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Criteria for assessing animal health

Various criteria can be used to assess animal health:

Overall impression of the herd

(including animal behaviour)

  • Normal behaviour of the animals:
    • Active
    • Alert
    • Reaction to the presence of people through quacking and movement
    • No ducks in the flock show clinical symptoms indicating illness or injury
  • The animals are not crouching (no tucked-in head)
  • No conspicuous noises (e.g. sneezing/wheezing)
  • No noticeable movement disorders
Figure 11: Distribution of animals in the barn
(© Jule Schättler, LWK Lower Saxony)

Anomalies in the distribution of animals across the usable area

  • Even distribution across the available area in accordance with their herd behaviour
  • No crowding
  • No animals crowding against the outer walls

Note

As ducklings rest together in groups, this natural behaviour must be distinguished from the formation of tightly packed clusters caused by temperatures that are too cool. However, it is important to note that Muscovy ducks require higher temperatures than, for example, Peking ducks (see Chapter 4 – House temperature).

Mobility and activity

  • Mobile
  • Steady gait without movement disorders
  • Ability to stand

Type of breathing

  • Inconspicuous
    • With its beak closed
    • Without visible effort
    • Without breathing sounds

Animal mobility and activity

  • Mobile
  • Steady gait without movement disorders
  • Ability to stand

Type of breathing

  • Unobtrusive:
    • With its beak closed
    • Without visible effort
    • Without breathing sounds (e.g. wheezing)

Condition of the skin and plumage

  • Clean
  • Well-maintained (not frayed or stuck together)
  • Water-repellent
  • No injuries / intact
  • No feather pecking or cannibalism

Condition of the legs, ability to walk

  • Ability to walk, steady gait
  • Ability to stand
  • No deformities

Characteristics of the paddles

  • Unbroken skin
  • None / at most minor, superficial changes
  • No colour variations
  • Inspection of the paddles from all sides (particularly the underside)

Eyes

  • Clean
  • Not sticky / no discharge
  • Shiny
  • No redness of the conjunctiva
  • No swelling around the eyes

Nostrils

  • Clean
  • Unbound / free
  • Unobtrusive breathing (with beak closed, no breathing sounds)

Stool consistency

  • Dark greenish-brown / greyish-brown (depending on diet), formed with a white uric acid cap
  • Brown, paste-like (mustard-like) faeces without a cap of uric acid (caecal faeces, passed up to twice a day)
  • Not thin and mushy / watery, not frothy, not bloody, without worms

Weight trends

  • Evenly distributed within a group of the same age
  • In line with the breeding company’s guidelines
Table 4: Weight development of Muscovy ducks, divided into drakes and ducks4
Day of life Weight in g
Ducks Ducks
7 100 83
14 250 220
21 550 440
28 1000 743
35 1600 1128
42 2350 1623
49 3000 2063
56 3600 2393
63 4100 2613
70 4500 2750
77 4800 2805
83 5000  
91 5150  
 

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