My Love Affair With Ducks...

[Mimi13]

That’s where a container with a lid comes in handy. Put meal worms inside the can put the lid on and when you want the ducklings to come or follow just start shaking the bag and using a special word I actually have a specific whistle with mine. Start sharing some kitten kibble for treats and to train them now. Add kitten to your container with the meal worms. Kitten food has smaller pieces easier to eat.

For whatever reason I thought they were still too young to give treats to. Does it have to be meal worms or can I use a 5 grain scratch and just pull out the big pieces? The reason I ask is because I’ve already got the 5GS and it is really loud when I shake the container.

It is important to me for them to come when I call and I’ve trained my chickens this very way. There have been several times I’ve had to round up my birds before roost and they always come when they hear the rattling. I have been contemplating on how to call them because right now I just call, “Here chick chick chick!” And obviously they aren’t chicks, but I’m sure they’ll come just the same.

I do have a bright green neon plate that I put their boiled egg on and believe it or not they go nuts just when they see that plate. It doesn’t take them long at all to learn - especially where food’s concerned.

But thank you for letting me know I can give them meal worms. I will see if I can’t pick some up today or tomorrow. I will be glad when this pandemic thing is over and I can get out and about again...just for such as this.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Now they can have treats just keep it for training and yes scratch is fine. They are so motivated by food! ❤

 

[Mimi13]

Now they can have treats just keep it for training and yes scratch is fine. They are so motivated by food! ❤

Kind of like me...unfortunately!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Who isn’t

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

For whatever reason I thought they were still too young to give treats to. Does it have to be meal worms or can I use a 5 grain scratch and just pull out the big pieces? The reason I ask is because I’ve already got the 5GS and it is really loud when I shake the container.

It is important to me for them to come when I call and I’ve trained my chickens this very way. There have been several times I’ve had to round up my birds before roost and they always come when they hear the rattling. I have been contemplating on how to call them because right now I just call, “Here chick chick chick!” And obviously they aren’t chicks, but I’m sure they’ll come just the same.

I do have a bright green neon plate that I put their boiled egg on and believe it or not they go nuts just when they see that plate. It doesn’t take them long at all to learn - especially where food’s concerned.

But thank you for letting me know I can give them meal worms. I will see if I can’t pick some up today or tomorrow. I will be glad when this pandemic thing is over and I can get out and about again...just for such as this.

I would love to hear your experience with SG. My Duckies poop on it! They also refuse to eat cracked corn!
I ended up using the 50lbs bag of SG as winter bird feed and still have to decide what to do with the CC. I might try to ferment it when it is a little warmer here.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Who isn’t

Tell me about!

 

[Mimi13]

I would love to hear your experience with SG. My Duckies poop on it! They also refuse to eat cracked corn!
I ended up using the 50lbs bag of SG as winter bird feed and still have to decide what to do with the CC. I might try to ferment it when it is a little warmer here.

Well, I sure will, but give me a little time for a decent test period. So far, today’s trial run was not promising with the SG/kitty kibble. But it was their first ever exposure, soooooo.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Well, I sure will, but give me a little time for a decent test period. So far, today’s trial run was not promising with the SG/kitty kibble. But it was their first ever exposure, soooooo.

Try frozen peas. (Thawed)
A little bit more of a pain to keep them in the refrigerator.. but cheaper than mealworms and healthy for them too!

 

[Knighstar679]

In usually introduced things to the ducklings in the water. They usually seem more open to it. When I first tried peas in my hands they all ran like it was going to grow giant teeth and eat them, but then I mushed them a bit and tossed it into the bath and bam feeding frenzy.

 

[Mimi13]

This picture was taken last Thursday on the way back in from the mud hole. These silly duckies were getting waaaaay too heavy for me to continue carrying, so not only did they score a larger pet carrier, they were bumped up to a 4 wheel ride!

I took this shot from a video because I just love Latte’s color block belly!