Feeding basics, new to ducks!

[CountryJ510]

We are getting ducks this coming spring and we are trying to figure out what and how much they eat? How often do you feed them? Ours will only be free ranging a few hours a day but it isnt a huge peice of land, either. What food do you buy and where do you usually get it from? How do you know they have eaten enough?

 

[FeatheredPets]

Good questions. Looking to get some ducks after putting up a fence. I will have to watch the answers you get. Good luck!

 

[KuroKitsune]

my ducks ducks and chickens get nutrena naturewise all flock pellets which is meant for flocks of mixed ages and species and i get it from my local Orschlen's. i provide a smaller feeder full of oyster shell for any that are laying and this works great.


i don have set time or amounts to feed i just fill feeders up and refill again when empty....none of them over eat or are fat so this works fine and all my girls who are laying lay eggs with rock hard shells



so find a all flock or flockrasier type feed(one meant for mixed aged and species of poultry/fowl) and add oyster shell on the side and you can feed this to all your birds.

 

[Amykins]

It depends on the species, for example I've heard of pekins eating and eating and EATING until their crops are so full they can't walk! So a lot of breeders will stick to a strict feeding regimen so they don't overeat. As for other duck breeds, I just figure constant access to food and water is a good idea. If they free range maybe not so much, but if they're kept in a coop or indoors, then yeah.

 

[tdd2]

We free feed our ducks - we made two home-made PVC gravity feeders (we only use one unless on vacation), and just keep them filled.

Neither of our ducks eat much (1 - Pekin, and 1 - Khaki Campbell), as they also get several hours of supervised yard faraging daily.

Our ducks eat Southern States Waterfowl Specialty feed, obtained at our local Agway. A 40lb bag lasts us more than a month.

Hope that helps...

Dan

 

[Amykins]

I have a general question about feeding, too - my duckling doesn't seem too interested in starter crumbs. I've read websites that say to mash it with water, DON'T mash it with water, feed them from a container, no don't do that free-feed by sprinkling it in the brooder, it's a bloody mess of contradictory information.

Right now his crop is barely full at all, I don't have grit and can't go get some until tomorrow (when I do I plan to give him treats like grass and maybe a pea or two) but I just wanna be sure he's getting the nutrients he needs.

 

[Going Quackers]

It depends on the species, for example I've heard of pekins eating and eating and EATING until their crops are so full they can't walk! So a lot of breeders will stick to a strict feeding regimen so they don't overeat. As for other duck breeds, I just figure constant access to food and water is a good idea. If they free range maybe not so much, but if they're kept in a coop or indoors, then yeah.

That's one i have not heard and as an owner of some, i'd go with no!

I free range the big ducks here.. feed(&water) is available free choice for may hours a day .. only at night do some not have due to the set-up of the housing, all ducklings do till about 6+wks however.

For the sake of interest, i have Pekin, Muscovy and Buff in this flock.

 

[Going Quackers]

I have a general question about feeding, too - my duckling doesn't seem too interested in starter crumbs. I've read websites that say to mash it with water, DON'T mash it with water, feed them from a container, no don't do that free-feed by sprinkling it in the brooder, it's a bloody mess of contradictory information.

Right now his crop is barely full at all, I don't have grit and can't go get some until tomorrow (when I do I plan to give him treats like grass and maybe a pea or two) but I just wanna be sure he's getting the nutrients he needs.

I don't wet feeds, mixed on this one.. ducks can choke.. especially the young. What breed is the duckling? age. etc.. what is the feed? i know with my calls if the crumb is too large at first they can't swallow it lol

 

[Going Quackers]

We are getting ducks this coming spring and we are trying to figure out what and how much they eat? How often do you feed them? Ours will only be free ranging a few hours a day but it isnt a huge peice of land, either. What food do you buy and where do you usually get it from? How do you know they have eaten enough?

This is a good link to read over.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

I get feeds at a farm supply but that'll depend on what you have access too. I feed all ducklings free choice 24/7 till about 6+wks then depending on the housing may cease at night, during the day ALL ducks have access to free choice feed, and the bulk of my birds free range(my calls are penned but on the ground, so free run)

 

[Amykins]

I don't wet feeds, mixed on this one.. ducks can choke.. especially the young. What breed is the duckling? age. etc.. what is the feed? i know with my calls if the crumb is too large at first they can't swallow it lol

He's a call duck, one day old. He's a tiny guy! I see what you mean on the larger crumbles, we play a game I like to call "nom-nom-PTOOEY". He'll voraciously attack a crumb, then shake his head and fling it away a good 6-12 inches away! I try to break them apart with my fingers but he doesn't go for the smaller crumb.