Duck Poo.....

[CarleeAnn]

So my feed store only had crumbles- same brand and contents, just not pellet shaped. Now my ducks seem to be having loose poo. It practically looks the same as it did as food, just soggy! Do you think they're getting everything they need from it? Like nutrient wise. They act normal and eat normal, a little messier though. It's also been rather hot outside, but they have and drink plenty of water, however the poo does not have much urates (white stuff).

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My ducks poop is always liquid. I didn't know it was possible to ever be solid due to the amount of water they consume.

Ducks can have more troubles swallowing crumbles and will need to drink more than when they eat pellets so that's probably what's happening. I wouldn't worry.

 

[CarleeAnn]

My ducks poop is always liquid. I didn't know it was possible to ever be solid due to the amount of water they consume.

Ducks can have more troubles swallowing crumbles and will need to drink more than when they eat pellets so that's probably what's happening. I wouldn't worry.

That is reassuring, thank you! I felt so silly, but I would get so proud when my ducks had a solid poo. When they are pellets it would vary but it has just never been solid since I've switched to crumbles.

 

[gilbert2]

I agree totally with the old hen who likes dogs. I feel there is nothing to be worried about. And wow, CarleeAnn, who else in the world worries about the uric acid in their ducks' poo?
I've been feeding my ducklings > ducks crumbles all their lives. I have never even wet it down. The two-day-old hatchlings never minded eating dry crumbles, and they've all eaten them all their lives. Of course as babies, I gave them the crumbles for babies. And after they got a bit older, their diets grew--mealworms (Doritos for ducks), iceberg lettuce, thawed frozen peas, and other greenery from my fridge that had passed its shelf life.
You're a good duck mom, my friend!

 

[CarleeAnn]

I agree totally with the old hen who likes dogs. I feel there is nothing to be worried about. And wow, CarleeAnn, who else in the world worries about the uric acid in their ducks' poo?
I've been feeding my ducklings > ducks crumbles all their lives. I have never even wet it down. The two-day-old hatchlings never minded eating dry crumbles, and they've all eaten them all their lives. Of course as babies, I gave them the crumbles for babies. And after they got a bit older, their diets grew--mealworms (Doritos for ducks), iceberg lettuce, thawed frozen peas, and other greenery from my fridge that had passed its shelf life.
You're a good duck mom, my friend!

Yay! Thank you so much. I'm just a worry wart and these are my first ducks so I want to take care of them to the best of my ability. It really helps to have access to BYC and all the friendly, knowledable, and experienced, people here.

 

[Ducktown]

My ducks sometimes have dry droppings. If they eat a lot of grain, feed crumbs or pelleted feed, they have compact poo. If they eat a lot of greens, their poo becomes dark green and has much more liquid. If they eat both (they do that now when they are getting adult!), they have compact droppings that are even partly green, so I know they also eat greens.
From time to time, they will squirt watery dropping even if they otherwise have dry poo. Sometimes they have quite dry crap, but when it leaves the duck, a watery package also comes out. All perfectly normal.

When they eat whole corn kernels, they also have dry droppings. And the interested thing is, how well they can grind the hard corn kernel. And they love it. I use it as a treat, they won't even think about eating peas. Strange ducks I have, I know!

 

[gilbert2]

You know, their crops contain little rocks, that they've picked up off the ground. The muscular action of the crop keeps those rocks grinding like little machines!

 

[Ducktown]

I know how they do it, but it's fascinating anyway.
What is also fascinating about them is that they seem to know exactly what they need to eat to stay in good shape. If I feed them strong feed with a lot of protein, they forage for greens and grass seeds, If I give them seeds, they will search for insects and slugs instead and hardly touch anything green. They didn't know how to do that when they were younger though, they just ate everything they got back then.