Do your ducks wake you up in the morning??

[DenverDucky]

We have a joke in my house that I got a duck but I brought home a piggy with how much she tries to eat! Poop, drink, eat, repeat. Poop, drink, eat, repeat. In that order hah

 

[vtfarmer]

Well I started feeding and breaking the ice and watering at 4 a.m. before i go to work and yes I believe they are creatures of habbit cause they start quaking for me at that time every morning.

 

[ChampionAlex]

Every morning, I used to hear my swedish ducks screaming at 6am lol

 

[countrygirl74]

Every morning, I used to hear my swedish ducks screaming at 6am lol

Well I started feeding and breaking the ice and watering at 4 a.m. before i go to work and yes I believe they are creatures of habbit cause they start quaking for me at that time every morning.

Well I am not much of a morning person so I have tried to at least train them not to holler until about 7:30 or 8. I think I would definitely get in trouble around here with neighbors if it was 4 or 6! Glad to hear my ducks are normal. I will take the advice from everyone and watch my habit-forming behaviors.

 

[Carcajou]

Mine start quackling when I go out to let them out at 7 AM after I call to them. However, in the warmer months when we have the windows open I will hear them quackling right after daybreak. Love waking up to it! (I am one who hates to miss a sunrise no matter how early it is!)

 

[Peeko]

new2ducks, I hope I have some helpful advice.

Our pair of miniatures like to snack all day long. I give them a small spoonful of the mix I make for them, about 2 or 3 times during the day, along with leafy greens and slugs that I trap and collect at night. When they get hungry after that, they'll go grazing for bugs and weeds on their own. Our female protested about this regiment at first, after being a spoiled duckling, but she soon realized I wasn't coming out to feed her, no matter how loudly she quacked. At night they get a bowl of their mix and some chopped veggies. I adjust how much I give them at night based on how much is left in the morning. Now that our little Henrietta is laying, she's eats a lot more than before.

Extra food laying around attracts rodents, too. We have a rat that will walk right up to their food bowl in broad daylight, while the ducks are there, and sneak some grub. I have chased him off so many times, and plugged up so many holes...but I do appreciate the rat helping to keep the yard clean. I leave their pen open intentionally during the day so it can come in and clean house. I even saw a sparrow fly in one day, then realize it's not so easy to get out, lol.

If the ducks' bellies hang low between their legs when they're standing, that's a possible sign of obesity. It usually happens to ducks that only get commercial feed.


Getting even more off-topic, but I'm wondering if anyone knows about altering the flavor of duck eggs through feed. Ours are so flavorful, more so than duck eggs I've had before. My partner likes them, but it's too much for me. I put a dash of cornmeal on her dish of food tonight, thinking that I'm used to eggs from birds eating mostly corn and soy...Would love an expert opinion, as I am also a bit new to ducks.

Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

new2ducks, I hope I have some helpful advice.

Our pair of miniatures like to snack all day long. I give them a small spoonful of the mix I make for them, about 2 or 3 times during the day, along with leafy greens and slugs that I trap and collect at night. When they get hungry after that, they'll go grazing for bugs and weeds on their own. Our female protested about this regiment at first, after being a spoiled duckling, but she soon realized I wasn't coming out to feed her, no matter how loudly she quacked. At night they get a bowl of their mix and some chopped veggies. I adjust how much I give them at night based on how much is left in the morning. Now that our little Henrietta is laying, she's eats a lot more than before.

Extra food laying around attracts rodents, too. We have a rat that will walk right up to their food bowl in broad daylight, while the ducks are there, and sneak some grub. I have chased him off so many times, and plugged up so many holes...but I do appreciate the rat helping to keep the yard clean. I leave their pen open intentionally during the day so it can come in and clean house. I even saw a sparrow fly in one day, then realize it's not so easy to get out, lol.

If the ducks' bellies hang low between their legs when they're standing, that's a possible sign of obesity. It usually happens to ducks that only get commercial feed.


Getting even more off-topic, but I'm wondering if anyone knows about altering the flavor of duck eggs through feed. Ours are so flavorful, more so than duck eggs I've had before. My partner likes them, but it's too much for me. I put a dash of cornmeal on her dish of food tonight, thinking that I'm used to eggs from birds eating mostly corn and soy...Would love an expert opinion, as I am also a bit new to ducks.

Thanks!

Please tell me thats a goose and not a duck. looks like a dewlap Toulouse goose to me.

 

[Iain Utah]

new2ducks, I hope I have some helpful advice.

Our pair of miniatures like to snack all day long. I give them a small spoonful of the mix I make for them, about 2 or 3 times during the day, along with leafy greens and slugs that I trap and collect at night. When they get hungry after that, they'll go grazing for bugs and weeds on their own. Our female protested about this regiment at first, after being a spoiled duckling, but she soon realized I wasn't coming out to feed her, no matter how loudly she quacked. At night they get a bowl of their mix and some chopped veggies. I adjust how much I give them at night based on how much is left in the morning. Now that our little Henrietta is laying, she's eats a lot more than before.

Extra food laying around attracts rodents, too. We have a rat that will walk right up to their food bowl in broad daylight, while the ducks are there, and sneak some grub. I have chased him off so many times, and plugged up so many holes...but I do appreciate the rat helping to keep the yard clean. I leave their pen open intentionally during the day so it can come in and clean house. I even saw a sparrow fly in one day, then realize it's not so easy to get out, lol.

If the ducks' bellies hang low between their legs when they're standing, that's a possible sign of obesity. It usually happens to ducks that only get commercial feed.


Getting even more off-topic, but I'm wondering if anyone knows about altering the flavor of duck eggs through feed. Ours are so flavorful, more so than duck eggs I've had before. My partner likes them, but it's too much for me. I put a dash of cornmeal on her dish of food tonight, thinking that I'm used to eggs from birds eating mostly corn and soy...Would love an expert opinion, as I am also a bit new to ducks.

Thanks!

Beautiful goose!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Beautiful goose!

Thanks for confirmation J I was really beginning to wonder if I'd missed something.

 

[Going Quackers]

I think I may be feeding them too much though. It's not that they are eating all the pellets but the birds are. I guess my husband and I worry about them getting enough to eat so when we are ouside at any time and notice their bowl empty we put a scoop in it. Sometimes they eat it and other times they just come over to see what we are doing then go away. I think I'm causing a bird problem because of over feeding. Any ideas on how much to feed them? I have 4

Mine are free choice fed that has not led to any issues here, if anything they CHOOSE to forage over the feed, whenever possible.. now treats i limit, rarely providing any as the ducks can forage for alternative sources of food, i have no trouble with mice/rats.. heck mine are all Muscovy, they'd kill either in a heartbeat lol