Gajendran, KKarthickeyan, SMKTANUVAS2021-09-132021-09-132009https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810175685TNV_LRRD_2009_21(10)1-7excellentnatural habitats for ducks to be adapted under range system of management. There was instability in the trend of duck population over the years. The duck flocks are highlyconcentrated in the paddy (O ryza sativa ) growing and water shed areas of the state because of their nomadic existence. Even though a well recognized breed of layer duck,Khaki Campbell, is available in India, indigenous ducks are preferred by the farmers for ease in maintenance under range system and bigger size of eggs (62 g). The hatchingoperations are still primitive and natural with the total exclusion of artificial incubation. The management of ducklings and adult ducks involved utilization of indigenoustechnical knowledge as practiced from time immemorial. The egg production is found to be between 160-200 eggs per annum. The mean body weights at hatch and at 24 weeks were 36.88 ± 0.70 and 1454.69 ± 29.82 g respectively.The duck flocks are often migrated to nearby districts in search of fresh forage and water resources as each district in Tamilnadu has different cropping patterns and monsoonconditions. Duck plaque is the major disease threat. Despite various development measures, financial constraints of duck farmers, dependency in marketing, migration for freshfeeding resources, lack of timely vaccination against duck plague and lack of preference of duck eggs over chicken are the constraints in the development of this unexploredspecies.EnglishVeterinary ScienceArticle