# of feedings? Flank question

[nao57]

So I wondered if the number of feedings correlates with the number of eggs?

If I increased the number of feedings, on ducks, then would that mean I'd get an increased number of eggs? (When they are that age? And does that correlate also with growth?)

What do you think?

I'm not at this point yet. Still in the duckling phase.

Also, one of the ducklings has odd fuzzy uneven down on the left rear side flank in front of the tail. I can't tell if its just the down going away to make way for new feathers or if one of the other ducklings is aggressive? Anyone else have experience with this? Is it normal for the down on the back flanks to look a little bit rough and thin? (I want to say scratched up, because the others don't look that way, but maybe its just me. And I might end up leading by using specific words. Its also odd that some of them look like their wings are different lengths at this age.)

This probably means I'll have to figure out which are drakes and which aren't. I'm currently at a few days short of 6 weeks old.

Can ducks play dead?

This morning when I went to feed the ducks, they hadn't figured out the doghouse was meant to be their shelter outside with wood shavings. So I put their food in it (not the water though). Then I retreated while they were eating. But they panicked, thinking that if I left their food would go too and left the dog house instead of staying in it, where it would be warm. LOL. Instead they tried to follow me out of the dog pen. (converted for ducks. There are no dogs.)

They sure are weird. I thought I was tricking them into staying in it, but they didn't get it yet.

Here's an interesting thought for you...

People pay for dog food anywhere from 20 dollars to 60 dollars a month for one not so big, low eating dog. But ducks eat about 6 ounces of food a day minus whatever they can forage. If you had 5 ducks then that's 30 ounces or a bit less than 2 pounds a day, with 30 days in a month...

The local feed mill in my area has a deal of 100 pounds for 22 dollars...

Its very ironic that its cheaper, more efficient, and economical with positives possible (if meat or eggs are sold) with close to 8 or 10 ducks compared to one dog.

But people would rather do dogs than have something that can feed them instead? Does that mean ducks are smarter than people?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Egg and meat production is generally genetic. Over feeding will lead to less egg production. Provide a good ration free choice and they will consume what they need daily.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@nao57. Have we seen your ducks?

 

[nao57]

@nao57. Have we seen your ducks?

I'll try to fix that soon. Sorry. Camera issues.

 

[wilwingswaterfowl]

My ducks have a bowl of food always filled they eat what they want and still lay daily.

 

[Beaglegal]

Yes mine have free choice food as well. When they are getting a lot of forage, there is usually a lot of food left over in their dish. They prefer forage to their food so they won’t over eat. A couple of weeks this spring there was a massive spider hatching in our back pasture and the ducks feasted on those. They hardly ate any of the food we give them, but they did eat a lot of oyster shell since they weren’t getting as much calcium.

 

[wilwingswaterfowl]

Yes mine have free choice food as well. When they are getting a lot of forage, there is usually a lot of food left over in their dish. They prefer forage to their food so they won’t over eat. A couple of weeks this spring there was a massive spider hatching in our back pasture and the ducks feasted on those. They hardly ate any of the food we give them, but they did eat a lot of oyster shell since they weren’t getting as much calcium.

Our Khaki Campbells definitely use less food when they forage they won't touch oyster shell. last year they started rooting my grass pretty bad I want to plant more but don't want any chemicals in the seed.