Feeding mixed flocks (chickens, ducks, and peafowl)?

[mirandaleecon]

Anyone have experience with feeding a mixed flock of different birds? I have chickens, ducks, and peafowl who all free range from sunrise to sunset. I've been feeding free choice layer crumbles which seems to be fine but lately I've been trying to encourage them to forage so I'm trying to feed them just at night. I'm also trying to start using fermented feed.
My chickens and peafowl don't seem to be bothered by it but the ducks act like they are losing their mind. Should I be feeding them in the morning? I don't know if I'm just being a softie and giving in to them or if they really need more food.
These ducks are such pigs and I would like to find ways to keep the cost down but I don't want to starve them...Oh and I'm attempting to grow duckweed as well but I'm pretty sure it has all died :/

 

[GitaBooks]

Sounds like an awesome flock!

If you know anyone with a garden, or if you have a garden yourself, you can feed scrap fruits, grains, seeds, and squash in the morning, so they fill up some and you don't have to use any money. We do this, and our chickens love it! And yes, ducks are pigs.

Peafowl are game birds, which mean they need extra protein, but since your birds forage so much I don't think letting them have layer should be a problem.

Best of luck!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My birds all free range all day, but I would never think to withhold feed from them, they eat less in the summer so I put out less, I might get in trouble here but I leave a bowl of whole corn out next to my layer, my ducks eat a lot also, I guess maybe less birds would be cheaper, otherwise supplementing with food and garden scraps helps, but I guess there's a lot of people who want poultry but can't afford to feed them, but they need to eat and can't always find enough to eat free ranging. What is the purpose of your flock for you and can you maybe lower your numbers if it's too expensive.

 

[mirandaleecon]

My birds all free range all day, but I would never think to withhold feed from them, they eat less in the summer so I put out less, I might get in trouble here but I leave a bowl of whole corn out next to my layer, my ducks eat a lot also, I guess maybe less birds would be cheaper, otherwise supplementing with food and garden scraps helps, but I guess there's a lot of people who want poultry but can't afford to feed them, but they need to eat and can't always find enough to eat free ranging. What is the purpose of your flock for you and can you maybe lower your numbers if it's too expensive.

I suppose I was unclear in my original post. It's not that I can't afford to feed my birds, I would just rather encourage them to forage because I believe that whatever they can forage will be much healthier than any processed food I give them. I understand they may not always be able to find enough food, so that's why I was going to feed them at night so they go to sleep with a full crop, no matter what. And as an added benefit, I would be able to keep the cost down. These birds are mainly for eggs, so I am hoping they will at least cover the cost of their feed. Ultimately though, health is more important than cost.
My concern for the ducks is that my property doesn't have any natural ponds(in the process of digging one now) where ducks would normally forage, so I'm wondering if they can find enough food in the dry land. When the pond is done and stocked, would that be sufficient?

 

[GitaBooks]

I suppose I was unclear in my original post. It's not that I can't afford to feed my birds, I would just rather encourage them to forage because I believe that whatever they can forage will be much healthier than any processed food I give them. I understand they may not always be able to find enough food, so that's why I was going to feed them at night so they go to sleep with a full crop, no matter what. And as an added benefit, I would be able to keep the cost down. These birds are mainly for eggs, so I am hoping they will at least cover the cost of their feed. Ultimately though, health is more important than cost.
My concern for the ducks is that my property doesn't have any natural ponds(in the process of digging one now) where ducks would normally forage, so I'm wondering if they can find enough food in the dry land. When the pond is done and stocked, would that be sufficient?

It certainly could provide a lot of their food. I've heard of other people who use this method successfully. However, until the pond is finished, I would suggest feeding the duck in the morning (depending on how many you have).

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Ducks always act like they're starving, even when their crops are bulging. I would give them some food in the morning and then again at night. Twice a day is good for them.

 

[mirandaleecon]

It certainly could provide a lot of their food. I've heard of other people who use this method successfully. However, until the pond is finished, I would suggest feeding the duck in the morning (depending on how many you have).

Yea, I think this is what I'll do. I have been feeding them twice a day for the last couple days and they seem much better with that. I am also going to work on growing duckweed again. My first batch is definitely dead :/