How much to feed ducks? THEY'RE FAT!

[Ravynscroft]

Here's just a few pictures.. Some of my favorites

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^ They got Thanksgiving dinner.. I couldn't help myself! From left to right: Sage, Clover, Aspen, Daisy, Douglas


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They absolutely loved it (and I loved watching them eat it). See Sage eating a yam? Too adorable.

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Back when I attempted to make them a pond.. at least I tried, but my yard was just way too muddy for all that. Hopefully I'll be able to give them a big pond eventually. Starting with the "leader" (Blue Swedish): Douglas, Aspen, Clover, Daisy, and Sage

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Chitchatting about whether or not to eat the snow or go back in the warm coop Daisy was inside with me that day.

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Sage is the child of the pack. The others stick together and shy away from strangers, but Sage is a little gullible. She's a baby

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Have you ever been so hot that you feel like you're melting? Clover knows that feeling very well!

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This was Daisy last week. She's been inside with me for a while, recovering from bumblefoot (I don't know how I'm ever going to part with her when I have to -- I've gotten so attached!).

I don't see any fat ducks... beautiful flock...

Hmm... going by that chart, it looks like Douglas (the Blue Swedish) is about a 3, and the rest are about 4s, possibly closer to 5s. I'll have to go out there after it stops raining and check for sure though.

Don't compare your Pekins to your Swedish, Pekins have completely different body shape and style from Swedish... they were bred primarily for meat/egg production so they're a much heavier breed than Swedish... Swedish are a medium weight breed...

Male being a bit trimmer than the females is quite normal, most female birds of most species are bigger than the males...

Ducks are also big on schedules, changing how you feed them can cause them to react a lot differently... thus the gorging/starving act when you go from free feed to restricted feed... a slightly higher % protein feed might help though, I found that mine eat less with 20% protein than if they get 16% protein...

 

[shawluvsbirds]

They all look perfect to me

 

[AmberCamilia]

Thank you both!

 

[CayugaJana]

I don't see any fat ducks... beautiful flock...



Don't compare your Pekins to your Swedish, Pekins have completely different body shape and style from Swedish... they were bred primarily for meat/egg production so they're a much heavier breed than Swedish... Swedish are a medium weight breed...

Male being a bit trimmer than the females is quite normal, most female birds of most species are bigger than the males...

Ducks are also big on schedules, changing how you feed them can cause them to react a lot differently... thus the gorging/starving act when you go from free feed to restricted feed... a slightly higher % protein feed might help though, I found that mine eat less with 20% protein than if they get 16% protein...

I don’t see any fatties either. Just adorable birds.

How come you have to get rid of your girl?? Did I miss that?

Have you tried any of the seed blocks? It can keep them busy and also be a treat during the day if they are bored.

 

[AmberCamilia]

I don’t see any fatties either. Just adorable birds.

How come you have to get rid of your girl?? Did I miss that?

Have you tried any of the seed blocks? It can keep them busy and also be a treat during the day if they are bored.

Thank you! I bought a seed block when I first became a "duck mother", back when I had my pair I ordered from Metzer Farms (Daisy and Jasper). That was when they were still inside with me. They barely touched it (truthfully, they were probably too young to eat on one!). I haven't tried anymore, but I'm glad you brought them up. I'll have to get a few at the farm store next time I go into town.

Oh goodness, I could never get rid of her! She's just inside healing from bumblefoot, and eventually I'll have to let her go back out with the others She stays in a pet playpen in my room (very messy, but I don't really mind cleaning after her), so I've grown highly attached to her. She was alone for a little while after her mate Jasper passed away, and she stayed inside then too. Sometimes I think she's feels like she's on vacation!

 

[CayugaJana]

Thank you! I bought a seed block when I first became a "duck mother", back when I had my pair I ordered from Metzer Farms (Daisy and Jasper). That was when they were still inside with me. They barely touched it (truthfully, they were probably too young to eat on one!). I haven't tried anymore, but I'm glad you brought them up. I'll have to get a few at the farm store next time I go into town.

Oh goodness, I could never get rid of her! She's just inside healing from bumblefoot, and eventually I'll have to let her go back out with the others She stays in a pet playpen in my room (very messy, but I don't really mind cleaning after her), so I've grown highly attached to her. She was alone for a little while after her mate Jasper passed away, and she stayed inside then too. Sometimes I think she's feels like she's on vacation!

Mine love them now they know they aren’t plotting to kill them.

Lol! I bet she loves being pampered.

 

[AmberCamilia]

Ducks can be so silly at times

And oh yes! She gets to take a bath by herself, meaning she doesn't have to share the water with the others.. plus she gets all the food to herself too