INVESTIGATIONS ON FEATHER PECKING IN MUSC OVY DUCKS

Feather pecking with injuries as a result of intensive husbandry is co mmon in muscoxy ducks. Beak trimming is one method to reduce the rate of injured ducks. The aim was to investigate methods to reduce or to e liminate feather pecking without beak trimming. The results of one exp eriment involving 880 ducks and 44 groups are described. The influence of the main factor: outdoor with watering area (OWA)-yes/no- and mixe d groups (muscovy and pekin ducks at a ratio of 20:0, 9:1, 3:1, 1:1) o n the incidence of injuries -yes/no-; evaluation of plumage and body w eight were investigated. If OWA is allowed for the first three days of life, there is a significant influence on all above mentioned criteri a. Only 12% of ducks offered OWA showed injuries in comparison to 50% without OWA. The influence of mixed groups was significant concerning plumage evaluation (in general) and to the rate of injury only if duck s kept with OWA. In groups with a ratio of 3:1 and 1:1 only two ducks showed injuries.