greens greens greens

[claudiaosk]

I can live on meat and potatoes but some greens would probably be good for my diet, if you catch my meaning. Also i think potato greens might not be good for them, containing the same compounds as raw potatoes.

thanks! I noticed of late that they are not keen on the potatoe leaves which are by now yellow anyway, but thanks again for the info, good to know.

 

[claudiaosk]

I purchased 50# of organic split peas fairly cheaply. I am giving then now as a treat and plan to give more in the winter so they have some variety in their diet. I am also planning to grow microgreens to give them. I think they will appreciate any variety in their diet you can offer them.

Ill look for the split peas. I tried cooked chickpeas but it hasnt been much of a sucess.

 

[JaeG]

You could sprout things like wheat for them.

 

[LT71689]

Animals arent like us - they wont be miserable if they eat the same thing every day, and the bulk of their diet should be their duck feed, everything else is variety for the sake of variety, treats.

If you wanna grow some stuff indoors over the winter, grasses like wheat and rye are easy, clover is easy, lettuce (romaine, red leaf, salad mixes) are easy. You dont have to do anything fancy with them, just give them a container of dirt, sun and water and they'll grown like weeds.

I'd stay away from any canned veggies, there's added salts and sugars that arent great. Go for plain frozen stuff and just let it thaw to soften up before feeding (or steam/microwave to get it extra soft) Sometimes mashing it up or putting it in a bowl with a little water makes it easier for them to eat - my two didnt like banana the first time I tried it because I just mashed it, put it in water the second time and they went nuts for it. Fruits and berries also make good treats (remove pits and seeds, steer clear of citrus). Something treatworthy is usually in-season and on sale somewhere. But if you cant find something that wont break the bank that's perfectly okay, they dont NEED it as long as they're getting decent feed.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I would be cautious about too many peas. I had some rubber egg issues which would not stop even with calcium supplementation. When I stopped giving peas every morning the rubber eggs went away. Maybe it was just a coincidence but I haven't given peas since and no problems.
I plant cold hardy greens like turnips, mustard greens, pea shoots etc. in a low tunnel garden. I do it for me but I share with the ducks. I cannot let them have free access though or they demolish it in one day. I have had a few break-ins by them.

 

[KaleIAm]

My ducks like dandelion greens. They sure think it is necessary...

 

[claudiaosk]

Animals arent like us - they wont be miserable if they eat the same thing every day, and the bulk of their diet should be their duck feed, everything else is variety for the sake of variety, treats.

If you wanna grow some stuff indoors over the winter, grasses like wheat and rye are easy, clover is easy, lettuce (romaine, red leaf, salad mixes) are easy. You dont have to do anything fancy with them, just give them a container of dirt, sun and water and they'll grown like weeds.

I'd stay away from any canned veggies, there's added salts and sugars that arent great. Go for plain frozen stuff and just let it thaw to soften up before feeding (or steam/microwave to get it extra soft) Sometimes mashing it up or putting it in a bowl with a little water makes it easier for them to eat - my two didnt like banana the first time I tried it because I just mashed it, put it in water the second time and they went nuts for it. Fruits and berries also make good treats (remove pits and seeds, steer clear of citrus). Something treatworthy is usually in-season and on sale somewhere. But if you cant find something that wont break the bank that's perfectly okay, they dont NEED it as long as they're getting decent feed.

thanks so much for this. Good to know, I think its my human thinking that maybe they should get this rather than that, have they actually got enough etcetcetc. Thing is that they often leave their duckfeed and ask (quak) for something else, so I just have to learn to be confident about what I give them. The other day watermelaon was on sale and they love that, also other types of melons and strawberries. They always have their duck feed outside but they usually eat that only once everything else is gone
Unfortunately, as my greenhouse is not heated, during the winter here in Iceland, buying green stuff is the only way.
Funny with the way they eat, for example dandelions - the dont rip them from the ground, but if I place them in their pond, they go for them! same with other food.
Ill try bananas again.
Anyway, thanks !

 

[claudiaosk]

My ducks like dandelion greens. They sure think it is necessary...

hahaha yes for sure!

 

[claudiaosk]

I would be cautious about too many peas. I had some rubber egg issues which would not stop even with calcium supplementation. When I stopped giving peas every morning the rubber eggs went away. Maybe it was just a coincidence but I haven't given peas since and no problems.
I plant cold hardy greens like turnips, mustard greens, pea shoots etc. in a low tunnel garden. I do it for me but I share with the ducks. I cannot let them have free access though or they demolish it in one day. I have had a few break-ins by them.

uff thats interesting, ok... mine oare not laying yet, I even dont know which are females and which males, so still some months to go, but good to know.

 

[Ratchnick]

I would be cautious about too many peas. I had some rubber egg issues which would not stop even with calcium supplementation. When I stopped giving peas every morning the rubber eggs went away. Maybe it was just a coincidence but I haven't given peas since and no problems.
I plant cold hardy greens like turnips, mustard greens, pea shoots etc. in a low tunnel garden. I do it for me but I share with the ducks. I cannot let them have free access though or they demolish it in one day. I have had a few break-ins by them.

Stories guide says fresh peas are bad for ducks, but it seems like everyone gives them as treats, interesting to hear your story!