Campbell ducks -help please

[mymilliefleur]

Careful with dog food - the large chunks can choke them to death. And if the seeds have awns (hairs) they can get stuck in their throats. I speak from experience reported here on the Duck Forum.

It may be that the ducks are not very cold hardy, and if you are okay with letting them stay in a warmer environment than an unheated outdoor shelter, then go with that. I have Runners - similar in size to Khaki Campbell's, and a few of my flock do not thrive below 35F. So I adapted a shelter in the walkout basement. Life is good!

Regarding food. Hmmm. What were they raised on? You may need to make a slower shift. I would say it is best to use a well balanced diet for ducks. The most straightforward would be poultry or waterfowl feed, supplemented with some fresh greens. I also supplement in winter with a little bit of good quality cat kibble. But that is a sprinkling on top of their food. I moisten their food, some people on this forum think that is not a great idea due to a concern about mold, but at the rate my ducks eat, that is not a problem.

also, were did you get the ducks? somewhere with warmer temps? I have never had khaki's, but I have Muscovy's, a runner, Orpington, Rouens, and hybrid layers that all thrive in the cold, (in fact they will be sloshing in the icy water when it's 20F) so I don't know...........

 

[PatMarchand]

thanks.
The ducks came from a farm, and were living outside but shared a large barn with chicken.
Got them end of August this year (to be precised on the 24th August 2014).
I live in Chelmsford (Essex, UK).
However, I might be mis-interpreting their wish to be inside, round my area there were many private fireworks and I had to push them inside my back room very early, about 4pm... ah I so wish they would ban private fireworks!

 

[PatMarchand]

would the ducks eat cold water shrimps? just wonder because in the wild they would love them and one can get a mix of insects, fruits cutting and cold water shrimps from Rob Harvey (but it is for soft bills type birds), do you know?

 

[Amiga]

I don't know for sure about that . . . have you read the Sticky on treats for ducks?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/242460/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements

 

[PatMarchand]

Cold water shrimps are eaten by ducks in the wild.
I looked at the proposed link, very interesting, same as for my parrots, my parrots eat more a variety of vegs and other things than seeds. With parrots the 'variety' is best.
I will copy paste the list, this is great because my ducks do not want to eat their pellets nor mixed grains for ducks, in fact they refuse to eat anything that is dry.
I cook white fish for my birds so I might give them a little bit to see.
I have tried to chop fruits for them but they did not even try.

I come originally from France (yes I am French), and in France we do buy dandelion (that is before they bud) to eat, it is a little bitter but a very good natural defence against any viruses.

Pity ducks poop so badly, every night I watch tele with my tamed parrots and it would have been nice for them to be with all of us as well.

There are so many parrot stores where one can buy toys, food, habitat for them but there are not really 'fancy items' sold for pet ducks and none of the items are meant for a good relationship between the ducks and their owners.

 

[Amykins]

Don't feed your ducks grass seed or dog food...that's just asking for trouble. If they don't choke or suffer from malnutrition, dog food is a one way ticket to fatty liver disease.

If they won't eat the pellets, try a different pellet. Mine used to hate Mazuri, but it's the best food out there for him, so after a while of refusing to give him any treats, he began eating it, and now he goes at it with gusto!

Veggies are important for any ducks' diet, but it's not realistic to continue buying and cooking pounds of it every week just to ensure your ducks don't starve. Quick question: Do they forage, or are you the only source of feed for them?

 

[buff goose guy]

Amy ive fed it to my ducks for years and several vets said its fine and perfectly healthy, ( so many vets becuase ive had to change to different vets since there just so far away or move office stuff like that )

Also the show board, when i asked about their diet they said it was perfect as long as they forage and continue to get grasses the dog food(old yeller brand is a corn based dog food like aims not high in fats tht cause the disease, which I've explained , your not supposed to feed wet dog food or dog food that is high in meats or meat byproducts) is good for them as well as the triple cleaned corn.

 

[PatMarchand]

Bonnie & Clyde, my ducks, do not like dry food.

You are lucky to have ducks who eat their pellets, because mine don't I have to be more inventive and search food that would replace the contents of the pellets, reasons me asking.
From a list posted on this forum I now do have a list of food ducks can eat.

My ducks live outside, with access to their own shed (though they do prefer my heated back room), they do have a pond and they have created they own 'mud area' within which they spend hours digging. They are not tame as such, though I can hand feed one of them and if I leave the door opened they follow me into the kitchen. I keep over 35 birds (cockatiels & african greys) and a dog the ducks love teasing (run after him). Every night I have to chase the ducks into their shed and early in the morning they quacker until I open their shed door. When I am back from shopping I usually find them hidding underneath a bamboo tree. They are frighten by any noise and the fireworks season was a bit of a challenge.