contain greens - lettuce, spinach, dandelions, dill, nettles. After 4-4.5 weeks, the little runners are transferred to adult food. Chicks must be given fresh water. In a month they catch up with adult birds in weight.

Owner reviews

Galina, 34 years old, Ryazan region
We have been keeping Penguin for several years now. They are cute, friendly, and easily get used to people. Lovers of running and splashing in the water, so the walk should be spacious. We don’t have a pond, but in the summer we put two large troughs in the fence, and that’s enough for them. Our poultry house is insulated, not heated, but the ducks have never frozen. They lay eggs well and hatch well too. Young animals practically do not get sick. There were no problems with feeding, and with maintenance too - they are not capricious at all. The only negative, perhaps, is that they need to be kept separately from the rest of the feathered company. The fact is that drakes are very active and are constantly eager to trample ducks of other breeds, but this is of little use. The fertilization is good, but the ducklings then hatch are small, with a strong influence of “runner” heredity. Otherwise, it is a very successful breed.

Natalya, 57 years old, Tver region
We keep two “families” – white and “wild” color. Females lay eggs every day in the summer, and two days in the winter, with a rest on the third. There are enough eggs for both food and sale. The eggs, by the way, are large and very tasty. Similar to chicken, but denser, fattier and with some kind of creamy flavor. The boiled ones go great, and are also very good in baking. I have never made a biscuit of this quality using chicken. We slaughter fully grown ducklings at about 8 weeks of age for food. One carcass is only enough for dinner (they are small), but the meat tastes great.

Alexey, 51 years old, Kazan
My small herd of “runners” has been living for three years. The breed is interesting as a show breed, and its meat is tasty, although it produces only a little of it. I’m still getting used to the taste of eggs: they say they are the same as chicken eggs, but, in my opinion, there is still a slight “extra” aftertaste. But there are no problems with breeding these ducks and keeping them is relatively inexpensive. They burst the grain or crushed mixture. In summer, very little dry food is needed, as they prefer to feed on the run. It is very important to ensure that they do not reach the garden: any greens and vegetables are eaten clean. But in the fall, I release the birds onto the site, and they diligently clean it of all unnecessary living creatures - bugs, larvae, slugs. At the same time, the soil is fertilized. It turns out that ducks are beautiful, they provide eggs, they provide meat, and they help in the garden. A good breed, I recommend it to everyone.

Diseases and prevention

Indian runners have good immunity, and birds rarely get sick. There are no special diseases unique to these ducks. But little ducklings can get sick:

vitamin deficiency - develops against the background of a lack of vitamins, the chicks become weak, rickets develops;
cloacitis – characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes and cloaca;
cuticulitis - ducklings get sick in the first month of life, the main signs of the disease are loss of appetite and loose stools;
urovsky disease - little runners pluck their own feathers and start eating sawdust.

To maintain the health of the inhabitants of the poultry house, it is necessary to keep the room where the ducks live clean; per 1 sq. m contain no more than 6-8 birds; add vitamin complexes to food. A prerequisite is the presence of a pond for swimming ducks. A sick runner is isolated from the rest of the herd to prevent the spread of the disease. And be sure to consult a specialist. The Indian Runner duck has positive reviews from breeders. The bird is unpretentious, breeding allows you to get a good income from the sale of young animals and eggs.

Preparing the bird for laying

Most domestic ducks are unpretentious in everyday life. All they need for comfort and productivity is tranquility, a warm, dry climate, a balanced menu and regular meals. Ducks fly only in a cozy and safe place.

Another important factor is having a cozy nest for the duck when she is ready to lay eggs. You will find detailed instructions for its construction in the article “Making a nest for Indian ducks with your own hands.”

Plan construction for the fall or winter month so that by spring the ducks will get used to the new structures.

Place duck nests in a dry, warm and dark place, out of reach of uninvited visitors. Avoid drafts and sudden temperature changes.

The nest is lined with hay or sawdust. If moisture gets on them, these materials must be replaced with dry ones.

Provide the room with a ventilation and heating system. The light inside the house should be dim.

When building a nest, you need to make thresholds in it. Thanks to them, the egg will remain inside and will not roll out.

Egg incubation

Poultry is bred independently on farms and farmsteads, or eggs or young animals are purchased from the producer. For independent breeding, a parent herd is formed from individuals. There should be no more than 5-6 females per drake. Indian runner ducks are fertile, with a fertilization rate of 99%. The parent flock is kept separately. The enclosure can accommodate 2 drakes and 12 females. 2 days after mating, the hen will lay her first clutch.

Nests are made for laying. Some individuals make them themselves. For them, hay is placed in the enclosure. Females bring eggs to one common nest. To incubate eggs, the nest should be constantly emptied by placing dummies in them. Otherwise, the females will leave the previous nest and find another place for it. Eggs are stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 10 C, with a humidity of 75%. Storage duration is no more than 5-7 days. The longer the time passes from the moment of laying, the less hatchability will be.

If there is no incubator, the eggs are returned back to the nest. Despite the fact that individuals are always active, they make good hens. Reviews on poultry breeding forums speak about this. In this case, ducks reproduce naturally. A quiet corner is allocated for the hen so that she does not experience stress.

If you plan to place eggs in an incubator, the material must be cleaned, disinfected and illuminated using an ovoscope. If darkening is visible under the shell, the eggs are discarded. The duration of incubation is 26-28 days. The entire period is maintained at a certain temperature and humidity.

Indian runner eggs

It is recommended to adhere to the following indicators:

1 week – temperature 38-38.2 C, humidity 70%;
2-3 weeks – 37.8 C, humidity 60%;
from day 26, ducklings begin to peck; for it to go smoothly, you should soften the shell a little; to do this, increase the humidity in the incubator to 90%; the temperature is reduced to 37.5 C.

Eggs are turned 6 times a day. The closet must be ventilated. In weeks 1-2, ventilation time is 5-7 minutes. in a day. At week 3, the cabinet is opened for 15 minutes. in a day. If on day 28-29 the chick cannot break the shell, then it should be helped. The duckling is taken out of the incubator after it dries out. Immediately place it in the brooder. Feeding begins 6 hours after hatching.

Duck egg yolk is used as feed. On day 4, protein is added. Subsequently, the young animals eat grass and crushed grain mixtures. The first portion is 40 g. Later it is increased. The duckling is given 260 g of feed per month. Vitamin cocktails, chalk, and fine gravel must be added to food. Young animals are transferred to adult food at the age of 60 days.

Individuals of the Indian Runner breed are unpretentious. In European villages, birds are free-fed. At a certain time, the farmsteads simply open the poultry houses to release the birds. Ducks gather in a flock and go to pasture. A shepherd is looking after them. In the evening, the livestock returns home. Each runner always knows its owner; it will not run away to another house.

Notes code

Indian runner
- article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia. (Retrieved September 16, 2015). Retrieved September 17, 2015.
(English). Heritage Breeds: Poultry Breeds: Heritage Ducks
. Pittsboro, NC, USA: The Livestock Conservancy. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
↑. Electronic agricultural encyclopedia of knowledge: Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books (search): Livestock: Breeds of farm animals: Ducks
. M.: Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Central Scientific Agricultural Library” (FGBNU TsNSKhB). Retrieved March 5, 2015.
↑. Electronic agricultural encyclopedia of knowledge: Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books (search): Livestock: Genetic resources of farm animals in Russia and neighboring countries: 15. Ducks
. M.: Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Central Scientific Agricultural Library” (FGBNU TsNSKhB). — Directory based on the book: Genetic resources of farm animals in Russia and neighboring countries / Comp. L. K. Ernst, N. G. Dmitriev, I. A. Paronyan. - St. Petersburg: VNIIGRZH, 1994. Date of access: March 5, 2015.
↑
↑ Wagner Yu. N.
Duck // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
Fisinin V.I., Zlochevskaya
K.V.
Electronic agricultural encyclopedia of knowledge: Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books (search): Livestock: Genetic resources of farm animals in Russia and neighboring countries
. M.: Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Central Scientific Agricultural Library” (FGBNU TsNSKhB). — Directory based on the book: Genetic resources of farm animals in Russia and neighboring countries / Comp. L. K. Ernst, N. G. Dmitriev, I. A. Paronyan. - St. Petersburg: VNIIGRZH, 1994. Date of access: March 4, 2015.
. Russian rural information network: Virtual library on agriculture: Breeds of farm animals: Poultry
. Regional Public Foundation “Agrarian Development Research” (FIAR). Retrieved March 4, 2015.
. Electronic agricultural encyclopedia of knowledge: Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books (search): Livestock: Breeds of farm animals
. M.: Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Central Scientific Agricultural Library” (FGBNU TsNSKhB). Retrieved March 5, 2015.

Raising young animals

To raise ducks of the favorite breed, no special conditions or special knowledge are required. These birds easily adapt to the climate of any region. However, there are several rules that must be followed for proper development and good weight gain in young animals. They relate to feeding and caring for ducks.

Care and maintenance

Below are the main points that you need to pay attention to when keeping Favorite breed ducks. Table 4. Features of care and maintenance of ducks of the Favorite breed

Features of care and maintenance of ducks of the favorite breed

Table 4. Features of care and maintenance of ducks of the Favorite breed.

What to pay attention to How it should be Living Ducks can be kept in ordinary sheds or uninsulated enclosures. The main requirements are that there should be no drafts in the barn, and the roof should not leak during rain. But if the owner lives in northern regions with a harsh climate, the room still needs to be insulated

Bathing These birds need regular water treatments. The ideal solution would be a small pond on the site. There, birds will not only be able to swim, but will also find nutrition in the form of algae. If it is not possible to equip a natural pond, you need to install a bathtub on the site. Regular water treatments will help strengthen the birds' immunity and improve the quality of their down. Walking The excellent immunity of the favorites allows them to walk in any open areas, even if the bird has not been vaccinated against major diseases.

For walks, you need to provide a fenced area with enough grass

Daylight It is important to ensure that the ducks have enough light. For proper development, at least 14 hours of daylight are allowed

Therefore, in winter and on cloudy days, the poultry house needs to be provided with lighting at the rate of 60 W per 3 square meters. m corral. Cleaning The floor in the room is covered with a layer of straw 10-15 cm thick. The litter must be replaced as it gets dirty. Also in the poultry house, general cleaning should be carried out regularly, and drinkers and food bowls should be washed every 2-3 days. This will reduce the risk of infectious diseases. Disinfection To disinfect the walls in the poultry house, you need to periodically whiten them with slaked lime.

Favorite ducks are very calm and friendly birds, so they can be kept in the same pen with other birds. They get along well with ducks of other breeds, chickens and turkeys.

Favorite ducks can be kept with ducks of other breeds

Feeding the ducks

Birds of this breed are completely picky about food. They gain weight equally well both on grain nutrition and on mixed feed. The diet of ducks is selected according to the following rules:

For active mass gain, birds are fed wet mash. Sliced potatoes and carrots, grain, cottage cheese, milk, and fresh grass are added there.
Favorites need three feedings a day. Breakfast and lunch consist of mash with the addition of vegetables, and it is recommended to give grain for dinner.
Walks should be organized so that the ducks can always enjoy fresh grass or algae from a natural reservoir.
Ducks love combined silage. To prepare it, combine cabbage, cabbage leaves and herb meal. This dish helps to increase egg production and improves the immunity of young animals.

Farmers usually do not have any difficulties feeding their favorite. The bird never reacts to food with indigestion. But only if you feed her fresh food. Spoiled food will in any case cause poisoning, due to which the bird will stop gaining weight.

An adult duck eats from a feeder

Reproduction

Indian Runner ducks are excellent parents. They do not require any special conditions for reproduction. Keeping these ducks is not difficult. Just like all ducks, they need to be provided with good food and a warm, clean room, although sub-zero temperatures are also suitable for mating.

Data

Determining the egg production period of representatives of the breed depends on an interesting parameter. Indian Runner ducks with different feather colors lay eggs at different times: in winter - white, in the warm season - black. Experts have not yet been able to determine why this happens.

When purchasing Indian runners, it is important to determine what they are needed for: for eggs or for breeding offspring, because if the female begins to hatch ducklings and then care for them, the owners will not have eggs for food for a month 2. “The male half” of the breed - active suitors

They easily cover other birds running nearby. But such offspring come out small, with a significantly reduced egg production

The “male half” of the breed are active suitors. They easily cover other birds running nearby. But such offspring come out small, with a significantly reduced egg production.

Preparation

In the fall, the best specimens born in the spring of the same year are selected. They take five ducks for one drake. A visual inspection is carried out, defects are identified, and the weight of the bird is taken into account. The female is checked for the spaciousness of the abdomen, the thinness of the bones, as well as the condition of the feather: it must be solid and smooth. At six months, individuals can already sit on eggs.

Offspring

Indian runner ducklings hatch on the 28th day of incubation. They grow very quickly. Already at 2 months they practically catch up with their parents in numbers.

They get sick a little and rarely fight among themselves. In the first days of life, chicks eat only yolks, then whites. On the fourth day, try mixed feed soaked in water in small portions. Gradually, little Indian runners are given greens to provide them with all the necessary substances for normal development.

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