Help Solve messy eaters??

[sandy sea]

New to this Duck Stuff. Where do you put the duck food plate? I am thinking that my ducks waste most of their food in the water. They pick up the food than dump it in the water. Should I move the food away from their water? Where do you keep their food and water? Would it be better if I just wet the food first?

 

[Trenary Duck Farm]

If you are using mash, try wetting it down before giving it to them.

 

[sandy sea]

Yes I was using mash. I think that I will buy crumble tomorrow any less wasteful?

 

[Trenary Duck Farm]

Quote:
Pellets are less wasteful, but the cost difference may not be justifiable.

 

[Laskaland]

ducks are messy. period. they need water when they eat, so they need to be kinda near each other. ducklings also like to get wet, but they also will get a chill quickly, so they need the heat lamp.
I put the feed for them in a tupperware type container with sides, rather than a normal chicken feeder. there is waste, but not as much I don't think?
good luck

 

[ExpLo721]

the best you can do is put the food and water as far away from each other as possible so as to minimize the food and water mixing

 

[CorralitosSunflower]

Quote:
I very much disagree with this. Ducklings unlike chicks most of the time need water to swallow food or they will choke to death (especially when they are really little). Moving their water further away will reduce mixing of water and food but will end up in much more being dropped along the way and far less making into your babies belly. It is inevitable that they are messy and there will be a little food waste. I change my ducklings water once a day and they love to nibble the food that has settled to the bottom prior to the change so it is not all wasted and will give them enjoyment. You can try putting a deeper plate or shallow pan under their waterer to reduce the mess they make when splashing the water everywhere and getting the bedding all wet. The food and water shouldn't be seperated until they are older and better at swallowing. Good luck and hang in there. I think someone should write to the "DIRTY JOBS" show about being a duck mama

 

[CorralitosSunflower]

I also forgot to put in, if you are worried about wasting food I wouldn't wet the mash first. It would need to be tossed at the end of the day whether they ate it all or not and ducklings need a continueing availability of food while they are growing. They can and will wet it on their own, and enjoy doing it. Than at least what they didn't eat can be finished tomorrow

 

[Trenary Duck Farm]

Quote:
If they ate it all, why would it need to be tossed at the end of the day?

 

[CorralitosSunflower]

Well of course if they ate it all it wouldn't need to be thrown out. That was a typo, my bad. I was worried about it as far as trying to save food, no other reason. How do you know exactly how much they will eat? If you are home all day and can check and add to it regularly to make sure it doesn't run out it would be great

Or if you don't mind mixing a large batch to insure it last through the day and tossing it out at night. I have never tried wetting their food before, they may love it in which case let me know! Always lookin to get my babies eating more of their food, they like to hang out and wait for their "treats" of corn, kale, tomatoe, ect.