Help with feeding routine!

[Duck momm]

I gave my duckings 24/7 access to food/water for their first several months. Then access to as much food as they wanted all day, but none at night for a couple years. Because of my rat population I now feed them 2-3 times a day as much as they can eat and then pick up the rest. They also have a huge aviary, and daily supervised foraging walks.

My ducks have always been thin. And it isn't my opinion, more than one vet has called them thin and recommended testing for parasites. Even when they had free access to food all day. They have also been daily layers and even needed birth control to stop them from having reproductive issues from laying too much.

This is my experience, and yours could be different. But I would not recommend restricting their food unless you have an overweight duck. You can tell by feeling the breast under the feathers on either side of the keel bone.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Everyone was extremely helpful! the ducklings are going to be healthy and happy thanks to you guys!

 

[KaleIAm]

Here’s what I’m starting off with for tonight! Going to let them eat however much they want from this! But I’m going to take it away at night because I don’t want their coop to become messy! Tomorrow morning I’ll fill it to the top and refill when it becomes empty, gonna go to the store to get a bigger bin soon! Thanks for all your help

Well done! You are a good pet parent!

I took away food and water at night because of the mess, too. I spend enough hours cleaning up duck mess already.

If you find that your ducklings are stepping on the sides of their bowl consider getting a sloped one that can't be tipped/flipped. I have 3 that are technically for dogs. I lined them up in a row when I had 6 ducks so everyone could have a spot.