My Pekin ducks don't eat flies !!!???

[pixielauren]

My six Pekins are now about 2-ish months old. They're big and they definitely don't look like ducklings any more!

I think it's really weird that there are tons of flies in their coop, but they don't eat the flies. Can't Pekins catch flies? What is wrong with these weirdos, LOL? Don't they want to eat bugs? Come to think of it, I don't think I've EVER seen any of them eat a single bug (besides the dried mealworm treats I give them).

My only other duck experience before I got these Pekin ducklings is with muscovies -- and they are SO good at catching flies. Like, we had NO flies. The female muscovies also would catch and eat frogs down by the pond! So, in comparison, these Pekins are ... not quite so clever. Or less interested? Or ???

Will they eventually eat the flies? Tell me they will eventually eat the flies.

 

[Callender Girl]

Wish I could tell you what you want to hear! My runners LOVE to eat nightcrawlers and other wiggly things, but totally ignore the protein they could ingest from the gazillion flies that I've had to BUY traps for.

 

[Chicalina]

Maybe since they were raised together, nobody taught them how to eat the flies, or that they were delicious nuggets of tasty protein? lol

 

[pixielauren]

totally ignore the protein they could ingest from the gazillion flies that I've had to BUY traps for.

I have to laugh at that. Like ... ??? What is wrong with them ???

Oh and I see your coop photo -- I have the same one, only the next size down. I didn't find it quite as "easy" to assemble as they said it would be. There was a lot of frustrated pounding of panels with a hammer to get them to fit in, LOL But I do really like it!

 

[pixielauren]

Maybe since they were raised together, nobody taught them how to eat the flies, or that they were delicious nuggets of tasty protein? lol

I guess? I really never thought this would be an issue. I thought that all ducks would go after flies. Like I said -- my muscovies were SO good at it. I used to find dragonfly wings on the ground because they would catch them and eat everything except the wings, LOL

 

[Beaglegal]

Mine will eat whole frogs but turn their bills up at slugs...
go figure. I think they still must eat the eggs though because I still don’t see as many as I would expect

 

[Chicalina]

I guess? I really never thought this would be an issue. I thought that all ducks would go after flies. Like I said -- my muscovies were SO good at it. I used to find dragonfly wings on the ground because they would catch them and eat everything except the wings, LOL

I really don't know. My ducks over the years have always been raised by chickens, and were all great flycatchers.

 

[Floof]

It might have something to do with pekins being so heavy that they're basically stuck to the ground. Muscovies can fly and perch so maybe they have an easier time catching flies

 

[Maddog_photog]

My six Pekins are now about 2-ish months old. They're big and they definitely don't look like ducklings any more!

I think it's really weird that there are tons of flies in their coop, but they don't eat the flies. Can't Pekins catch flies? What is wrong with these weirdos, LOL? Don't they want to eat bugs? Come to think of it, I don't think I've EVER seen any of them eat a single bug (besides the dried mealworm treats I give them).

My only other duck experience before I got these Pekin ducklings is with muscovies -- and they are SO good at catching flies. Like, we had NO flies. The female muscovies also would catch and eat frogs down by the pond! So, in comparison, these Pekins are ... not quite so clever. Or less interested? Or ???

Will they eventually eat the flies? Tell me they will eventually eat the flies.

View attachment 2374964

I kill the flies, and feed my dux the carcass of said flies.

 

[416bigbore]

Once our other bigger Pekin/Rouen mixed Ducks seen our two little Hen Mallards hunt down all the big juicy flies sitting on the piles of poo, they all started to catch on. Flies weren't the only thing they were getting a mouth full of!