Is my duck sick or just overweight?

[pardygwyn]

Had a duck that fat when I was a kid. We'd yell "BOOM-babba BOOM-babba" when she waddled down the yard. It was so bad she tripped over her keel on a regular basis! She was another bird who was hard to put on a diet - too crafty.

 

[Birdcrazy]

Oh, was never sure if ducks could get badly overweight or just managed to eat what they needed.

I have a duck-feeder for my ducks, is that a bad thing and I should start getting specific weights for my duck food? Or is it ok? My duck has been doing a lot of flying around the yard when she gets excited, so I hope that burns off some energy

and the yard is full of bugs, so not sure how well I'd be able to cut back.

 

[katharinad]

I feed mine twice per day, which forces them to forage in the afternoon. All that walking around is working.

 

[Number1Sticky]

Quote:
Thank you so much. I posted something on here before asking how much food to feed them and didn't really get an answer. So thank you very much. I measured it out and they should be getting about 3/4 cup of food each per day. So hopefully that will do the job. I don't think they're very happy about that, but they'll adjust.

 

[Broodica]

I have a 12 day old Rouen with the same crease! OMG. It might go back to the 27% protein feed issue which he had for 5 days.....not going into that thread at this point. So he is down to 20% and according to Storey, at two weeks they should be weaned onto 16-18% grower feed, which I get....but he says they should only get what they can eat in 5 minutes twice a day? Am I reading that wrong? Does that assume they are also out foraging? Mine are not. It's been too cold to bring them outside, but it's supposed to get back into the 70's next week....so I can let them out again!

So are you telling me I already have a fat duckling???? Bad Mom

 

[katharinad]

Wow 12 days and a little bit fat. That may be just a growing phase and not being fat at all. They usually get the fat keel when they are 12 weeks or older. Do not cut back on food yet, because they are to young at this point. I give mine food 24 hours at that age. You can go down to twice a day when they are 12 weeks old.

 

[pirtykitty]

I put mazuri waterfowl out in the morning for my three ( pair WH's and 1 crested pekin).. Then put food in night pen.. Stanley and Daisy also get some rabbit pellets, and oats.. Judy in her pen gets mazuri and a salad .. Oh they get a handfull of Iams cat food seveal times a week. too..
They forage all day for goodies too.. Plus Daisy and Stanley are still chasing Judy around but not as bad.. I'll be so glad when they finally accept her so she can go in with them..

I also found out the other day that Judy will be able to eat the larger snails that Stanley and Daisy can't get down.. Snails watch out when Judy finds you. LOL