In duck farming, it is generally accepted that the brooding period of a duck refers specifically to the first week of life, the first seven days. This critical period plays a crucial role in the overall growth process of the duck, which not only connects the duck's transition from embryo to newborn individual, but also lays the foundation for its subsequent growth.
In these short seven days, the ducklings' bodies fully absorb the nutrients from the yolk and antibodies from the mother, which are essential for their health and the formation of immunity. At the same time, it is also a time when vertically transmitted diseases may develop. As the ducklings gradually absorb the yolk, their internal organs also begin to develop. By the end of the brooding period, the yolk has been basically absorbed, and the ducklings at this time have a relatively complete ability to digest and absorb nutrients, as well as stronger disease resistance and the ability to adapt to environmental changes, so as to be able to continue their growth and development smoothly.
Therefore, the health and mortality of duck seedlings in the first week have a profound impact on all aspects of hatching and breeding, which is related to a series of key issues such as quality assessment of duck seedlings, safety responsibilities during transportation, and adjustment of breeding management. In order to ensure the efficiency and economic benefits of farming, it is crucial to identify and understand the possible causes of death of broiler ducks at an early stage.
Death of weak seedlings due to provenance infection:
In this case, duck chicks may show symptoms such as a swollen and hard abdomen, a black navel, poor navel healing with exudate, yolk malabsorption or deterioration (yellowish-green), yolk bleeding, yolk rupture, air sacitis, stomach emptiness, and blue or pale legs. The main cause of these symptoms is that during egg formation, pathogenic microorganisms infect the ovaries or oviducts of the breeding ducks, thus infecting the ducklings. In addition, environmental contamination in the hatchery or storage room for ducklings can also lead to infection of freshly hatched ducklings.
2.Heat stress:
Sick and dead ducks affected by heat stress may show symptoms such as wet hair, blue beak shells, sticky exudate from the mouth and nose, esophageal and intestinal flatulence, and loose black anus. In addition, conditions such as heart expansion, pericardial effusion, exudate from the lungs and other organs, and swelling of the liver and kidneys may also occur. Some sick ducks may also develop gout due to urate exudation. These symptoms are mainly due to poor environmental conditions in the duck storage room, transport vehicles, and brooding room, such as poor ventilation, lack of oxygen, high temperature, excessive density, and other factors that lead to strong stress.
3.Cold stress:
Sick and dead ducks affected by cold stress usually show emaciation, mucus oozing, and shrinkage; The posterior end of the intestine and the cecum often have symptoms such as flatulence and liquefaction, abdominal discharge and water pulling. This is mainly due to the low temperature in the duck storage room, transport vehicle, brooding room, or cold wind.
4.Death from dehydration:
Dehydrated dead ducks usually appear shriveled and emaciated, with dry paws and beaks. This condition can be caused by the long time from hatching to the first drink, intense stress, high brood temperature or humidity, insufficient drinking water, etc.
5.Carbon monoxide poisoning:
Ducklings poisoned by carbon monoxide poisoning may die in clusters, especially those near stoves, chimney locations, or under poorly ventilated corners and partitions. Ducks with mild poisoning may show symptoms such as coma with their eyes closed, difficulty breathing, messy feathers, dyskinesia, and poor growth. Heavily poisoned ducks, most of which are sturdy ducklings, may experience generalized tremors, movement disorders, and neck twitching until death. Dead ducks may have a bluish-purple beak, pale paws, and bright red eye masks. Dissection may reveal congestion and exudate of the lungs, expansion and bleeding of the myocardium, poor blood clotting, cherry red color of the congested and congested areas, and swelling and spotting of the hepato-spleen and spleen ducts. This is mainly due to inadequate combustion of coal stoves, smoke leakage, and poor ventilation due to over-sealing of the shed.
Sinoagri Goldman Sachs wishes you success in breeding and looks forward to walking with you to witness the prosperity and development of duck and goose breeding industry. Let's go hand in hand to create brilliance!