- Dec 10, 2011
- 62
- 5
- 43
I just moved my five 5 week old ducklings outside last week. Before I moved them outside, they were doubling their food intake almost every day. When I moved them outside, they were pretty quick to figure out where the waterer and feeder are and didn't increase their food intake anymore. But now, it seems like I have to trick them into eating 2-3 cups of their pellet feed by throwing lettuce right on top of it. They are eating much less feed now. They don't have access to a lot of dirt but that's all that I can come up with that they are filling their tummies on. I think 5 ducks should be eating a lot more than 2-3 cups of pellet feed. Right?
Should I be concerned with their dirt and a side of pellet feed diet?
They seem to eat more when they are locked in their coup at night (boredom?) but I don't want them to get used to just eating their feed at night because I don't want to supplement the necessary water in their coup. I want to keep the 5-gallon waterer outside the coup so they don't make a mess in there. I am hoping to just keep a small amount of feed and the chick waterer for nightime in their coup.
I currently have them on a 22% pellet gamebird feed (they have been on since day 1). I have a bag of 16% layer feed which I was hoping to already start transitioning them to but I am worried that they are not consuming their current feed as heartily anymore. I may bump them up to the 18% All-Flock feed the next time I have to buy grain. I am not really sure what to do. The layer pellet has 3.5% calcium which I like, I just wish the protein and other vitamins were a little higher. I have read a lot of conflicting advice on what exactly to feed. Thoughts?
Of course, they seem to be happy eating just dirt.
Should I be concerned with their dirt and a side of pellet feed diet?
They seem to eat more when they are locked in their coup at night (boredom?) but I don't want them to get used to just eating their feed at night because I don't want to supplement the necessary water in their coup. I want to keep the 5-gallon waterer outside the coup so they don't make a mess in there. I am hoping to just keep a small amount of feed and the chick waterer for nightime in their coup.
I currently have them on a 22% pellet gamebird feed (they have been on since day 1). I have a bag of 16% layer feed which I was hoping to already start transitioning them to but I am worried that they are not consuming their current feed as heartily anymore. I may bump them up to the 18% All-Flock feed the next time I have to buy grain. I am not really sure what to do. The layer pellet has 3.5% calcium which I like, I just wish the protein and other vitamins were a little higher. I have read a lot of conflicting advice on what exactly to feed. Thoughts?