Making homemade duck food and poop Q

[peepsandquacks]

I have been making Donald his food for a week now. Been blending a hardboiled egg, 1cup of organic oats, 1 cup of frozen mixed veggies (corn, green beans, peas, carrots) and a tsp of grit. This lasts him 3 meals (2 a day with an apple or watermellon snack in the middle) sometimes I substitute the egg with chicken if we have chicken for dinner.

It took him 2 days of mixing his old food with the new food to get him to accept it, but now he eats it just fine.

He seems healthy, but he poops waaaaay less now. I used to change his diaper every 3 hrs, now it's every 6 and the other day we were gone for 8 hrs and had no leaks. My theory was the chicken feed had more fillers and stuff he didn't use, and now he's getting more he actually uses eating REAL food. Does this sound right? Or is he just not eating enough? He's not losing feathers, and actually his adult feathers are coming in much faster then before (he's 4 months) the switch.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Amiga]

I might weigh him from time to time. We don't know if he's using more of the food or if something's not passing through. I wouldn't be alarmed at this point, but you are in uncharted territory

How does his belly feel? Any apparent bloating or swelling? I might give him some grit free choice as well, and watch closely - every now and then a duck will overindulge the grit

but that's not common. Grit is what helps him process food, and I have heard of ducklings that don't get grit getting impacted when they eat real food instead of processed pellets.

So my biggest concern would be whether he's at risk of being impacted. I don't expect so, but I like to rule out stuff like that, which can be serious.

 

[peepsandquacks]

He doesn't seem bloated. And he is still pooping. Just not nearly as much. I add water before I blend the food, so it is like a soup. I can't imagine soup will get stuck haha. I only add 1tsp of grit in the whole mix (3 meals) He doesn't have his choice of it. I will prolly start weighing him every week to make sure he isn't dropping lbs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Why did you decide to do this? did you read something that gave you the idea? Thanks

 

[peepsandquacks]

Because It's cheaper for him to eat fresh food then the chicken feed. The feed seems to go bad after 3 weeks, even though I am only half way through the bag. And the risks of mold and botulism are higher in chicken feed (its very humid here right now) then food that is made fresh every day. Making his food seems the easiest and cost efficient way.

I looked up the recipe, and most said brown rice. So I looked up nutrients in rice vs oats, and oats had more (and an added bonus, I don't have to precook oats) so I went with that.

Eta: plus, I am giving him all organic goodness. I have no idea what's in that bagged stuff. He is a pet to us, not a farm animal (he is 100% house kept) so I want him to have the best I can give him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Well why not, I cook for my dogs instead of feeding them dog food. just never thought of doing it for my ducks, you just have 1 duck?

 

[GrannyCarol]

Where did you get recipes for home made duck rations? Sounds interesting, though with 20 some ducks, I don't think I'll be cooking ALL their food. I'm always looking for ways to improve diets, health and save some money though.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
X2! and I have a house duckling

 

[dianaross77]

This is why I am going to start making more flock blocks for the ducks. I used a muffin tin to bake them in and then drop one in their clean water bowl twice a day. They pooped a lot less the days the ate those and the poop didn't smell as icky either. They had free choice of their pellets as usual but barely touched them. I did some further research and need to tweak the recipe (setting in gelatin instead of baking) and will continue to include some pellets. I plan on including oats, timothy pellets, catfish pellets (they love those), wheat (if i can find some). I got inspired by Resolution's method of raising muscovies.

 

[peepsandquacks]

Yes, I have just one duck. Donny. I had two but had to rehome the other, as we moved to an apartment and couldn't bring both. He is a good house duck, and could care less being by himself if we go out (although he absolutely loves road trips!).

I kinda made my own recipe, and then googled it, only to find others did the same type or recipe, haha.

Yes with 20 birds, I don't think I would save money! I just hated tossing all that food away when it went bad because donny didn't eat it all by himself.

I love the duck cake idea!! I may do that! Just use raw egg instead of boil it, then bake the mix. That way I could freeze them and not have to make duck food every morning......thanks for the idea!! Yes, he doesn't poop nearly as often while eating fresh food. Less poop = less $$ in diapers, and less diaper changes for mom. And it does smell much less.

Donny