Pekin duck farming — rearing, feeding, slaughter
The Pekin duck is the most common meat duck in Poland. It grows fast — in around 6–7 weeks it reaches about 3–3.5 kg. But it drinks a lot and spills water, which makes litter management the key to success. We explain how everything works from day one to slaughter.
verifiedFrom the team that has organised work on poultry farms for years.
The Pekin duck — what kind of bird is it
The Pekin duck (white meat duck) is the most popular duck raised for meat in Poland. It is large, white, grows quickly and produces good meat. Fattening takes around 6–7 weeks, after which the duck weighs about 3–3.5 kg (according to IZ-PIB Poultry Feeding Standards 2018 and practice; results depend on flock and conditions). From the duck you get meat (breast, legs), liver, as well as feathers and down.
Duck without a pond — commercial production
A duck is a waterfowl by nature, but in commercial production it is kept without open water for swimming. Ducks drink from nipple or bell drinkers. Why? Because open water means wet litter, dirt and disease. Drinkers give the duck enough water to rinse its bill and eyes, but prevent bathing. This is an important principle to know from the very start.
The main problem in duck production — wet litter
Ducks drink a lot and spill water. Wet litter (bedding) is the biggest problem in duck farming. It causes footpad lesions — swollen, red cushions under the foot — dirty plumage and poorer rearing results. To avoid this you need good ventilation in the house and must keep the litter dry at all times. More on bedding management in the guide on litter management in the house, and on the causes of wet litter in the article wet litter — causes and effects.
What the duck brings to the farm
A duck offers several products at once: meat (popular breasts and legs), liver, as well as feathers and down collected at slaughter. Compared with a goose (covered in the guide on goose farming), the duck grows faster and the cycle is shorter, meaning more cycles per year.
From day one under the hover to preparation for slaughter
Pekin duck production is divided into several stages. Each has its own heat, feeding and litter requirements.
Start under the hover (brooding)
On day one ducklings go under the hover (brooder) — a heater that provides warmth from above, just like a mother hen. Under the hover the temperature should be about 30–32°C in the first week. Temperature is lowered faster than for chicks — ducks reach thermoregulation earlier. After about 3 weeks ducks generally need no additional heating if the house is warm enough. The guide on temperature and humidity in the house covers microclimate details.
Feeding — starter and grower
Ducks eat pelleted duck feed. At the start they receive a starter feed with a higher protein content, around 19–20% as a guideline (according to IZ-PIB Poultry Feeding Standards 2018 and practice; depends on flock and mill recipe). They then move on to a grower feed with less protein but enough energy for growth. Exact duck and goose feeding standards are covered in the article goose and duck feeding standards.
Fattening and litter management
During fattening ducks grow fast and drink increasingly more water. This is when the risk of wet litter is greatest. You need to watch ventilation and regularly top up or replace litter where ducks stand near drinkers. Dry litter means dry footpads and clean plumage — and this directly affects results and bird welfare.
Preparation for slaughter
After about 6–7 weeks the ducks are ready for slaughter. Before collection, a pre-slaughter feed withdrawal is planned and the medicine withdrawal period must be observed. Transport must meet welfare requirements. More on poultry transport rules in the guide on poultry transport — regulations. If you plan to hatch your own ducklings, see also poultry egg incubation.
Common problems in duck production
Ducks are less fragile than chicks, but have their own specific requirements. Here is what to pay attention to.
Wet litter = footpad lesions
Wet bedding is the biggest problem in duck production. It leads to footpad dermatitis — swollen, painful cushions under the foot. A duck with sore feet eats less and grows more slowly. The main cause is faulty or leaking drinkers, or insufficient ventilation. Check that drinkers are not dripping and that air movement in the house is adequate.
Ventilation is the key to dry litter
Ducks produce a lot of moisture — through breathing and through spilled water. Without good ventilation the moisture settles into the litter and the house quickly becomes wet and warm, which favours disease. Good ventilation removes moisture and keeps the litter dry. This does not mean a draught — ducks dislike cold wind blowing directly on them.
Starting temperature — drops faster than for chickens
Ducklings need warmth at the start (about 30–32°C under the hover in week 1), but temperature is reduced faster than for chicks — ducks thermoregulate earlier. If ducklings huddle in a group under the hover, they are too cold. If they move away to the sides, it is too warm. Watch flock behaviour.
Ducks do not peck each other — but litter still matters
Unlike chickens, ducks rarely peck each other. This makes management easier. But they still need litter (straw, shavings, other materials), because without it they lie on a wet, hard floor. Good litter also absorbs moisture and insulates against cold.
Plumage and cleanliness
The Pekin duck has white plumage. Dirty feathers signal wet litter or overstocking. Clean plumage is one of the simplest visual assessments of flock condition and house environment.
Records and farm obligations
A duck farm, like any poultry farm, needs a veterinary number and must keep flock records. All the basic obligations — from registration to documenting treatment — are explained in our guides. DlaFerm.pl brings these obligations together in one poultry farm management software.
Frequently asked questions about duck farming
How long does Pekin duck fattening take?add
Fattening a Pekin duck takes around 6–7 weeks, after which the duck reaches about 3–3.5 kg (according to IZ-PIB Poultry Feeding Standards 2018 and practice; results depend on flock and conditions). That is much shorter than a goose and roughly the same as a broiler chicken — so several cycles per year are possible.
Why are ducks kept without water for swimming?add
A duck is a waterfowl by nature, but in commercial production open water for swimming means wet litter, dirt and disease. Ducks drink from nipple or bell drinkers — they have enough water to rinse their bill and eyes. This keeps the litter dry, which improves bird health and especially footpad condition.
What are footpads and why do they matter?add
Footpads are the cushions under a duck's foot. When litter is wet and dirty, footpads swell and become painful — the duck moves less, eats less and grows more slowly. This is one of the most important indicators of welfare and house conditions. Dry litter equals healthy footpads.
What temperature do ducklings need at the start?add
In the first week under the hover (brooder) the temperature should be about 30–32°C. Temperature is lowered faster than for chicks because ducks reach thermoregulation sooner. Watch flock behaviour: ducklings clustering under the hover = too cold; moving away from the hover = too warm.
What products come from a duck?add
From a Pekin duck you get mainly meat (breast, legs), liver, and at slaughter also feathers and down. Duck feathers and down are valued in the clothing and bedding industries.
How does a duck differ from a goose in production?add
A duck grows faster than a goose — fattening takes about 6–7 weeks, while a goose needs several months. A duck is also smaller. Both are waterfowl and both are kept without open water in commercial production. Goose farming is covered in the guide on goose farming.
Sources & resources
Run your duck farm in one place with DlaFerm.pl
Do you raise Pekin ducks or are you planning to start? We will show you how DlaFerm.pl simplifies records, treatment and fattening cycle management. Write to us.
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