Are ducks ever NOT hungry?

[KaleIAm]

I have 3 pet ducks. One crested pekin, one khaki campbell, and one welsh harlequin. They are allowed to eat as much as they want, but only twice a day (3 times on weekends). We used to leave food out all day, but we accidentally fed a rat army. We feed mazuri floating waterfowl breeder pellets into their water buckets and compost what they haven't eaten after about 10 minutes. It ends up being about 2 measuring cups a day. They don't have water at night because they splash and make a huge mess of their bedding.

Are you worried about them not getting enough food? It's pretty easy to tell by feeling on either side of their keel bone. Or maybe you are just curious if their starving behavior is normal?

In the morning my ducks act as if I haven't fed them for days. I have to be careful not to trip over them. They quack and peep trying to cajole me into feeding them faster. They are quite dramatic about it. If I come back in two hours, they'll behave almost the same. And even if they are full and don't want anymore pellets they ALWAYS have room for their favorite snacks!!

The exception is if they are busy laying. Then they might skip breakfast.

 

[featherhead007]

OK Backyard Chicken friends, The meally worms are on me today!!!

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I keep feed out 24/7. So I am an outlier here. But is seems they eat less when they know it's there.

Really? I suppose that was my biggest question. I have those metal feeders for the ducks and the feed gets stuck inside. So I’ve never been actually been able to just leave them in the barn with food and find any left over, because darn metal feeders don’t allow enough out! Ugh! Which is why I have set meal times.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I have 3 pet ducks. One crested pekin, one khaki campbell, and one welsh harlequin. They are allowed to eat as much as they want, but only twice a day (3 times on weekends). We used to leave food out all day, but we accidentally fed a rat army. We feed mazuri floating waterfowl breeder pellets into their water buckets and compost what they haven't eaten after about 10 minutes. It ends up being about 2 measuring cups a day. They don't have water at night because they splash and make a huge mess of their bedding.

Are you worried about them not getting enough food? It's pretty easy to tell by feeling on either side of their keel bone. Or maybe you are just curious if their starving behavior is normal?

In the morning my ducks act as if I haven't fed them for days. I have to be careful not to trip over them. They quack and peep trying to cajole me into feeding them faster. They are quite dramatic about it. If I come back in two hours, they'll behave almost the same. And even if they are full and don't want anymore pellets they ALWAYS have room for their favorite snacks!!

The exception is if they are busy laying. Then they might skip breakfast.

My ducks have never turned down pellets if they are hurt. They eat no mater what. No one is starved, they just act it. I guess it’s just a duck think. I think it’s quite funny and I love when I call them to dinner and they all come running, but I guess it just annoys hy hubby’s check book

 

[Duckfarmer1]

How do you keep them from splashing their water ALL OVER? I tried leaving water in my ducks barn a few times and it was gone with in minutes, splashed all over their bedding

We have three under-the-bed boxes for water. My hubby made a wooden cover for them. They slides on and off. They sit in the middle and leave about 3-4”open on each side. This way the ducks have enough room to wash their heads and clean their eyes, which is soo important. But since there’s a cover on it the ducks can’t get out much water. I keep an extra layer of bedding around the tote to soak up spills but they’ve been great! No problems at all!

 

[Beaglegal]

We have three under-the-bed boxes for water. My hubby made a wooden cover for them. They slides on and off. They sit in the middle and leave about 3-4”open on each side. This way the ducks have enough room to wash their heads and clean their eyes, which is soo important. But since there’s a cover on it the ducks can’t get out much water. I keep an extra layer of bedding around the tote to soak up spills but they’ve been great! No problems at all!

You should post a picture, sounds interesting....

 

[Beaglegal]

My ducks have never turned down pellets if they are hurt. They eat no mater what. No one is starved, they just act it. I guess it’s just a duck think. I think it’s quite funny and I love when I call them to dinner and they all come running, but I guess it just annoys hy hubby’s check book

When we fed 2 times a day they used to yell at me to feed them. Now that they have a self serve feeder, the just yell for me to dump out their big waterer/pond to make mud for them. They just like to have something to yell at me for

 

[Duckfarmer1]

These are the pictures I was explaining of our drinking system for the ducks. They are rubber made under-bed- boxes..don’t use lid. Ny hubby measures and cuts wood. One to sit across and two on the sides as handles. That way the ducks can’t push it of or on in either direction. Plus they can move it back and forth a bit, but what’s so nice is each duck can duck their entire head in order to clean their eyes to preen. This saves a lot of mess. I putt a layer of straw around, but it’s working great!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

My flock of 18 water fowl and 18 chickens of various breeds go through almost 100lbs a month in feed.

As far as how many ducks each one has is a personal decision. If you have the room and the money to feed them and care for them properly then by all means keep as many as you want. Ducks are awesome!

One more reason I adore @Miss Lydia! I agree, ducks are awesome. Miss Lydia is too!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your sweet thank you!