are your ducks and geese overweight? · naturally lean, and some gain weight more easily. f or...

26 May / June 2012 Are Your Ducks and Geese Overweight? by John Metzer Waterfowl have a tendency to put on extra fat if given the opportunity. A reasonable amount of fat on a duck or goose in the wild is acceptable as it helps insulate them in cold water. It is also less dense than bone or muscle so they float easier in the water with extra fat. But just as with most animals, a little fat is good but too much fat is bad. Some breeds of ducks and geese are naturally lean, and some gain weight more easily. For ducks, the Runners rarely carry extra fat. Pekins are at the opposite end of the spectrum and can easily be too fat. Khaki Campbells are closer to Runners in this regard but Rouen, Buff, Blue Swedish and Cayuga are closer to a Pekin. There is less variation in geese. But of all geese, the Chinese are the least likely to gain extra weight but the larger Embden and Toulouse are the most likely to be overweight. Other breeds are in between the lighter Chinese and heavier Embden and Toulouse. What is the problem with excess weight? The bird's life is probably shortened and may make it more uncomfortable due to the extra weight they must carry. Remember that the legs and feet of waterfowl are not terribly strong. Add an extra 20- 30% in body weight and those feet and legs will develop problems sooner due to the extra weight they are carrying. Farms that have breeding birds must be extra careful in controlling the weight in their breeder birds. Extra weight in a breeding duck or goose can greatly reduce egg production and fertility. Our commercial Pekin ducks grow extremely fast and can weigh 7.5 pounds or more in seven weeks. However, the breeder birds that produce these fast growing birds must be kept on a diet starting at two weeks of age. Due to this restricted feed, a female Pekin breeder should only weigh about 7.5 pounds at 23 weeks of age. But due to this reduced feed, she will live longer and lay more eggs with increased fertility. So if you do want to control your birds' weight, how do you do it? 1) Only feed them a certain amount once a day. Pekin: 0.33 - 0.45 lbs per day per bird (The higher amount if they are in full egg production) Runners: 0.25 - 0.35/day/bird Other duck breeds: 0.3 - .040 lbs/day/bird Heavy geese: 0.45 - 0.6 lbs/day/bird Chinese: 0.35 - 0.5 lbs/day/bird Other goose breeds: 0.4 - 0.55 lbs/day/bird 2) Only allow them access to their feed for a limited amount of time each day Pekin: 2 - 8 hours/day (8 hours is for breeders in high egg production) Runners: No limit needed Other duck breeds: 3 - 12 hours/day Heavy geese: 2 - 12 hours/day Chinese: No limit needed Other goose breeds: 4 - 24 hours/day Birds that must forage for much of their feed are less likely to be obese. Some people use a less dense feed (fewer calories per pound of feed) but this usually does not control the weight in a duck or goose as they have the ability to simply eat more. If you have ducks and geese simply for pleasure, it is not critical you control their weight. But if you are keeping them commercially, it is critical to monitor their weight for increased performance and improved longevity. An extremely overweight Embden goose. Notice her abdomen between her legs. Family-owned Hatchery Since 1972 Our minimum order is only two ducklings or goslings so you never have to raise more birds than you want. • Waterfowl are hardier than chickens and practically disease free. • Ducks can lay as many eggs as the best laying chickens. • Geese love grass and will keep it mown for you. • Duck eggs are becoming more popular with consumers, bakeries & restaurants. 17 BREEDS OF DUCKS AND 14 BREEDS OF GEESE! Specializing in waterfowl For a FREE copy of our 2012 Catalog please call 1-800-424-7755 or write to us at 26000F Old Stage Rd. Gonzales, CA 93926 or [email protected] For even more poultry information, don’t forget to visit our website: WWW.METZERFARMS.COM

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Page 1: Are Your Ducks and Geese Overweight? · naturally lean, and some gain weight more easily. F or ducks, the Runners rarely carry extra fat. Pekins are at the opposite end of the spectrum

26 May / June 2012

Are Your Ducks andGeese Overweight?by John Metzer

Waterfowl have a tendency to put onextra fat if given the opportunity. Areasonable amount of fat on a duckor goose in the wild is acceptable as ithelps insulate them in cold water. Itis also less dense than bone or muscleso they float easier in the water withextra fat. But just as with mostanimals, a little fat is good but toomuch fat is bad.

Some breeds of ducks and geese arenaturally lean, and some gain weightmore easily. For ducks, the Runnersrarely carry extra fat. Pekins are atthe opposite end of the spectrum and

can easily be too fat. Khaki Campbellsare closer to Runners in this regard butRouen, Buff, Blue Swedish and Cayugaare closer to a Pekin.

There is less variation in geese. Butof all geese, the Chinese are the leastlikely to gain extra weight but thelarger Embden and Toulouse are themost likely to be overweight. Otherbreeds are in between the lighterChinese and heavier Embden andToulouse.

What is the problem with excessweight? The bird's life is probablyshortened and may make it moreuncomfortable due to the extraweight they must carry. Rememberthat the legs and feet of waterfowl arenot terribly strong. Add an extra 20-30% in body weight and those feetand legs will develop problems soonerdue to the extra weight they arecarrying.

Farms that have breeding birds mustbe extra careful in controlling theweight in their breeder birds. Extraweight in a breeding duck or goosecan greatly reduce egg productionand fertility.

Our commercial Pekin ducks growextremely fast and can weigh 7.5pounds or more in seven weeks.However, the breeder birds thatproduce these fast growing birds mustbe kept on a diet starting at twoweeks of age. Due to this restrictedfeed, a female Pekin breeder shouldonly weigh about 7.5 pounds at 23

weeks of age. But due to thisreduced feed, she will live longerand lay more eggs with increasedfertility.

So if you do want to control yourbirds' weight, how do you do it?

1) Only feed them a certain amountonce a day.Pekin: 0.33 - 0.45 lbs per day perbird (The higher amount if they arein full egg production)Runners: 0.25 - 0.35/day/birdOther duck breeds: 0.3 - .040lbs/day/birdHeavy geese: 0.45 - 0.6 lbs/day/birdChinese: 0.35 - 0.5 lbs/day/birdOther goose breeds: 0.4 - 0.55lbs/day/bird

2) Only allow them access to theirfeed for a limited amount of timeeach dayPekin: 2 - 8 hours/day (8 hours isfor breeders in high egg production)Runners: No limit neededOther duck breeds: 3 - 12 hours/dayHeavy geese: 2 - 12 hours/dayChinese: No limit needed Other goose breeds: 4 - 24 hours/day

Birds that must forage for much oftheir feed are less likely to be obese.Some people use a less dense feed(fewer calories per pound of feed)but this usually does not control theweight in a duck or goose as theyhave the ability to simply eat more.

If you have ducks and geese simplyfor pleasure, it is not critical youcontrol their weight. But if you arekeeping them commercially, it iscritical to monitor their weight forincreased performance andimproved longevity.

An extremely overweight Embdengoose. Notice her abdomenbetween her legs.

Family-ownedHatcherySince 1972

Our minimum order isonly two ducklings orgoslings so you neverhave to raise morebirds than you want.

• Waterfowl are hardier than chickens and practically disease free.

• Ducks can lay as many eggs as the best laying chickens.

• Geese love grass and will keep it mown for you.

• Duck eggs are becoming more popular with consumers, bakeries & restaurants.

17 BREEDS OF DUCKS AND 14 BREEDS OF GEESE!

Specializingin waterfowl

For a FREEcopy of our2012 Catalog

please call

1-800-424-7755or write to us at