Feed

[fowl farm]

My Mallards are full-grown and free-ranging. Would it be possible to give them chicken feed, or is that a bad idea? One of them is laying.

 

[Amiga]

I give my runners organic poultry layer feed, free choice oyster shell, some fresh vegetables from time to time and a few handfuls of cat kibble as well as what they can forage for themselves on our walks together, and they seem to be doing fine.

 

[fowl farm]

On a whole different note- my Mallard hen has a nest. And yesterday we had an inch of rain in about 15 minutes. So I brought her 2 eggs in assuming, since she laid when I was about a foot away from her, she wouldn't care. I put them back this morning before I let her out, and they are pushed to the edge of the nest and covered in leaves. Has she rejected them? I can get a picture if that would help determine what is going on.

 

[Amiga]

Covering the eggs implies to me she is trying to hide them from further molestation.

Fünf has actually slowly moved her nest spot about a foot away from where she started. She does it an inch a day. She covers her eggs before she leaves the nest.

 

[fowl farm]

She must have realized I'd touched them and didn't want me to do it again.She's got her nest outside and as much as I want her to go broody, I don't want her to get eaten. Would it be possible to move her once she goes broody?

 

[Amiga]

It will be up to her. Do you have her inside? I agree. Broodiness is likely to come back again someday, but losing her to a predator, no, not worth the risk. Get her in and keep her in.

 

[fowl farm]

She isn't broody yet, but her nest IS outside and she stopped laying in the house for the nest

 

[Amiga]

I would keep her inside especially at night. It's just about a death sentence to leave a duck out at night, and when they are broody, they are that much more vulnerable.

 

[fowl farm]

So even when she is broody move her inside? Would that kill the eggs?

 

[Amiga]

Well, leaving her outside is just about for sure certain to kill her, if she is not very well protected from predators. What kind of security does she have now?

It would be a shame to lose the eggs (though we don't have guarantees that even with her sitting on them that they would all hatch, but we want to give them their best opportunity). So, finding someone with an incubator, know how and willingness to finish the job would be a good move.

Or you could try your hand at incubating the eggs, should she decide to abandon them.

There are some very kind and generous people here who can help you with information and encouragement.