Do these 6 week old babies look under weight?

[Wifezilla]

The high protein is a good idea because it will help them build and repair muscle. (Actually it is corn that makes them fat, but you don't want them fat)

 

[Duck Keeper]

Yeah, I agree. You want them healthy, not just fat.

I needed to fatten mine up though, since they're so busy free ranging all day that they don't go back in their pen to eat.

I barricaded them in their pen for a full week, and they've filled out nicely. I might try keep them 'cooped up' more so they can put some meat on their bones and not run it all off immediately...

 

[Wifezilla]

I herd mine in to their pen at night and that is where I keep their feed. They very seldom run in there during the day to eat, but they do chow down at night

 

[Duck Keeper]

Quote:
Well I do too! TWO PEAS IN A POD.

Actually, they get to free range from about 7, 8 or 9 am to around 4 on week days, since the neighbors come home and let their psycho dog run free (so much for the leash law) and she barks/chases them. She doesn't hurt them, but she bowls them over and riles them up. So I try to prevent that as best I can.

 

[Bec]

Ok, sounds great!

If they don;t eat the eggs, are there and other good sources of protein? I definitely don't want them fat, I want them healthy.

 

[vfem]

I had one that looked SUPER skinny. I added some corn scratch to the diet and it got pretty darn fat pretty darn fast! LOL

 

[CityChicker]

It seems like they are simply underfed. It is never too late to quarantine birds though. It is probably just that they have no meat on their bones.

Also, ducks don't have crops so it would not be related to having a full crop. Sometimes, the term "crop binding" is used for ducks, but it is usually in reference to an impacted proventriculus (and it doesn't look like the pic). Ducks should be given a little grit to avoid that, but again, I don't think it is that.

I would just follow the other suggestions on feed and give them lots of greens and other foods to chose from.

 

[DuckLady]

Pekins can look like they have cleavage, that is normal.

If they were underfed, you would see the opposite on them. Pronounced keel bone and sunken breast area.

What I see is the left side(facing camera) on the white one on the left looks larger and lower than the other.

If you press gently, does it feel like air or meat?

 

[Wifezilla]

Give them some worms. Fresh worms are 28% protein. My ducks go crazy when they see my over by the compost pile. If I uncover worms when I am turning it, they get to much on them.

 

[Bec]

Quote:
I will have to check, they aren't fond of being handled, but I can get them.

I just took a look at the pic, I think the uneven look come from the way he is walking, that leg is forward..he was in motion! I just looked out the window and it doesn't look that way in person.