A huge number of the most diverse species of birds live in the vast expanses of the earth. Among them are amazing ducks.
This article will discuss one of the most noticeable, black ducks - beautiful birds with beautiful rich plumage.
Before we tell you what characteristics and features black ducks have, we briefly consider what types of duck groups and breeds generally exist in nature and in poultry farming.
About ducks living in nature
Wild ducks amaze with their number and variety of color variations. Each of them is peculiar in appearance and has its own habits and features of behavior. In nature, the following types of ducks are found: coot, merganser, turpan, wig, etc.
Almost all wild ducks can be easily domesticated by humans.
For the normal full-fledged habitat of ducks of any species, the presence of coastal vegetation in water bodies is important, and therefore these birds can be found in wetlands, in bays, in channels, in water bodies, etc.
In this article, one of such wild birds, the black coot duck, will be presented just below.
Breeds and groups of ducks grown by people
By their main productivity, ducks are divided into 3 main types: egg-laying, general-use and meat.
1. Egg-laying ducks are much lighter in weight than common or meat types. And in their egg production, birds of this type are not inferior to chickens.
2. The birds of general use are distinguished by egg production of relatively high and excellent meat qualities. By about 65 days of age, the weight of live ducklings reaches 1.6 kilograms. The best of them are left to replenish the parental herd, and the rest are allowed for meat. The most promising breeds of this type of ducks are Orpington and Khaki Campbell, 3. Ducks like meat have good live weight and are ripe enough. The following breeds belong to this type of bird: Moscow, gray Ukrainian, Peking, black-breasted ducks, white Rouen and ayles-bury.
Further, in more detail, we will talk about black ducks, one of which is the above-mentioned black and white-breasted duck of the meat type.
Black duck: photo, general information
First of all, it should be emphasized that ducks of this type are characterized by early maturity. These beautiful birds have a rich black color of plumage. It is noteworthy that the breeds of these ducks can live in a variety of habitats.
For the most part, black ducks are domesticated birds, which, when fed well enough, are already slaughtered at the age of about 65 days.
Black ducks are mainly divided into two species: white-breasted, coots. After reading the article, it will be possible to understand what is the difference between a black-breasted cultivated duck and wild coot.
Black white-breasted ducks are one of the most common breeds grown on numerous Russian farms.
Coots are wild birds, which can be found for the most part in natural reservoirs overgrown with vegetation, especially in the warm seasons.
About black white-breasted ducks
This bird is quite large.
It is characterized by the black color of the plumage of the trunk, head, upper body and abdomen. Drakes (males) are distinguished by the presence of a blue-violet tide in the upper part of the neck. They have black legs, and the lower chest with white plumage.
Black-breasted ducks have moderate thickness, short legs, and they are located much closer to the back of the body than other birds. A slightly concave inward medium length beak has a completely dark color. Black shiny eyes are quite large. Well-developed strong wings fit well to the sides of the body.
The live weight of the male reaches 3.5-4 kilograms with full feeding, and the females - up to 3.5 kilograms. On average, the egg production rate reaches 115-140 eggs per year. However, it persists for several years.
This duck is recognized as the best for growing. The carcasses of a black white-breasted duck have white skin. Its meat is very tasty and healthy, has greater fat content and better taste, unlike many other breeds.
Their egg production is approximately 120 eggs, and the weight of the eggs is 80-90 grams.
This black duck is a breed, perfectly fattened and very precocious. The total mass of carcasses of ducks slaughtered at about 65 days of age, on average, reaches up to 2.5 kilograms. Moreover, their meat is much more nutritious and fatter than the meat of ducks of other species.
Coot: habitats, description
The black coot duck is another representative of this group of birds. Usually their habitat is picturesque old ladies of floodplains of rivers and shallow-water lakes, which managed to fairly overgrow with various surface plants and reeds.
These birds are very fond of water, but they do not like the deeper water bodies with open terrain.
It is easy to recognize a duck of this breed by its bright distinctive color. The black duck with a white beak has a rich black color with a white spot on the forehead. Paws with long gray fingers are yellowish-orange in color.
The live weight of adults reaches one kilogram, but one and a half kilograms are also found. Males are larger than females.
The people call this duck differently: "official", due to the similarity of the plumage color with a snow-white plaque on the forehead with a strict black suit and white shirt; "Black loon", because in the manner of behavior, flight and liking it looks like this bird. There is another name - "water chicken", due to the calm nature and in connection with easy tameability. The latter should be done with caution, since during the nesting period their behavior is aggressive. Black ducks (coots) do not spare and even drive off their relatives with their sharp claws during the mating season.
Curious Fact About Coot
If at the time when the bird is engaged in the construction of the nest, something is disturbing or disturbing, then, as a rule, it immediately abandons the work that has begun and floats away in search of another place for nesting.
Therefore, in many reservoirs, the habitats of black ducks coots, you can notice many unfinished floating uninhabited nests.
There is another interesting point about coots. Males of this breed of birds build a separate nest for themselves, designed exclusively for them, where they rest from the complex parental chores.
