DAILY DYNAMICS OF THE ELEMENTS OF MULE DUCKS BEHAVIOR AT A DIFFERENT AGE, BRED IN INTEGRATED FISH PONDS UNDER DIFFERENT NUTRIENT REGIMES. I. AT FEEDING WITH BALANCED COMMERCIAL MIXTURE

An investigation upon the daily dynamics of the separate elements of mule ducks behavior has been carried out at the Institute of Fisheries and Acuaculture Plovdiv, Bulgaria, applying the schedule of feeding with full-ration factory-made mixtures, at conditions of integrated fish-ducks technology. Ducks used to enter the water for a short time, and the time for swimming reported has been 9.63 min.h(-1) while the time spent at rest in the water has not surpassed 2.5 min.h(-1). Age differences concerning behavior have been observed. With the advance of the fattening period, in general, the motion activity has decreased, ducks have reacted weaker to forage supply, and the forages have been consumed more actively during the morning hours. The tested technology has ensured good rearing conditions of mule ducks, however, the influence of ducks upon fishpond ecosystem was minimal.