How much should a duck eat?

[DuckyDonna]

I've got 11 runners and they go through about 16 cups of food about every 2 days, if that helps any. I'd wait and see what @casportpony says. I've never really thought about this question.

 

[Jlw0903]

They aren't underweight. I just took this picture today

 

[Jlw0903]

By the sound of it my ducks are eating way more than they should and maybe it's a worm problem. What you you all use to handle problems like this?

 

[Isaac 0]

They look like a healthy size to me, are they in that pen all-day? I have forty-five birds and mine go through a 40lb pound bag every week...If someone wants to do the math for me they can...I haven't had my coffee yet.

 

[Jlw0903]

They look like a healthy size to me, are they in that pen all-day? I have forty-five birds and mine go through a 40lb pound bag every week...If someone wants to do the math for me they can...I haven't had my coffee yet.

Yes. Its actually two 10x13 pens that we connected together and they can go between the two. Plus they have a 6x6 hut. Once the ground thaws we are closing off a section to replant grass

 

[Isaac 0]

Well, that's probably why they are eating more, Duck that are confined into a smallish area like that will generally eat more feed than a duck that is free-ranging. Letting them out too free-range more often might help with the feed bill a little or you could just expand there run. How does their keel bone feel?

 

[Quack head]

My five Appleyards eat about four to five cups per day. They have access to food all day but free range in a 1/2 acre pond. I also feed them about 1/4 cup of mealworms as treats a couple times per day and at night when they are called to their pen.

The problem I do have, I leave the gate to the pen open all day and my squirrel population has found the food bowl. So I am not sure how much the ducks eat compared to the squirrels.

In the evening I let them eat and drink until they are full before I put them in for the night. All seem Fat and Happy and laying.

 

[CoriM]

@Ratchnick Thanks for doing that math for me! I'm glad to know they're eating the right amount

 

[Ratchnick]

By the sound of it my ducks are eating way more than they should and maybe it's a worm problem. What you you all use to handle problems like this?

Possibly rats and mice eating at night.

 

[Jlw0903]

Possibly rats and mice eating at night.

I bring their food in during the night to prevent that.