New here

[mommyduck2014]

I am new here, I just purchased ducklings for the first time and already have 20 chickens. I am looking for ideas and advice for all my kids (birds). I raise them for eggs, and spoil them constantly.

 

[chooks4life]

Hello and

I guess the first bit of advice applicable may be to differentiate between giving them a lifestyle and diet more fulfilling than absolutely economically necessary, and actual 'spoiling' which is often harmful.

On animal care forums, people are sometimes confused about what the term 'spoiling' means and you might get some well intentioned but non-applicable advice to not spoil them as it's harmful, when what's really going on isn't necessarily harmful.

For example it's the difference between giving my pet sheep carrots, dates, lucerne, and other such nutritious treats, and giving her white bread, lollies or dog biscuits just because she would like to eat them, which would harm her. I won't 'spoil' her or the other animals that way, and while some people would view me giving her the carrots etc as 'spoiling' her, I view it as just a diet that's more generous than what is strictly necessary as dictated by economy or profit lines. In this context I would consider 'spoiling' to be something that is harming them in the long run, not something that's beneficial but not strictly necessary for sustaining life.

'Spoiling' is a term I think is often used incorrectly and sometimes applied to someone who's doing better by their animals than what's strictly necessary, rather than someone who feeds their dog cupcakes every day for example. Survival rations are what's strictly necessary but who wants to live on those? The 'earning your feed' angle in their feed budget doesn't really apply to hobby farmers and those with pets, whose animals do not have to constantly contribute to the finances of the farm with the least money intake possible.

Blah. Long story, trying to explain why 'spoiling' may not be what you're actually doing and may be perceived negatively due to some public perceptions of the meaning of the term.

Anyway, welcome to the forum and best wishes with your animals.

 

[mommyduck2014]

I completely understand. What I meant by spoiling is my daughter enjoys reading books to them and they get toys (such as cat toys, the brightly colored balls with bells). Normally when someone drives past they slow down quickly when seeing us outside with all the chickens or playing in the mud puddles with the ducklings. Food wise they get the normal chicken/duck feed and then there's the veggies peelings from the house that we don't use. We make them compose piles as well and let them dig through and find all the scraps too.

 

[chooks4life]

The right sort of spoiling, then.

Best wishes with them.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Yes, I am a huge spoiler of my birds. I am not even sure my flock believes they ARE chickens!!! LOL Have you stopped by our learning center yet here on BYC? Lots of great articles on raising your flock and keeping them happy and healthy...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

If you need any tips on raising your ducks or want to share stories or pics of your duck flock, stop by our Ducks Forums to chat with other duck owners....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks

Enjoy your flock and keep up with the spoiling! I hope they continue to give you great joy. Welcome to our flock!

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X2 on check out the Learning Center and Ducks forum TwoCrows linked for you, the Learning Center has a nice chicken treat chart you might like to check out for other things yours might like https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens
This is a really nice thread on raising ducklings https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings

 

[gander007]

I completely understand. What I meant by spoiling is my daughter enjoys reading books to them and they get toys (such as cat toys, the brightly colored balls with bells). Normally when someone drives past they slow down quickly when seeing us outside with all the chickens or playing in the mud puddles with the ducklings. Food wise they get the normal chicken/duck feed and then there's the veggies peelings from the house that we don't use. We make them compose piles as well and let them dig through and find all the scraps too.

Oh ya that is so true I get people all the time slowing down to look at my birds .......

Feeding time at the zoo

Again more feeding

We even get visitors

 

[SummerSaige]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you could join us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to the flock. I would love to see a video of your daughter reading to the birds. Showing what great pets they make would be good PR towards winning rights to have backyard chickens.