Commercial Duck Egg Production

Ducks are socially complex creatures, as seen by their flocking, foraging and herding instincts. Forming strong social attachments to their flock, ducks communicate with each other using voice and various actions.

The majority of ducks are kept indoors in large sheds with mesh floors. Being water birds, access to water is inherent to their well-being, they use the water to clean themselves and maintain eye, nostril and skin health. In Australia, farmed ducks are denied access to water for bathing. Four main egg farming systems are used in Australia: free range, cage, barn-laid and organic. Rising concerns from consumers regarding animal welfare have led to free-range egg production growing significantly over the last 15 years. Nonetheless, Indoors in large sheds is the most profitable as usual

Hatchlings are particularly vulnerable to temperature stress due to their small body size, which means that they are unable to adequately thermoregulate. The absence of a mother duck in commercial rearing necessitates the use of thermal heat lamps. Monitoring the ducklings during the first few days post-hatch is essential. It is possible to determine whether the ducklings are suffering heat stress from their behaviour in the pen, because if the temperature is too hot they will be spread around the outsides of the pen, away from the brooding lamp. Ducklings will also pant and make high-pitch-chirping noises if they are feeling hot. If the temperature is too cold, they will huddle together in a group under the brooding lamp.

From day old to three weeks, ducklings should be fed waterfowl starter crumbs or unmedicated chick crumbs. It is crucial to check that the chick starter crumb is unmedicated, some chick crumbs contain drugs to prevent coccidiosis. Ducklings will eat more than chicks, so overdose and get sick quite quickly.

Ducks usually begin laying at about 6–7 months of age and should be laying at a rate of about 90% (i.e. 100 ducks laying 90 eggs daily) within 5 weeks of the onset of laying. English breeds normally maintain more than 50% production for about 5 months. Pekins start laying eggs when they are about 26–28 weeks of age and can be kept economically for about 40 weeks of production when they have laid about 160 eggs.

Sexing in the chicken industry, males and females may be separated at an early age. The technique applied to ducklings is different. Therefore, if sexing is required it must be conducted using the vent sexing method. This method requires handlers to visually inspect the internal genitalia of the ducklings to determine whether they are males or females. The method is invasive and the stress associated with this technique often causes increased duckling mortality. At an older age, male ducks may be identified as having a curled tail further and a weak and muffled quack, compared with the loud quack produced by the female. The additional labour required for identifying sexes through this method makes it unviable in commercial situations.

Egg production and overall performance are best if breeding ducks are housed together in groups no bigger than 250 birds. Nest litter should be changed daily after most eggs have been laid. With morning lighting programs the bulk of eggs are laid between 4.00 am and 7.00 am. Electric lights can be used to bring ducks more quickly to full production and to shorten the period when ducks have a pause in production. Artificial lighting for 2 weeks or so before eggs are required can achieve this. Supplement natural daylight with artificial light so that birds receive about 15 hours of total light.

Ducks are known for their ability to adapt to different environments, which makes them well-suited to the Australian climate. Duck farming in Australia has farms ranging in size from small, family-owned operations to larger, industrial-scale facilities. Ducks raised for their eggs use the most common breeds, the Pekin and Muscovy ducks. One of the challenges of duck farming in Australia is the management of waste produced by the birds, as ducks are known to produce more waste per bird compared to other poultry.

Avian Influenza Disease. To address this, many farms (NOTE: many not all) implement measures, such as regular cleaning and disinfection, to prevent the spread of disease. The Australian duck industry is subject to various regulations and standards, including those related to animal welfare, food safety, and environmental management.  

  In 2019, the industry experienced the largest outbreak of Avian Influenza in Australia’s history Currently, a longer housing order is being considered due to the risk that multiple incidences and locations could be impacted by Avian Influenza due to the increased cases on a global level.

Factory-farmed ducks have few legal protections in Australia. The Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Domestic Poultry 4th Edition (“Poultry Code”) which is used as a guideline for the duck industry covers all domestic poultry, including turkeys and chickens.  In the Poultry Code, the special needs of ducks fall under a one-page appendix that deals only with stocking densities, farm handling and bill trimming. It fails to recognise the aquatic needs of ducks or any of their specific welfare requirements.