When it comes to poultry keeping, you may think about chickens first. Chickens have always been one of the favorite animals that farmers liked to keep for centuries. It is not surprising, for the demand for chicken eggs and meat are continually on the rise, and studies show it will continue thus in the future. However, as of late, more and more farmers raise ducks. It has been found that an average of about twenty-two million ducks is raised every year. Indeed, duck rearing is becoming fast popular.

Duck rearing can be an enjoyable and profitable endeavor. Their eggs contain more nutrients than a chicken’s making it an ideal food for the health-conscious individual. In order to start a duck farm, you must research extensively about how to raise ducks first. There are many things that must be taken into consideration when rearing them. Fortunately, there are now many books and articles that provide information on how to raise ducks.

The first thing you should ask yourself is what your main purpose for rearing ducks is. There are many different kinds of ducks that have their own set of characteristics. In order to find out what they all are, Googling it and/or consulting a book to find information on how to raise ducks would be a wise choice. It is also important to take note that ducks are easier to handle when they are reared from a young age. This means that it is better to purchase ducklings rather than an adult one because the latter may exhibit some sort of resistance.

Ducks are not endowed with a lot of maternal instincts and can lay their eggs anywhere. Many ducks are also not known to sit on their eggs which are something that eggs need in order to develop. As such, you need to brood them so they can grow. Duckling brooding will also help you gain experience and more knowledge on how to raise ducks. The brooder should be set at an optimun temperature and its floor must be covered with soft, absorbent litter such as straw or wood shavings so that the ducklings are comfortable.

Ducks should also be provided with housing with a lot of space to allow them movement. Growing ducks need bigger space which is why it is considered a mark of a good caretaker to provide them adequate shelter. If you think you still need guidance on how to raise ducks, consulting existing duck owners and farmers will certainly be a big help. If you would like to learn more about raising ducks correctly, please visit: http://www.howtoraiseducks.com.