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 one 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 goose is the male of this winged one: in fact, it is only one of its relatives, but it belongs to another detachment.
Each poultry breeder inevitably faces the question of how to trim wings of ducks. Read below about the technology of the procedure and in what area, besides the farming one, it is relevant.
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 one is this, to which the expression owes its appearance? So the hunters christened the drake, planted by man in the swamp in order to attract other birds - game. A decoy is tied to a peg, and he shouts “calls” to wild relatives. When a sufficient number of individuals flies, the hunter crawls out of cover and shoots.
Of course, the feathery is entwined with ropes, but it still has the opportunity to free itself by waving its wings and to tear the stake out of the ground. To deprive the bird of the opportunity to fly away, wings are cut to it. 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 the excess.
As for the owners of the poultry yard, they are forced to radically solve the problem, because their pets can attempt 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? What is the difference between pruning methods depending on the purpose 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. It is necessary to prepare for the fact that the bird will resist and pinch. This reaction to cutting does not occur because she is in pain, but rather the fact of being forcibly held is unpleasant for the duck.
Important! Only one wing needs to be processed so that the feathered bird loses its sense of balance and is unable to control its flight. When she tries to take off, she will only fall on her side and eventually stop her vain attempts.
An effective way to solve the problem
Pruning is suitable for decoy, as partially, the ability to fly when using this method is still preserved, and the effect obtained will be sufficient for the hunter. If you look at the photo of the 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 gently grip the drake with your feet so as to hold it, but not to hurt;
- unfold 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 a decoy can cut two wings, because then the imbalance is not violated, 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, a wide lobe is removed, as described in method number one;
- the second is shortened by half, capturing the core;
- the third is like the first;
- the fourth - as the second and further according to 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 for some breeds: indigenous (musky), for example, inherent increased love for flying and altitude. 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 be careful in its implementation. Familiarization with the theory is not enough, you should definitely watch a video on how to properly trim the wings of a duck, and it is better to turn to an experienced poultry farmer for visual help.
Wing clipping in duck ducks and a small view of the young.
Decoy ducks. How to cut wings?
How to properly trim the wings of a decoy duck
How to properly clip the wings of ducks!
You can not repeat such a haircut more than once per season. In addition, in most cases, ducks lose their desire to fly after the very first haircut. Consequently, even when the feathers grow back after molting (sometimes summer and autumn), the need for repeated trimming 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 clip the wings of ducks." You should be careful, be patient, then everything will certainly work out!