Duck indian runner
The Indian runner duck is a bird, at one glance at the photo of which the mood can be lifted. Unusual appearance, combined with the iridescent prospects of Indian runner breeding, make the duck a welcome pet in any backyard.
Duck Indian Runner
Interesting about the breed
When the breed just started to disperse around the world, the exotic appearance and the small number of livestock contributed to the fact that its representatives were treated as rare birds, therefore they were kept in the zoo. Whole crowds gathered around the cages with Indian runners.
The origin of the breed
The ancestor of Indian runners is the penguin duck, and their homeland is considered to be Southeast Asia. The spread of the breed began in the 19th century, when these ducks ran around every English farm. It was in the UK that breeders carried out crosses, because of which the ducks have changed somewhat.
At the dawn of the twentieth century, they were already actively bred in Germany, and since 1926 - in Russia.
The value of meat and eggs
The Indian runner has not only unusually tender, delicious meat, which does not have a characteristic duck aftertaste. Another advantage is its high egg production, which does not stop throughout the year. This is not surprising, because this duck is considered a bird of the egg direction. In addition, these "products" are also very useful, since the egg white does not contain cholesterol.
In just a year, the runner duck is capable of laying up to 200 eggs weighing 70-80 g. The record number is about 350 eggs. In terms of taste, the product is similar to a hen's egg, therefore, the described birds are considered a worthy replacement for chickens.
Ducks and competitions
The videos of Indian runners taking part in relay races are truly delightful. They run, keeping an upright stance and quickly turning over with their paws, rolling from side to side is not typical for them.
All kinds of farm festivals and fairs rarely take place without these funny birds. In Asian countries, they like to arrange competitions when Indian runners run out from behind the fence and rush to the finish line.
Description
As it has already become clear, the bird's appearance is rather unusual: the elongated body is set upright and straight. When describing it, it is often said that the body is shaped like a bottle. The chest is narrow, the neck is long and thin, the wings are very tightly pressed against the body, high legs - all this creates a slender silhouette.
If ducks are bred for shows, then too tall or short are discarded. The most valuable individuals are those with a long tail and a bulging belly.
Ducks have a small mass:
- runners' drakes weigh under 2-2.5 kg;
- females - about 1.75 kg.
Plumage color
The color of Indian runners is quite varied:
- the black;
- white;
- blue;
- trout (gray or brown wings, males have a green beak, a dark back, a female's belly and back are lighter and orange);
- brown and light brown;
- brown and brown speckled;
- red with an ashy tint (very rare);
- like a wild duck (emerald head and neck, black-green tail, red-brown chest, white ring on the neck);
- silvery wild (silver belly with brisket, white wings, black and green head).
Light brown color is the most common. At the same time, the color of the breed representative, black, white or any other, does not affect what quality the meat or egg will be.
Reproduction
Indian runner ducks are wonderful parents. They do not need any special breeding conditions. The content of these ducks is not difficult. In the same way as for all ducks, they need to be provided with good nutrition, a warm, clean room, although sub-zero temperatures are also suitable for mating.
Facts
Determining the period of egg production of representatives of the breed depends on an interesting parameter. Indian runner ducks with different color of feathers rush in different periods: in winter - white, in warm season - black. Why this is happening, experts have not yet been able to establish.
When purchasing Indian runners, it is important to determine what they are for: for eggs or in order to breed, because if the female begins to incubate the ducklings and then care for them, the owners will not have eggs for food for 2 months.
The “male half” of the breed are active suitors. They easily cover other birds running nearby. But such offspring comes out small, with a significantly reduced egg production.
Training
In the fall, the best specimens are selected that were born in the spring of the same year. Five ducks are taken for one drake. A visual inspection is carried out, defects are detected, and the weight of the bird is taken into account. In the female, the spaciousness of the abdomen, the fineness of the bones, as well as the condition of the feather are checked: it should be whole and smooth. At six months, individuals can already sit on eggs.
Offspring
Indian runner ducklings hatch on day 28 of incubation. They grow very rapidly. Already at 2 months they practically catch up on the mass of their parents.
They get sick a little and rarely fight among themselves. In the first days of life, chicks consume only yolks, then whites. On the fourth day, mixed feed soaked in water is tried in small portions. Gradually, small Indian runners are given greens to provide them with all the necessary substances for normal development.
Incubation
If the owners decide to resort to incubation, it is worth considering some peculiarities. To collect eggs, you need to set aside a few days, but you should not keep them for longer than a week. Storage temperature - 8-12 ° C, with a humidity of 70-75%. All testicles must be incubated at once.
Due to the high fat content of the yolk, it is extremely important to monitor the temperature in the incubator, from 14-15 days each egg is cooled. For this purpose, the fans are turned on and the heaters turned off for half an hour. Cooling is carried out at the same time twice a day.
In recent days, you need to increase the humidity to 80-90%, water should flow down the walls. If the incubator does not stretch, the floor is covered with a wet cloth.
The incubation period lasts 30 days.
Maintenance and care
The content of the Indian runner is considered uncomplicated. In comparison with other breeds (Chinese Peking, Indoor, etc.), it even has a number of advantages.
Food
The agile and nimble Indian runner grazes himself perfectly. Insects, plants, snails, etc. are used as food. He especially loves greens: nettles, spinach, dill, dandelions, lettuce. Additionally, they give compound feed, wheat, oats, peas, corn, root crops.
Before an Indian runner duck sits down to hatch ducklings or just to improve egg production, it needs to be fed with vitamin supplements, chalk, eggshells.
A controversial question remains whether it is possible to release pets into the garden where cultivated plants grow. Some reviews of the Indian runner claim that it can even become useful in the beds, it will destroy pests without breaking the ground.Others are sure that it is better not to do this, since the birds will open up the whole garden.
Be that as it may, they should eat as much as they want, there can be no question of any diets. The Indian runner eats 3 times a day, and the female perches 4.
Premises
Although the Indian runner can tolerate frost, slaps freely in the snow, you do not need to keep it in a cold room. There should be no drafts or dampness in the poultry house. For floor insulation in winter, use foam, straw or hay.
Pros of the breed
The Indian Runner breed is ideal for keeping at home. Birds are resistant to all sorts of diseases, they are not afraid of cold and snow. They make little noise, restless behavior is observed only if the birds are frightened by something.
In addition, Indian runners do not have an urgent need for a body of water nearby. No, they swim willingly, and their personal hygiene depends on regular bathing, but a basin of water is enough for them with their heads, this does not affect the well-being of the pets.