In most regions of India, particularly in the eastern and southern states, duck rearing is a rural tradition. Ducks are robust, can swim around in ponds, and are good foragers. However, recent years have seen scientists breed crossbred ducks by mixing the positives of White Pekin (meat-oriented) and Khaki Campbell (egg-laying). The new ducks are fast-growing and produce a decent number of eggs, hence ideal for backyard breeding.
They don't require costly feed or spacious housing. They thrive on domestic waste, leftover rice, vegetable scraps, fish scales, and whatever they can find while scavenging around the ponds. This makes it well-suited for marginal and small farmers looking to supplement their income without substantial investments.
Why Choose Crossbred Ducks?
White Pekin × Khaki Campbell cross-bred ducks are an ideal combination of egg and meat production. Here's why farmers will find them suitable:
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Excellent Growth Rate: Such ducks grow rapidly. They achieve about 1.7 to 1.8 kg of body weight by the time they are 16 weeks old on their own without receiving any commercial feed.
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Early Egg Production: The ducks begin laying eggs by the time they are about 150 days (around 5 months) old.
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Good Egg Production: They produce eggs consistently on average, with production being as high as 51% at 40 weeks of age.
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Heavy Eggs: Average egg weight is approximately 59 grams, which is good in the market.
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Minimum Mortality: With standard care, mortality is only about 12% within the initial weeks.
How to Begin Rearing Cross-Bred Ducks in the Backyard
You don't require huge money or gigantic infrastructure to raise these ducks. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Brooding Stage (First 10 Days):
Hatch the ducklings warm with a bulb in a plain thatched or low-budget shed. Rice husk as bed. Feed them boiled broken rice and clean water for drinking. Provide basic vitamins and a small amount of antibiotics (according to vet's suggestion) to keep them fit.
Growing Stage (After 10 Days):
Let them freely roam around in the backyard during the day. Feed them kitchen waste, rice leftovers, vegetable peels, and fish waste. Secure them at night in a shed to protect from predators.
Access to Water:
If there's a pond near your house, let them swim and forage. Ducks love water, it helps in digestion and natural feeding.
No Commercial Feed Needed:
You save since these ducks are raised well on local waste and food obtained from ponds. But you may provide broken rice or grains if it is available.
Role of Family Members:
Family women and children can readily handle duck rearing. They assist in feeding, guarding the ducks, and egg collection.
Economy Aspect
Ducks begin producing eggs by the fifth month. Farmers can sell eggs at Rs. 8–10 and live ducks for meat. Even when you have 25 ducklings, you can make a profit of approximately Rs. 9,000–Rs. 10,000 in 8–9 months. This does not include costs such as housing and family labor since they are available free of cost in rural households.
The return might be higher if you raise the ducks for a year to accommodate more egg cycles and heavier meat.
Why This System Succeeds in Rural India
This home duck farming system is particularly suitable for rural India since it requires minimum investment and utilizes locally available resources such as household waste, broken rice, kitchen scraps, and pond-based feed.
The ducks may be kept in little open areas near the home using minimal land or investment in infrastructure. It is a suitable venture for women and senior members of the family, who can comfortably take care of them every day and collect the eggs. The ducks both give meat and eggs so they bring enhanced nutrition to the household as well as cash income.
The dual use of such crossbred ducks makes them more productive than native strains and much less input-intensive than commercial poultry production. This model provides a sustainable livelihood opportunity for marginal and landless farmers, encouraging self-employment as well as food security in village economies.
If you own a backyard, proximity to a pond or body of water, and some domestic waste, you can readily raise crossbred ducks and make a good income. It's a good model for small farmers, tribal communities, and landless farm workers wanting to diversify their livelihoods with a low-risk, low-cost, and sustainable animal husbandry activity.
With assistance from local research centers or veterinary officers, rural households can turn duck rearing into a profitable activity. Cross-bred (White Pekin × Khaki Campbell) ducks are not mere birds, they are a key to improved rural well-being.
