The Philippines is a great agricultural country. With a tropical climate, the Philippine soil is highly suitable for planting crops and raising animals. With regards to the kinds of animals that are raised in the Philippines, the Pekin ducks (locally known as Peking ducks) generally do very well. In the whole of Asia, the Philippines is one of the top producers of agricultural products and farm animals including Pekin ducks.
Rearing Pekin Ducks in the Philippines is a very good opportunity for Filipinos who wish to start or expand a business. For one, Philippines’ Asian neighbors like Korea, Japan, China and many others are huge consumers of Pekin ducks. These Asian countries can be great potential markets for Filipino businessmen who are planning to rear Pekin ducks to be sold locally and internationally.
A Pekin duck is a well-known duck in the country and a popular delicacy in many Asian countries. Roasting Pekin ducks has been an old practice that continues until today. Pekin Duck meat is a favorite among many Asians for its delicious and crispy meat especially when it is roasted.
Rearing Pekin Ducks in the Philippines is not that complicated since Pekin Ducks can adapt to the Philippine climate quite well. But, in order to ensure healthy and well-grown Pekin Ducks in the country, here are some important tips to keep in mind:-
First, in housing the Pekin ducks, it is important to ensure a place that is near a body of water such as a pond, stream or a canal. The place where the ducks are to be raised also has to be cool. The Philippine weather can sometimes be too warm and can affect the growth and health of the Pekin ducks. Fortunately, there are local materials that can be used to cool the Pekin ducks’ habitat. One can try placing bamboos and cogon leaves all over the place to make the place cooler.
It is also crucial to make sure that each duck can roam around the place freely. Therefore, the more ducks there are, the bigger the place or range should be. You need to adopt the right stocking density for rearing the ducks.
To avoid diseases, the place should be kept dry and clean. For this, the floor could be covered by nuts or rice hulls or any other similar materials available.
The ducks should also be grouped and placed according to size and age. Older and bigger ducks usually attack or intimidate the younger ones. Bigger and older ducks should be separated from the ducklings. Having ducks of the same size together allows each of them to feed optimally and grow to the right size.
In brooding Peking ducklings, the first week is very crucial. During the first week, heat is needed especially during colder nights. In the Philippines, kerosene lamps and electric bulbs are used as sources of artificial heat. One will know that the brooding process is successfully done based on the behavior of the ducklings. Therefore, the ducklings have to be given a close attention during their first few weeks. If the temperature is not that warm, ducklings tend to stay close to one another. On the other hand, if the ducklings tend to pant, this means that the temperature is too warm. A good indicator that the temperature is correct is when ducklings spread evenly.
More or less, raising Pekin ducks in the Philippines is easy. However, the hassle task actually begins after hatching or right during early brooding.
Trivia: In the Philippines, Pekin eggs that are unhatched are called Balut/Balot and are part of the Philippine culture. These eggs are boiled and are sold on Philippine sidewalks and are classified according to how old they are (16 days/17 days, and so). These boiled eggs have semi-developed ducklings inside but Filipinos still love to eat them especially when they are paired with a slightly spicy vinegar.