After mastering egg incubation, Le Vu Phuong built a thriving duck farm supplying thousands of ducklings and commercial birds monthly.
After years of trial and error with dwindling stocks of wild ducklings, Le Vu Phuong spent four years perfecting the incubation process. His persistence led to the creation of a 4,000m² duck farm that now yields hundreds of millions of dong annually from selling ducklings and commercial ducks.
Located in Phuoc An B hamlet, My Phuoc commune, Can Tho City, Phuong, 45, is admired for his dedication. He gave up fish farming and wild rice cultivation to pursue wild duck farming full-time.
Today, he owns a 4,000m² farm surrounded by coconut trees and greenery, attracting many local farmers eager to learn from his experience.
Le Vu Phuong's 4,000m² wild duck farm. Photo: T.T
Ten years ago, realizing the economic potential of wild ducks, Phuong purchased 40 ducklings from northern Vietnam and renovated a 400m² pond for a trial run. Lacking experience, he lost many ducks. Despite buying more from various sources, long-distance transport affected their survival rate.
By 2017, with the remaining ducks, he began experimenting with egg incubation to create a self-sufficient supply. Supported by local officials from former My Tu district (Soc Trang Province) and experts from Can Tho University, Phuong started in-depth research.
During the first four years, hatching success was low, often prompting him to consider quitting. However, after refining his techniques, the hatching rate has consistently reached 80% over the past five years.
Phuong studies incubation techniques at home with support from experts. Photo: T.T
Phuong explained that incubating wild duck eggs is more challenging than for domestic ducks, requiring precise steps such as turning, washing, and dipping. He now operates three incubators, each processing around 7,000 eggs per batch.
With a breeding stock of 650 ducks, Phuong supplies around 3,500 to 4,000 ducklings per month to customers in Can Tho, Ca Mau, and Vinh Long at a price of VND 12,000 (approximately USD 0.47) per duckling.
Besides providing ducklings, he also offers technical guidance and guarantees output for partnering farmers. Several local households have joined his model, raising commercial ducks for tourist areas and restaurants, collectively supplying around 2,000 ducks monthly.
Sharing his methods, Phuong noted that farmers must keep ducklings dry and warm on land during the early days. Initially fed with compound feed, they can be released into nature after 15 days. Thanks to their wild instincts and strong immunity, wild ducks are more disease-resistant and cost less to raise than regular ducks.
Despite high demand, Phuong cannot supply enough ducklings. Photo: T.T
Each duck costs about VND 25,000 (USD 1.00) to raise, including feed and breeding costs, but sells for VND 75,000–80,000 (USD 3.00–3.20), generating a profit of VND 40,000–50,000 (USD 1.60–2.10) per duck. This has helped many households secure stable incomes.
Adult ducks feed on a variety of food including rice, banana plants, shrimp, apple snails, and low-value fish. To prevent disease, Phuong requires farmers to clean their ponds after each cycle and fence off rearing areas to prevent ducks from escaping.
Wild ducks begin laying eggs at around 9 months old and can reproduce for up to 5 years. The best laying period is between ages 3 to 5, with each hen producing 11–12 eggs every 1.5 to 2 months. Eggs are incubated 3–4 days after collection and hatch after 28 days. On average, Phuong produces 300–400 ducklings per batch every three days.
A bird once seen as hard to raise has become a livelihood for My Phuoc farmers. Photo: Provided by source
“The key to success lies in patience, mastering incubation techniques, proper care, and securing a stable market,” said Phuong, who earns hundreds of millions of dong annually from selling ducklings and commercial ducks.
According to My Phuoc commune authorities, due to its wetland terrain and abundance of small fish for feed, the area has encouraged wild duck farming since 2018. Thanks to stable supply and market demand, the model has proven highly effective and is being scaled up by local residents.
Vietnamnet.vn
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