How often should I have feed available to my ducklings?

[duckman4450]

I have 2 mallard ducklings, about 4 days old. I feed them un-medicated chick food, it has 18% of whatever, I can't think of it; any way it is what I was told to buy. They eat like PIGS! Last night I left the food bowl in their cage when I went to sleep. 8 hours later, it was almost all gone, the water dirty as can be, and so much poop you would think 30 were living in there, not a stretch. They will literally eat for an hour straight. I hand feed them and sometimes give them a lot, but they go crazy every time I put more in my hand, like they've never seen food before. Every bath time, I give them both some meal worms and they just about jump out of the container when they see the cup of meal worms. They absolutely LOVE food and just never stop eating. Obviously the more they eat the more they poo, and the less they eat their poop is basically just pee with a few droppings mixed in on occasion. Sorry for the long post!

 

[Kevin565]

My ducklings always have access to feed and water around the clock.

 

[duckman4450]

I forgot to add they have water all day, always make sure to change it every few hours. I just don't want them eating TOO much. I'm just not sure where to cut them off cause they serious could eat non-stop

 

[tweetysvoice]

They won't overeat. You should let them have access to food and fresh water at all times, and yes - ducks poop A LOT! Just wait till they are full grown! They poop just as much only it's 4Xs the size.. LOL! If you are giving them mealworms, make sure they also have access to grit so they can process it! Sometimes that ducks love are greens! If you are only giving them chick starter they will need niacin suppliments - this can be given through lots of frozen (but thawed) peas and a sprinkle of brewers yeast over their food. You can find brewers yeast at health food stores - it's not the same yeast that is used for baking bread.

 

[Mum]

They eat like pigs because they grow sooooo fast!!

Don't worry, they will slow down as the weeks pass.

 

[duckman4450]

Tomorrow I'll be sure to give them some peas when they wake up in the morning. And I may sound stupid, but what do you mean grit? Like sand or something?

 

[duckman4450]

Alright cool, thanks again for your posts!

 

[Amiga]

Tomorrow I'll be sure to give them some peas when they wake up in the morning. And I may sound stupid, but what do you mean grit? Like sand or something?

Yes, coarse clean sand or you can get a few cups of chick grit from a feed store if there is one nearby*.

Don't overload the grit - just a teaspoon a day on their food should be good.


* Miss Lydia (if I recall correctly) brings in a bit of sod, grass, roots and soil, for her ducklings to play with, and they eat some grit out of that.