How and at what age to clip the wings of ducks so that they don't fly
Duck farming is considered a popular poultry industry. These birds mostly walk on the ground. However, they also have the ability to fly. In order not to lose your pets, it is important to periodically clip their wings. It is important to do this in accordance with a number of recommendations so as not to harm the birds. So how to properly clip the wings of ducks?
Do ducks need to clip wings
Ducks are naturally endowed with good flying abilities. Wild animals living in nature are often faced with the need to travel long distances in search of food and water. The ability to fly often protects them from predatory animals.
Domestic ducks face fewer dangers in their lives. However, they still have flying skills. This creates the danger that the birds will simply fly away from the farm. Most often this happens with Indo-women and individuals that belong to the Peking breed.
Sometimes poultry farmers do not cut their wings, but rather heavily feed their pets. Ducks that are overweight fly with great difficulty. However, this is not a very good path. With systematic overeating, there is a risk of developing all kinds of pathologies in birds. In addition, individuals need to be walked in open areas. Keeping livestock in the barn all the time is difficult and unprofitable. Therefore, it is recommended to periodically monitor the length of their wings. If you trim them, you don't have to worry about the ducks flying away.
How old is the procedure?
It is worth cutting the wings of domestic ducks in the first half of autumn. Experienced poultry farmers advise doing it in September. But at the same time, it is worth focusing on the period of seasonal molting. Pruning is usually done after this period, when new feathers appear.
For the first time, the manipulation is best performed at 4 months - at this time, the birds reach puberty. As a rule, wing clipping is carried out once a year. With the correct procedure, the birds do not experience discomfort. However, they can face stress.
Required inventory
To complete the procedure, it is worth preparing the following:
- gloves - they must be tight enough to help protect hands from all kinds of damage;
- sharp scissors - it is permissible to use special devices that can cut metal;
- burlap - required if the ducks resist strongly.
Pruning rules
It is best to clip the wings of Indo-girls together. In this case, one person should tightly grip the bird, and the second should stretch the wing and perform the appropriate actions. Many farmers are wary of harming the duck and cutting off excess.
In order to properly trim the wings, before manipulating, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the main types of feathers.
They are divided into 2 categories - coverts and flywheels. The latter are located on the back of the wing and help the bird take off. These are the largest feathers. Therefore, it is impossible to confuse them with others. Several pruning methods are known today:
- The first method is mainly used by hunters. It is used for decorating ducks, which help attract game. For this purpose, domestic birds need to be given the maximum resemblance to wild ones. In this case, it is recommended to trim only the wide part of the feathers that are along the base. This method allows the birds to fly, but they can only move a short distance.
- The second method is used by hunters and farmers. It helps to maintain the ducks' aesthetic appearance. For this purpose, feathers are trimmed in a checkerboard pattern. When carrying out the procedure, at the first flywheel, it is required to remove the wide part, and the second to be shortened only by 50%. By alternating, it is possible to trim the entire wing.
- The third method is considered to be the simplest. At the same time, the farmer shortens all flight feathers, with the exception of 2-3 feathers. These elements are used to maintain aesthetic characteristics.
All these options are used exclusively for one wing: if you cut both, the duck will still be able to take off. Such manipulations are recommended after the end of the molting period and after reaching 15 weeks of age. Chicks are not allowed to trim their wings. Also, do not carry out the procedure with females that hatch eggs.
In other situations, you can trim the feathers. In this case, it is worth performing the procedure many times. After a year, it will need to be repeated. At the same time, you should not be afraid to trim the feathers. The manipulation is considered completely safe and does not cause pain.
Wound treatment in case of errors
Sometimes, when performing a manipulation, the farmer accidentally damages the vessel. In such a situation, it is recommended to take immediate action. First of all, it is important to stop the bleeding.
For this purpose, it is permissible to use the following substances:
- "Betadine" - is an iodine solution that has a water base.
- "Miramistin" - has pronounced disinfecting properties and helps to heal damaged areas.
- Hydrogen peroxide.
If a blood vessel is damaged during wing clipping, ordinary iodine cannot be used for processing. It is important to prepare all the necessary preparations before the procedure.
If pruning has resulted in a deep wound and the bleeding cannot be stopped, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Wing trimming in domestic ducks is considered a simple procedure. It is important to have the necessary skills and act as confidently as possible. Before carrying out the manipulation, it is worth preparing all the necessary devices. This will make the process much easier for the poultry and the farmer.
