First winter with ducks!

[onaharley]

X2!

I actually don't even give my ducks any kind of corn or scratch, they don't care for it... colder days they will eat more of their feed and they do great in the cold... and mine are Calls, tiny ducks... no heat, no corn, and not a single one lost to cold or has ever gotten frostbite... and last year we had a severely brutal cold and sleet storm fest Jan/Feb...

No go on the corn! Even if it is just a table spoon per cup of feed on really cold nights?

 

[Ravynscroft]

No go on the corn! Even if it is just a table spoon per cup of feed on really cold nights?

I'd give it to them in the morn, honestly... all the space that they can use to pack in balanced feed with usable protein to keep their body temps regulated properly helps... corn is like potato chips, empty calories, quick energy burn off, no lasting power...

Besides, most feeds already have some corn ground into it... extra is just superfluous... but that is your choice... I am just passing on my experience and info...

 

[onaharley]

I'd give it to them in the morn, honestly... all the space that they can use to pack in balanced feed with usable protein to keep their body temps regulated properly helps... corn is like potato chips, empty calories, quick energy burn off, no lasting power...

Besides, most feeds already have some corn ground into it... extra is just superfluous... but that is your choice... I am just passing on my experience and info...

Duly noted! Your experience and wisdom is always greatly appreciated.

 

[Moments]

Congrats new duck mom, welcome to the club! Glad to hear Gus is recovering well. I second the notion that @Bri
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[QUOTE="Zolamarie, post: 19294606, member: 498029"]
Peggy and Gus ❤️[ATTACH type="full" alt="image.jpeg"]1208735[/ATTACH]
Hey guys! Ugh I totally haven't posted at all But here I am!

My duck, Gus had a partial wing amputation a few weeks ago and just had his sutures removed. Finally back to normal!
Last weekend it began to snow and ever since then it's been soo cold! Every morning I give them fresh veggies in warm water along with their regular chicken feed. I have a small coop heater for night time(although idk if they care about it) and I give then cracked corn at night. Is there anything else I should be doing? This is my first winter with ducks.

Also, for the past few days they haven't really wanted their chicken feed as much. Usually the scarf it down in a minute, but lately they've been leaving the bowl almost full. Is it because they're getting spoiled bc of all the fresh veggies, it is the feed getting kinda old? (I bought a 50 lb bag a few weeks ago)
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Mine will still eat their food along with their goodies, we love to do veggies here too :-). They'll take their fill and then go to the food. Though it seems mine are a bit on the opposite side of the spectrum and can be fussy with veggies but love their food. We use Kalmbach flock maintainer and they do great with it. It's an all flock so it has all the nutrients ducks need that straight chicken feed doesn't without added supplements:-). The veggies with the chicken feed is definitely a good thing cause depending on what you're giving them they can get some of the nutrients missing from the feed through the veggies. We also give cracked corn. I usually mix some with their food and they get it at the same time but not sure if it makes a difference if you give it with the food or separate at night. I'm also a new duck mom. Only have had ducks for over a year. We do go through less feed in the winter, I think in part due to the cracked corn but also because when they're out during the warmer months they forage and have access to the feed all day. In the winter the feed is still out and they can't forage as much so you'd think they'd eat more of the feed but they don't, they just kinda hang out around the pool :-)