Easy question about duck feed!

[AMBiEN22]

Hello everyone,

I am new on the forums but figured at some point I'd be making an account later down the road so i figured i would make one now! I plan on raising and keeping about six Cayuga ducks 4 hens and 1 drake. I am trying to do as much homework and research on duck keeping before i impulse by a living animal. I want to provide the best environment for the flock as possible!

But long story short my question is about duck feed! My local suppliers all sell feed for about 15 dollars per 50lbs. So i was curious how much my flock would go through daily or monthly so i can kind of estimate how much it would cost. I know this may be difficult but i am just looking for maybe an average.

So 5 ducks would equate to how many pounds per day or month.

Thanks in advance,
Mike.

 

[Haunted55]

Cayuga are on my list of wants. They are a beautiful duck. Your question about the duck feed is one of those 'depends'. It depends on the season, how much foraging they will be able to do, etc..

Summer, if I remember correctly, 50 lbs should go the month and a little beyond, as long as they have foraging. Late Fall, Winter and early Spring, depending on your temps, not so much. When it gets cold and there isn't any thing for them to be eating in your yard or pen, they are going to be needing and eating a lot more feed to stay warm and full. If you're in a cold climate, you'll want to add some cracked corn as a treat, once a day, to help them stay warm as well. The regular feed ....I think it's maybe 75 lbs for 6 ducks. It's been a while since I had that number of them.

 

[Going Quackers]

well, i can only go by what i use, hopefully that'll help a bit? I have 14 ducks that i feed out of the one feed(their are two others but they are on something else) i use about 3 bags of 55lbs a month.

That said my ducks free range daily, so feed consumption is down right now... come winter when were frozen and buried in snow? yeah, you bet it rises.

 

[Haunted55]

Lol, I'm trying to remember what it was like to have that many. Right now I have 45 ducks and 10 geese....I go through a lot of feed!

Husband just told me 12 50 lbs. bags a month. Right now they are getting a mix of 22% Multi-Flock and layer pellets. I think he may be a bit off, lol,

 

[Going Quackers]

Lol, I'm trying to remember what it was like to have that many. Right now I have 45 ducks and 10 geese....I go through a lot of feed!

Husband just told me 12 50 lbs. bags a month. Right now they are getting a mix of 22% Multi-Flock and layer pellets. I think he may be a bit off, lol,

ah, heck with that one, you'd need a feed truck! there are 20 birds total here, right now.. one sitting on 9 eggs and 8 more coming month end or beginning of June(possible a couple extra too lol) that is more than enough for us lol

 

[Haunted55]

Lol! Seriously, you are so very right! With 10 more baby geese in the house right now and more ducks hatching....lol, I'm gonna need more than a truck. A lot of the males will be going to camp Libby so that will cut down some on the feed . but as you know, ducks-ducks are worth it. My wood ticks this year are almost non-existant, the few slugs I have seen are rapidly being consumed and the Black Fly population is slowly being brought done to almost nothing. Love, ducks!

 

[AMBiEN22]

Cayuga are on my list of wants. They are a beautiful duck. Your question about the duck feed is one of those 'depends'. It depends on the season, how much foraging they will be able to do, etc..

Summer, if I remember correctly, 50 lbs should go the month and a little beyond, as long as they have foraging. Late Fall, Winter and early Spring, depending on your temps, not so much. When it gets cold and there isn't any thing for them to be eating in your yard or pen, they are going to be needing and eating a lot more feed to stay warm and full. If you're in a cold climate, you'll want to add some cracked corn as a treat, once a day, to help them stay warm as well. The regular feed ....I think it's maybe 75 lbs for 6 ducks. It's been a while since I had that number of them.

Thanks for the quick response! I knew this was kind of a situational question and even geographical question but i had to ask . Thank you again.

well, i can only go by what i use, hopefully that'll help a bit? I have 14 ducks that i feed out of the one feed(their are two others but they are on something else) i use about 3 bags of 55lbs a month.

That said my ducks free range daily, so feed consumption is down right now... come winter when were frozen and buried in snow? yeah, you bet it rises.

That helps a lot actually, and you both brought up great points about the winter months! Thank you for the quick reply as well!

Now i just have to start planning some Coop Ideas, thinking i might do a tractor style, but kind of want a permanent run and build a pond out of a creek that runs through my property...