We keep feed out all the time but our ducks are excellent foragers so they don't spend their day in front of the feeder. We use them for our chickens too and they eat more than ducks but the only time there is a large group around the feeder is when they first come out of the coop in the morning. Once they fill their crops they go off to forage too.
I don't ever see the ducks crowded around the feeder but they seem to take a scoop and then step back to let another duck get some too. The chickens will take turns eating but one will stand there and keep the rest from eating until she has had her fill, then the next in line gets a turn. My husband will sometimes throw out feed on the ground to scatter them but I don't want the feed on the ground, that is why we have feeders. They all get their fill so they can work it out.
I want to make a smaller version for our Silkies because they don't go through as much feed either. We can cut the pipe into more sections and get more smaller feeders out of it that way but I like being able to fill them less often.
I like the commercial ones but there is some satisfaction in saving money and maximizing resources. Our feed costs are high enough already.
I don't ever see the ducks crowded around the feeder but they seem to take a scoop and then step back to let another duck get some too. The chickens will take turns eating but one will stand there and keep the rest from eating until she has had her fill, then the next in line gets a turn. My husband will sometimes throw out feed on the ground to scatter them but I don't want the feed on the ground, that is why we have feeders. They all get their fill so they can work it out.
I want to make a smaller version for our Silkies because they don't go through as much feed either. We can cut the pipe into more sections and get more smaller feeders out of it that way but I like being able to fill them less often.
I like the commercial ones but there is some satisfaction in saving money and maximizing resources. Our feed costs are high enough already.