How to properly clip the wings of ducks
Duck is considered one of the most popular domestic birds all over the world and, in particular, in our area. She belongs to the duck family, which includes, besides her, about 100 species. The feathered was domesticated from the wild mallard even before our era. It is a valuable source of meat and eggs.
How to clip the wings of ducks
Many people mistakenly believe that the male of this winged goose is: in fact, he is only one of its relatives, but belongs to a different order.
Every poultry breeder is inevitably faced with the question of how to clip the wings of ducks. Read about the technology of the procedure and in what area, besides the farming one, it is relevant, read below.
Why is pruning
Do you know the expression "decoy duck"? This is what the people call a person who is used as bait. But what kind of feathered woman is it, to which the expression owes its appearance? So the hunters dubbed the drake, planted by a man in a swamp in order to attract other birds - game. The decoy is tied to a peg, and that one "calls" wild relatives with his cry. When a sufficient number of individuals fly off, the hunter gets out of the hiding place and shoots.
Of course, the feathered one is entwined with ropes, but it still has the ability to free itself, waving its wings, and pull the stake out of the ground. To deprive the bird of the opportunity to fly away, its wings are clipped. It is important not to go too far, completely "draining" the bird and exposing its sides (thereby visually lengthening the body), and not disfiguring it in the eyes of the opposite sex.
The blue "mirror" in the plumage is the pride of the bird, and some species are characterized by sexual differentiation in color, so the pet should not be allowed to lose its attractiveness. To do this, you must carefully follow the rules and not remove unnecessary things.
As for the owners of the poultry yard, they are forced to radically solve the problem, because their pets can make attempts to fly away from the yard, rising up even over a high fence. Timely pruning will protect farmers from "escaped" pets.
We won't let you fly away
How to make sure that the inhabitants of the poultry yard do not fly beyond its borders? How do pruning methods differ depending on the goal pursued by the owner of the drake? It is important to choose the most suitable and humane method for the pet. In any case, when preparing, it is worth stocking up with high gloves made of durable material and scissors. You need to prepare for the fact that the feathered will resist and pinch. This reaction to cutting does not occur because she is in pain, but rather the very fact of being forcibly held is unpleasant for the duck.
Important! Only one wing needs to be processed so that the bird loses its sense of balance and cannot control its flight. When she tries to take off, she will only fall on its side and eventually stop vain attempts.
An effective way to solve the problem
Undercutting is suitable in relation to the decorating duck, becausepartly, the ability to fly when using this method is still preserved, and the hunter will have enough of the effect obtained. If you look at the photo of a goose wing, you can see that it consists of narrow and wide blades and a core. Further, it is enough to pay attention to the longest feathers - flight feathers. They should be interested.
The procedure is as follows:
- sit on a stool and firmly but delicately pinch the drake with your feet so as to hold it, but not hurt;
- turn it sideways towards you;
- hold the scissors in one hand, hold the wing of the duck with the other;
- to thin out the plumage, you only need to trim the wide blade, without affecting the narrow one.
Some experts believe that two wings can be cut off for a decoy duck, because then the imbalance is not disturbed, but the ability to fly high is suppressed. This is what you are trying to achieve in this case.
"Chess" option - will it help
The "chess" method is universal in its use: it is applicable to both poultry and "bait":
- on the first feather, remove the wide blade as described in method number one;
- the second is shortened by half, capturing the core;
- the third is like the first;
- four - as the second and further on a similar principle.
What other options are there
The technique in question is ideal for owners who set as their goal that the drakes do not fly even a couple of meters up. This is especially true of some breeds: Indo (musky), for example, an increased love of flying and height is inherent. It is important to cut half of each flight feather before the tubular shaft appears.
When carrying out the procedure, it is important to remember that you are dealing with a living being and to be careful in its implementation. Acquaintance with the theory is not enough here, you should also watch the video on how to properly trim the wings of a duck, or better, turn to an experienced poultry farmer for visual help.
You cannot repeat this haircut more than once per season. In addition, in most cases, ducks lose their desire to fly after the first shearing. Consequently, even when the feathers grow back after molting (it happens in summer and autumn), the need for re-pruning most often does not arise. Basically, according to poultry breeders, members of the duck family that have been subjected to the procedure no longer fly outside the yard.
The materials of the article, together with watching a video on this topic, will help to trim the feathers of members of a duck flock at home. Finding information is not difficult, just enter into the search engine "how to properly trim the wings of ducks." You should be careful, be patient, then everything will certainly work out!