how hard is it REALLY to take care of ducks???

[Kaitie09]

I got ducks to experiment too, and to add to our farm.

I really don't know if I have weird ducks or not, but mine are really easy to care for. I have two Mallards in with 18 chickens and the ducks act just like chickens. I feed them all about 8am, and I only feed once. The food is never gone when I lock them in at 9pm. The only difficult thing about them is their water. I had to build a catch for the inside water, and you have to dump the pool everyday. We go any buy little minnows from the marina every once in a while and give them as treats. That way the chickens are not fighting over it, and the ducks get a fun activity in their pool.

 

[Cuqui18]

so can anyone help e out with an auto feeder? like maybe post a picture or a link to a website where they got theres??? what feeders does everyone have??? thanks for all the advice so far and as i said, i would never get them if i wasnt sure i'd be there 150% for them

 

[TLWR]

Why do you need/want an auto feeder?
I can see it being useful if there was like a timed feeder or something if you went away for a weekend, but otherwise, I'd just put the feed out when you let them out in the morning.

I fill up (ok, not full, but nearish to full) a quart chick feeder and go out and dump that in the duck food bin when I let them out each morning. They run over, grab a bite or two, then run out into the yard and start their day. Sometimes their bin is empty at night, other times they have a little bit left and still other days they hardly touch it. I have no reason to go out and feed them a few times a day. They've always had food available all the time, except at night when I took their water away when they were old enough.

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
You should have reported them. It's Illegal and you can get a very heavy fine for doing so.

The person who posted that did NOT know that at the time. As is clearly stated above. Said poster now knows. Please read ALL posts before responding.

I did read ALL posts. I was just informing that you can get a heavy fine.

(And you can still report them if you have evidence of them doing so.)

Why would I say something if I didn't read all the posts first?

 

[animalpro24]

first, Kschwartz don't worry about it cause now you know and don't beat yourself up about it.

I have a (Idk) few gallon feeder that sits out all day for them and it's full. they don't eat a lot cause they have a nice big yard that's full of bugs and grass. But I can't see the reason not to leave a feeder out for them 24/7.....

 

[Cuqui18]

Quote:
if i were to leave the feeder out 24/7, wouldnt ants be a worry? does anyone have any ideas how to keep ants away from food?

 

[animalpro24]

Quote:
if i were to leave the feeder out 24/7, wouldnt ants be a worry? does anyone have any ideas how to keep ants away from food?

Our pen is part of our barn and the feeder is is under the covered area. There is a chain hanging from the ceiling with a hook on it and every night we hang the feeder up on the hook to keep bugs mice/rodents out of it. Works great.

 

[Cuqui18]

Quote:
if i were to leave the feeder out 24/7, wouldnt ants be a worry? does anyone have any ideas how to keep ants away from food?

Our pen is part of our barn and the feeder is is under the covered area. There is a chain hanging from the ceiling with a hook on it and every night we hang the feeder up on the hook to keep bugs mice/rodents out of it. Works great.

sounds simple enough! but what about tid bits of food spilled on the floor by the messy messy diners?

 

[TLWR]

I had issues with a mouse snacking on the duck food last summer/fall at night. Picking up the food at night fixed that. Haven't had to do it yet this year (knock on wood)

 

[FireTigeris]

How long does the breed you want live?

Where will you be then? School, Work, a different state or city?

What about vacation?

Are they legal to keep where you are and where you'll be?