Feed needs of Foraging Ducks

[samuelsonfarm]

I have 13 ducks about 7 weeks old. They are free ranging all day from 7am to 8pm, they have access to several ponds, lots of grassy land with bugs galore. I give them one oatmeal can (I would guess about 6 cups) full of food in the morning when they get up, and another same sized serving around 3pm. Then I give them some fresh fruit/veg snacks right before I put them in for the night. They seem like they're ALWAYS starving! If they see me come outside they immediately come running and follow me everywhere quacking until I feed them! Is this just a learned habit, or are they not getting enough feed? They go through a 50lb back of feed in about 12 days! I see them eating all kinds of insects, it is the height of the bug season here in Michigan. I don't want to over or under feed them!

Also, what is everyone else's feeding routine? What is your "duck chore" routine? I think we've got a good one going, the ducks seem happy and growing well, but I am wondering if there might be a better way!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 13 ducks about 7 weeks old. They are free ranging all day from 7am to 8pm, they have access to several ponds, lots of grassy land with bugs galore. I give them one oatmeal can (I would guess about 6 cups) full of food in the morning when they get up, and another same sized serving around 3pm. Then I give them some fresh fruit/veg snacks right before I put them in for the night. They seem like they're ALWAYS starving! If they see me come outside they immediately come running and follow me everywhere quacking until I feed them! Is this just a learned habit, or are they not getting enough feed? They go through a 50lb back of feed in about 12 days! I see them eating all kinds of insects, it is the height of the bug season here in Michigan. I don't want to over or under feed them!

Also, what is everyone else's feeding routine? What is your "duck chore" routine? I think we've got a good one going, the ducks seem happy and growing well, but I am wondering if there might be a better way!

At 7 weeks your ducklings are growing so fast, think of a teenager and how hungry they always are, I keep food out at all times during daylight hours and they eat when hungry, at 7 weeks they still need the nutrients that comes with their feed after they reach adult hood you can feed 2X a day along with treats. especially since they are free ranging too. also how do they look? are they lanky? or rounded. I don't think your going to over feed your ducklings they are running/swimming off any excess pretty fast at their age.

 

[ducklover87]

Miss Lydia's right. With them being so young still you wanna make sure they have food 24/7 at least until they are done molting at about 11 or 12 weeks give or take a week. I have 16 ducks and 3 geese and even with the geese's grassy diet I still go through about 100lbs of feed in 2 weeks. Sometimes 3 weeks but I always buy 100lbs every 2 weeks. They eat a lot when they are growing that's for sure. The geese who are 5 weeks old today actually eat way less feed than my ducks do (for now anyway). Once they are done molting completely you could get away with the feeding schedule you have now. But while they are still growing and getting ready to go into their biggest molt (in my opinion) they need all the feed they can get.

 

[samuelsonfarm]

Thank you both for the advice. My other question is when can ducks move from crumble to pellet food?

 

[Going Quackers]

Thank you both for the advice. My other question is when can ducks move from crumble to pellet food?

Never if you wish lol Most pelleted feed has an aging of 4wks due to the ability to consume larger pieces but read the tag! I don't have my birds on pellets they are on a crumble that said i have had pelleted feeds here they do fine with it, even surprisingly the wee calls.

 

[ducklover87]

Thank you both for the advice. My other question is when can ducks move from crumble to pellet food?

Once they are able to eat the bigger pieces without a problem. I'd go with GQ for age wise as around here there is no pelleted feed other than layer. Make sure that when you switch you still have some crumble feed left as they might not take to the pellets right off (due to looks). If that happens either do a mix of the 2 or just throw enough crumble over the top so it doesn't look different. Some ducks are surprisingly picky. Thankfully mine aren't and I can always switch their feed with no problem.