Are my ducks too fat?

[luvs2ride1979]

These girls were hatched around August 14th, 7 Golden Hybrid 300 from Metzer and 3 Welsh Harlequins. They have been free ranging since mid-October and have gotten noticably fat... Their breasts wobble back and forth when they come running for food, lol. I throw out some whole oats, black oil sunflower seeds, and calf-mana twice a day, about 2 qts each feeding for all 10 birds and my chickens get some of it too. I don't have any other feed out for them. We have a small pond/stream that used to have small fish in it, but I noticed yesterday that there isn't fish any longer, lol. The ducks do dive a lot in the small pond, so I'm guessing they have eaten all of the fish.

Pictures

Today:

October 20. You can see the small pond at the bottom of the photo.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

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They look fine! one of my WH hens looks like yours.

 

[stuhayes2010]

The look more or less like mine. Do they fly? That would be your first clue that they aren't too fat.

 

[luvs2ride1979]

No, they don't fly, but I didn't think either breed was supposed to fly? They have never really tried. They will run and flap their wings, but their feet never leave the ground.

 

[duckdad]

They look about right to me...


You'll know if they are too fat...

You're duck is too fat when he spreads out like a water balloon as he sits....

You're duck is too fat when he starts to 'scoot' across the floor instead of standing up and walking.

 

[Wulfandwyn]

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[70%cocoa]

They look alright to me too. Just like they have full crops (not that ducks have a proper crop like a chicken).

I think if they put on a lot of fat it is mainly round the vent area.

 

[mrpekinduck]

They look even smaller than my pekins so I'd say they're fine.