Food, safety, and nest boxes?

[lcw6999]

Hi. I am new to ducks, and a mom to three female Peking Duck that are about 12 to 13 weeks old. They're getting plenty of feathers I have an outdoor pen connected to a shed which I've turned into a coop for them. But I have a number of questions but I need answers to at the moment. 1 I feed them 86 starter mix with 20% protein with brewer's yeast in it is this okay or should I change that? To I leave the food dish with food in it out all day and night in their pen. I also throw them mealworms and peas as Treats but their food dishes always out should I be putting it away? 3 do I need a nesting box inside there Coop? There Coop is a three and a half by 6 foot shed with a door that I can do clean out and another door with a ramp that they can go out into their pen. I keep deep hey in there and they really seem to like it. For I can't lock them up at night because I don't get home until midnight. By then all three of them are not in the pen they have gone on their own into the coop although they're small door is open. Is this okay? And 5, how old are they when they start to lay eggs? I know there are a lot of questions here, and I apologize for that.

 

[Amiga]

Hi. I am new to ducks, and a mom to three female Peking Duck that are about 12 to 13 weeks old. They're getting plenty of feathers I have an outdoor pen connected to a shed which I've turned into a coop for them. But I have a number of questions but I need answers to at the moment. 1 I feed them 86 starter mix with 20% protein with brewer's yeast in it is this okay or should I change that? To I leave the food dish with food in it out all day and night in their pen. I also throw them mealworms and peas as Treats but their food dishes always out should I be putting it away? 3 do I need a nesting box inside there Coop? There Coop is a three and a half by 6 foot shed with a door that I can do clean out and another door with a ramp that they can go out into their pen. I keep deep hey in there and they really seem to like it. For I can't lock them up at night because I don't get home until midnight. By then all three of them are not in the pen they have gone on their own into the coop although they're small door is open. Is this okay? And 5, how old are they when they start to lay eggs? I know there are a lot of questions here, and I apologize for that.

Please do not apologize for the questions.

First, once predators in the area discover the ducks, the predators are going to go after them. The ducks really need to be kept save.

Is the coop inside the pen? Is the pen predator-safe?

Leaving the food out is one option - as long as there is drinking water at all times.