The duck population in Indonesia is currently showing a steady growth trend. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2025, the population of waterfowl, such as ducks, is estimated to approach 43 million in Indonesia. This indicates that, although not as large as that of broiler chickens, the duck population appears to be growing consistently year after year. Globally, Indonesia ranks fourth in the world for the largest duck population. This population provides a fairly comprehensive and expansive market share, including tens of thousands of tons of duck meat or carcasses (Peking or Hybrid) to supply restaurants, small and medium-sized food stalls (such as fried/grilled duck), and modern markets. Hundreds of thousands of tons of eggs are processed into salted eggs and are often sold directly for consumption or business purposes. pastry. Provinces with the largest number of duck farms and populations in Indonesia are generally centered on the island of Java, such as West Java, East Java, and Central Java.
Running a livestock business requires efforts to maintain the health and maximum productivity of the animals. Like chickens, ducks are also susceptible to various diseases, ranging from viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections to non-infectious disorders caused by nutritional deficiencies or poor environmental conditions. Therefore, duck farmers must remain vigilant against diseases that can affect ducks, including: Avian Influenza and Fowl CholeraTherefore, this discussion on health management is not simply about "treating when sick," but also encompasses prevention from the perspective of nutrition, housing, biosecurity, and vaccination.
Natural Behavior of Ducks
Ducks are waterfowl that naturally prefer wet environments to find food, clean themselves, and regulate their body temperature. Ducks' beaks are equipped with a special structure called a lamellae, a kind of fine comb on the edge of the beak that functions to filter food from water or mud. This structure only works optimally in a moist environment, so in dry environments, the duck's natural ability to consume food becomes less effective. This characteristic behavior is commonly called dabbling, which is when the duck dips its head and neck into the water while its body remains afloat.
Besides being used for food, water also plays an important role in maintaining the health of ducks' feathers and skin. Ducks have oil glands (uropygial gland) which is quite active, and the process of cleaning the hair (preening) usually begins by wetting the body first by swimming or soaking, then oiling and preening the feathers with the beak. Water helps dissolve dirt and dust on the surface of the feathers, while also helping the natural oils spread evenly. Because ducks do not have sweat glands like mammals, soaking in water is also the main way for ducks to lose body heat, especially in tropical climates like Indonesia, while also maintaining skin moisture so that it does not dry out easily in hot weather. The habit of ducks who often drink while eating also causes food and water to be easily scattered, so that litter cages tend to get wet more quickly than chicken coops.
These differences in characteristics make the maintenance needs of ducks different from those of chickens. If chickens need... litter While dry conditions with ideal humidity levels below 30%, ducks are actually more tolerant of humidity, although it still needs to be controlled to avoid excessive humidity. Ducks need water not only for drinking, but also for soaking and playing in the water, so the design of the watering area cannot be compared to that of chickens, which simply use water. nipple or bell drinker Simple. Ducks require a small, dedicated pond to prevent the enclosure from becoming too muddy. From a health perspective, wet conditions in ducks can lead to leg problems and bacterial and viral infections, which are more common than in chickens. Ammonia levels can also rise sharply. litter wet, which can irritate the respiratory tract and reduce the duck's resistance to disease. Furthermore, the feet are constantly damp and in contact with litter Dirty feet can increase the risk of foot diseases such as bumblefootDuck feather growth can also be disrupted if the humidity in the cage isn't balanced with good air circulation.
Duck Health Problems Affect Productivity
Similar to chickens, ducks are sensitive to stress, especially when triggered by sudden changes in management. Sick or stressed meat ducks will experience decreased feed consumption and low body weight gain, resulting in a worsening FCR. Energy is diverted to fighting disease. When a duck's body fights infection, the immune system requires significant energy to produce white blood cells and antibodies. Energy and amino acids that should be used to build muscle and meat are diverted. Furthermore, diseases affecting the digestive tract (such as coccidiosis or colibacillosis) damage the intestinal lining, thus impairing nutrient absorption from the feed. An FCR of 2.0, for example, can jump to 2.5-3.0 in ducks experiencing severe stress.
Stress and illness can also reduce egg production (hen day production) pada itik petelur secara drastis dan cepat, bahkan penyakit ringan sekalipun bisa menurunkan produksi hingga 10-30% hanya dalam hitungan hari. Ketika itik mengalami stres atau sakit, tubuh akan melepaskan hormon stres dalam jumlah besar, yang secara langsung menekan pelepasan hormon reproduksi tersebut, sehingga proses ovulasi bisa langsung terhenti atau melambat hanya dalam beberapa hari saja.
Kondisi ini terjadi karena tubuh unggas secara alami ketika energi dan nutrisi dalam tubuh itik akan lebih diutamakan untuk sistem kekebalan dan fungsi vital lainnya. Berbeda dengan itik pedaging yang penurunan performanya cenderung bertahap karena pertumbuhan otot memang berlangsung lambat, pada itik petelur satu siklus pembentukan telur dapat langsung terhenti di tengah jalan begitu tubuh menerima sinyal stres atau infeksi, sehingga penurunan produksinya terasa jauh lebih cepat, bahkan bisa terjadi hanya dalam 2-3 hari sejak awal infeksi. Infeksi ringan ini sudah cukup menimbulkan respon peradangan dalam tubuh yang turut mengganggu kerja ovarium. Oleh karena itu, penurunan produksi telur sebesar 10-30% dapat terjadi hanya akibat infeksi ringan yang memicu respons kekebalan tubuh secara menyeluruh.
Kualitas telur, seperti ketebalan kerabang, ukuran, dan bobot, sangat dipengaruhi oleh kondisi kesehatan itik, terutama jika ada gangguan pada saluran reproduksinya. Proses pembentukan telur berlangsung melalui beberapa organ dengan fungsi yang berbeda-beda, mulai dari ovarium yang membentuk kuning telur, magnum yang menambahkan putih telur, isthmus yang membentuk membran kerabang, uterus (shell gland) yang membentuk kerabang keras, hingga vagina sebagai jalur keluarnya telur. Jika salah satu bagian saluran ini terganggu fungsinya, misalnya akibat adanya infeksi bakteri seperti E. Coli infection or Salmonella, maka kualitas telur yang dihasilkan akan menurun.
Pemulihan produksi telur setelah itik sakit juga umumnya berlangsung lambat dan tidak selalu bisa kembali seperti semula. Jaringan saluran reproduksi yang meradang membutuhkan waktu lebih lama untuk beregenerasi, bahkan pada infeksi yang cukup berat bisa meninggalkan jaringan parut permanen sehingga fungsi organ tersebut tidak akan kembali 100% normal. Selain itu, proses pembentukan telur bersifat bertahap dan butuh waktu sekitar 24-26 jam per siklus. Apabila siklus ini terganggu akibat penyakit, folikel telur yang sedang berkembang bisa mengalami kegagalan dan diserap kembali oleh tubuh, sehingga ovarium harus memulai proses pembentukan folikel baru dari awal.
Hal ini menjadi lebih memperparah jika tepat saat itik berada di puncak masa produksi, karena itik akan kehilangan sebagian dari periode paling produktif dalam hidupnya. Setelah melewati masa puncak tersebut, produksi telur akan menurun secara bertahap, sehingga performanya tidak akan pernah setinggi jika itik tidak mengalami sakit. Di samping faktor fisik, kondisi stres akibat sakit juga dapat memengaruhi konsumsi pakan, minum, serta konsistensi pola harian itik berproduksi.
Penyakit dan Masalah Kesehatan pada Itik
Penyebab gangguan kesehatan dan penurunan produktivitas itik dapat dilihat dari 2 faktor, yaitu faktor non infeksius dan infeksius. Gangguan non infeksius pada itik disebabkan oleh faktor selain agen infeksi, misalnya akibat defisiensi nutrisi, defisiensi vitamin, defisiensi mineral, dan keracunan pakan. Faktor non infeksius ini pada itik cenderung dipengaruhi oleh kesalahan manajemen atau kekurangan nutrisi dalam pakan yang diberikan. Meskipun tidak menular seperti penyakit infeksius, penyakit non infeksius ini tidak kalah merugikan, bahkan sering lebih sulit dideteksi karena gejalanya kadang disalahartikan sebagai masalah lain. Berikut penjelasan lengkap penyakit non infeksius yang paling sering terjadi pada peternakan itik di Indonesia :
1. Defisiensi vitamin B3
Itik memiliki kebutuhan niacin atau vitamin B3 yang jauh lebih tinggi dibanding ayam untuk pertumbuhan normal. Sehingga jika memberikan pakan ayam pada ternak itik akan sangat berisiko menyebabkan defisiensi ini. Gejalanya biasanya ditemukan kaki bengkok ke luar (bowed legs) atau melengkung tidak normal dan itik cenderung duduk pada tumit/pergelangan kaki (hock sitting) karena kesulitan menopang berat badan dengan posisi kaki normal. Pada kasus berat, itik menjadi pincang dan sulit bergerak mencari pakan/air, yang berujung memperparah kondisi karena asupan nutrisi makin berkurang.
2. Defisiensi kalsium dan vitamin D3
Terutama krusial pada itik petelur karena kalsium adalah komponen utama pembentuk kerabang telur. Biasanya kerabang telur tipis/lunak , penurunan produksi telur, dan pada kasus berat dapat menyebabkan tulang rapuh pada itik dewasa yang produksinya tinggi karena kalsium tubuh terus-menerus digunakan untuk pembentukan kerabang.
3. Defisiensi vitamin A
Gejala umum meliputi pertumbuhan lamban, gangguan penglihatan, serta menurunkan resistensi terhadap infeksi karena vitamin A berperan penting menjaga fungsi selaput lendir mukosa sebagai barier pertama terhadap infeksi patogen.
4. Defisiensi vitamin E dan selenium
Menyebabkan gangguan reproduksi (penurunan fertilitas dan daya tetas telur), serta pada kasus berat dapat memicu nutritional muscular dystrophy (kelemahan otot). Gejala umumnya meliputi pertumbuhan lambat, itik menjadi mudah terserang penyakit infeksius (karena imunitas melemah), dan penurunan produksi telur.
5. Bumblefoot
This is a common occurrence and is usually not caused by a primary infectious agent, but rather by repeated physical trauma to the soles of the feet caused by rough, hard, or sharp-edged cage floors. litter which is constantly wet and damp and the cage is too crowded which makes the ducks step on dirty/wet surfaces more often
Symptoms include swelling on the soles of the feet, wounds or abrasions which can develop into secondary infections by opportunistic bacteria (such as Staphylococcus or E. Bra).
6. Uterine/cloacal prolapse in laying ducks
This is usually caused by the production of excessively large eggs, which forces the cloaca to stretch excessively during the laying process. This disorder is also triggered by obesity in laying ducks due to excessive high-energy feed and in ducks that begin laying eggs too early (before the reproductive organs are fully mature) due to an inappropriate lighting program. Parts of the reproductive tract, such as the uterus/oviduct, protrude through the cloaca, visible as a protruding pink tissue on the back of the duck's body. This condition is very risky because the protruding tissue is susceptible to infection and can even be pecked by other ducks in the group (cannibalism), which can lead to death if not treated immediately.
7. Heat stress (heat stress)
Even though ducks have the ability to thermoregulate through water, in conditions of cages with poor ventilation, overcrowding, and limited access to water/ponds, ducks can still experience... heat stress. The duck will gasp for breath (panting), the wings droop away from the body to dissipate heat, feed consumption decreases drastically, water consumption increases sharply, and in severe cases can cause sudden death, especially in meat ducks with large body weight.
8. Aflatoxicosis
Aflatoxicosis is contamination by aflatoxins or toxins produced by a fungus such as Aspergillus flavus) in feed ingredients stored in damp and poor conditions. Ducks are known as one of the poultry species most sensitive to aflatoxin compared to chickens, even at relatively low levels, aflatoxin can cause significant liver damage in ducks. Symptoms include decreased appetite, stunted growth, decreased egg production, immunosuppression, and can be confirmed by the discovery of liver damage, which is visible from changes in color and liver enlargement during autopsy.
Infectious diseases in ducks can be caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites, and the following are the diseases that most frequently attack duck farms:
- Duck Virus Hepatitis (DVH)/Hepatitis
DHV is one of the most deadly diseases in ducks. Duck Hepatitis is a fatal disease in young ducks (<6 weeks old) that can cause mortality of up to 95% from the onset of clinical symptoms. Infected ducks experience lethargy such as drowsiness, respiratory distress, tremors, a twisted neck, and circling of the legs (uncontrolled movements). Post-mortem examination reveals hemorrhage (bleeding) in various organs, with typical changes in the liver that is enlarged, greenish, and has yellowish-white nodules. This disease attacks acutely, where infected ducklings usually die within hours of the appearance of clinical symptoms. - Avian Influenza (AI)
Especially in ducks infected with the strain highly pathogenic such as H5N1. Ducks are often the reservoir for transboundary viral diseases including Avian Influenza which will carry and spread the virus without always showing severe clinical symptoms as in chickens, although some strains HPAI can still cause death in ducks. Because of their "silent" reservoir nature, ducks act as a transmission chain for AI to other poultry (including chickens) around the farm. This is why AI control in ducks requires special attention. - Newcastle Disease (ND)
Although more closely related to chickens, ducks can also be infected with ND, but generally show milder symptoms than chickens, but still act as a source of infection for other poultry in the vicinity. - Fowl Pox (Fowl Pox)
Clinical symptoms include red spots on the duck's face and loss of appetite. This disease is transmitted through unsanitary conditions, overly dark and damp cages, and poor-quality feed. Therefore, it is closely related to cage sanitation and humidity management, which require increased attention. - Fowl Cholera
The cause is bacteria Pasteurella multocida. This disease is difficult to control because of the high prevalence of ducks that are infected. carrier (asymptomatic carriers) in a group of ducks that appear healthy. Because many healthy ducks are actually hidden carriers, fowl cholera often appears suddenly when there is a stress trigger (extreme weather changes, overcrowding, transportation), bacteria that were previously "sleeping" in the duck's body carrier become active and spread rapidly through its population. - Infectious Coryza (Snot)
Coryza in ducks is often called contagious cold. It is caused by bacteria. Haemophillus gallinarum. The trigger is a change in weather from the dry season to the rainy season or vice versa. The clinical symptoms shown are swollen duck face and eyes, thick mucus from the nose and decreased appetite. - Salmonellosis (Berak kapur/Pullorum)
The cause is bacteria Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidisDucks experience white, paste-like diarrhea (chalk), and severely infected ducks are unable to stand. The disease typically targets young ducklings (DOD) whose immune systems are not yet optimal. Transmission can occur vertically (from the mother through the egg) or horizontally (contamination of the environment, feed, or water). - Colibacillosis (dyspnea, heart and liver covered by fibrin)
This disease is opportunistic, and the bacteria are generally already present in the cage environment. However, they become active pathogens and attack when the ducks are weak (due to stress, other diseases, or poor environmental quality). It is closely related to cage sanitation and humidity. litter This is a bad condition. The disorder typically affects the respiratory and digestive tracts, causing decreased growth performance in meat ducks and decreased production in laying ducks. - Coccidiosis
Although in general coccidiosis in ducks tends to be less severe than in chickens in terms of mortality rates, it still has the potential to reduce nutrient absorption in the intestine, especially in damp cage conditions which are an ideal medium for oocysts. coccidia to thrive and survive.
Maintenance and Cage Management to Maintain Duck Health
1. Cage management
The selection of the location of the cage should take into account several important factors, namely the distance from dense settlements, the availability of clean water sources, and good transportation access to support the smooth distribution of feed and DOD (Day Old Duck). From the construction side, the floor of the cage can use a system litter (rice husks) with periodic additions, or a combination of slats/platforms, especially in areas prone to dampness. The roof should be high enough to allow for optimal air circulation, using materials that don't easily absorb excessive heat. Ideally, the walls of the enclosure should be semi-open with wire or netting to maintain ventilation, but still equipped with curtains that can be closed during extreme weather.
Meanwhile, regarding cage density, meat ducks in the phase starter can be placed at a density of around 15-20 tails/m², which is then gradually reduced to 6-8 tails/m² in the breeding phase finisher. Adult laying ducks are generally placed at a density of around 4-6 ducks/m², depending on the system used, either litter or cage. For laying ducks in particular, lighting is also a crucial factor, with a daily lighting duration of approximately 14-16 hours required to maintain optimal egg production. Furthermore, water facilities, such as small ponds or water channels, need to be equipped with a proper drainage system to prevent water from pooling throughout the entire enclosure.
2. Duck feed and management
Duck feeding should be done carefully, even though ducks live in dirty environments and sometimes eat indiscriminately. For example, if we want to feed them corn, we should not give them moldy corn, as it contains mycotoxins and is harmful to their health. To ensure proper and efficient feeding, we should regulate and adapt the feed to the ducks' needs at each stage.
It should be noted that the local duck livestock has the nature of easy stress to sudden changes in feed. Therefore, before planning the maintenance of ducks, farmers must first study the conditions for the availability of feed ingredients to be used, whether they can be continuously available or not. When not, to replace with a new feed formulation should be gradually, namely:
- The first week the ratio of old and New Feed is 75% : 25%
- 2nd week the ratio is 50% : 50%
- 3rd week the ratio is 25% : 75%
- 4th week can be given 100 new feed%
Ducks are less adaptable to dry food, so the feed must be moist, adapting to the shape of their beaks. However, it shouldn't be too wet; the water content should be no more than 20%. Therefore, the prepared feed mixture is usually mixed with water and mixed together in a container.
Don't delay feeding, as this will impact egg production. Duck feed is generally wetter than chicken feed, so it needs to be scooped out regularly to prevent mold growth from damp feed. Add moisture if necessary. mold inhibitor like Fungitox to inhibit the growth of fungi. And no less important when humid conditions, especially during the rainy season, you should use toxin (Freetox) to bind mycotoxins in feed. Feed raw materials such as corn bran should be stored in dry conditions. Also note the condition of the feed storage area both from temperature and humidity, and make sure it is safe from mice or other insects.
B. Vaccination
Ducks are known as birds with relatively stronger immune systems than chickens, but this doesn't mean vaccination programs can be neglected. Vaccination remains a crucial step in stimulating the ducks' immune systems to develop specific antibodies against major threatening diseases, especially amidst the current increasingly dynamic challenges of poultry disease. This can certainly raise awareness among duck farmers about the importance of ND, AI, Cholera, and Coryza vaccinations, which can be administered using vaccines. Medivac to prevent the disease. The following is an example of a general guide to a vaccination program (Table 1) that can be administered to meat and laying ducks. Meanwhile, for the Fowl Cholera vaccine (Medivac Fowl Cholera) is generally given in the phase grower, before entering the production period, which carries a high risk of disease. Vaccination against coryza in laying ducks can be given at 7-14 days of age using products such as Medivac Coryza B, Medivac Coryza T, or Medivac Coryza T Suspension.
In order for the vaccination program to run effectively, several important things that need to be considered include preparing a vaccination schedule that is adjusted to local epidemiological conditions and the history of disease cases in the area. farm location, the timeliness and technique of vaccine administration according to the type and age of the duck, uniformity of dosage for each duck, and ensuring that the vaccine is only given to ducks in healthy condition to form an optimal immune response. Vaccine storage must also be considered by maintaining the cold chain (cold chain) from the time of collection from the distributor until the time of application. If the vaccine is administered by injection, the cleanliness and sterility of the syringe and the sharpness of the needle must be ensured to prevent contamination and minimize stress or injury to the ducks during the vaccination process.
C. Biosecurity
Well-programmed vaccination and routine titer monitoring must be supported by strict biosecurity measures. Some of the biosecurity measures that can be implemented include:
- Manage traffic and sanitize people, equipment, and vehicles entering the farm area, such as vaccination teams, discarded chicken traders' cars, egg boxes, etc.
- After all the dead chickens or ducks have been removed from the cage, spray the entire surface of the cage with disinfectant (Formades, Antisep, Neo Antisep, Sporades, Medisep). Then spray again with insecticide (including the area around the cage) and let it sit for one day and one night (it's highly recommended to leave it on for three consecutive days). Meanwhile, place rat poison in several strategic locations frequented by rats. litter which was previously mixed with feces, sack it and then spray it with disinfectant.
- Spray the vehicle or the outside of the cage using a disinfectant that is less affected by organic materials, such as Formades or Sporades.
- Disinfect cage equipment, food and drink containers with Medisep, as well as drinking water with Desinsep.
- Avoid contact with other birds or wild animals.
- During the cage break, after litter and feces are removed from the cage, wash and brush the floor of the cage with water and spray using a 1-2% detergent solution, leave for 3-6 hours, then rinse with water containing MedisepAfterward, rinse with clean water and let dry. Also, lime the entire cage (floor, walls, posts, etc.) using a 1-2% lime solution and let dry. Lime is known to inactivate the AI virus within 5 minutes due to the increased pH of the AI virus upon contact with the lime (European Lime Association, 2008).
- Before duck in Before starting, it is best to disinfect the cage again first. This should be done 7 days before duck in, just do the cage preparation (spreading litter, set a limit guard, ration containers, drinking containers, heaters and so on). Sprinkle lime back on top litter as much as 0.5 kg/m2 for litter with a thickness of 5 cm. Next, 3-4 days before duck in, re-spray with Formades.
E. Supplementation
Supplementation for ducks aims to reduce stress, increase stamina and body power Ducks, and maintain optimal productivity. Its type of supplement consists of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and immunostimulants. Some products that can be given include Vita Stress, Imustim or Turbo. Provide safe herbal remedies for ducks such as Fithera which can prevent bacterial and protozoal infections such as coryza, colibacillosis, and coccidiosis. The worm prevention program involves administering deworming medication. Deworming medication should be repeated according to the life cycle of the worms being eradicated. This can be done using Levamid or Vermixon Sirop.
Duck health management is an investment, not just a cost. By understanding the unique characteristics of ducks as waterfowl, implementing strict biosecurity measures, and consistently implementing vaccination and disease prevention programs, we can achieve healthy and productive ducks, the key to business sustainability amidst the vast potential of the Indonesian duck industry. We hope this is helpful.
