Problem: overweight anconas, 15 wks old (more PICS NOW)

[JosieR]

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mine run too, only because I have 2 crazy runners in the group and they find something exciting happening at the other side of the yard and take off running with the Cayugas waddling as fast as they can behind them LOL Otherwise those lazy Cayugas are content to rest up against the side of the house all day while eating the ants that go by...

Mine get 2.5 cups total, for all so about a half cup per bird though I suspect the runners probably eat less. I offer more because I'm afraid of them going hungry but lately they walk away and go relax before they are even half done most nights. I guess since they are out all day, we have PLENTY of bugs here and no shortage of weeds

they are getting their fill.

I read in Storey's guide that the protein can have a big impact, maybe try cutting it down to the minimum by adding some oats to the mix so they are still getting their fill but not getting fatter? I dunno...good luck!!

Now I'm off to obsess about whether my Cayugas are too fat!

 

[jmc]

What is a keel you ask.

it is NOT the breast bone, btw...........it is fold of flesh that--in THIS case--hangs down from the abdomen of the bird, between the legs. at times it can come close the ground.
some breeds are supposed to have a keel like STANDARD BRED rouens and AYLESBURYS. the keel in these birds hangs down from the breast all the way to the abdomen, nearly touching the ground, giving the whole bird's body a massive, square look. I do not find them attractive. PRODUCTION BRED rouens are sleeker than standard breds, and are more attractive imho.

i AM going to post pics of my fat bottomed girls.


also. sonew, i thought chuckie was an ancona and not a magpie. i had just the girl for him!!! you must see pic soometime, when i post.

eta; yes been giving a bit of oatmeal each day and a bunch of shredded cukes--who doesn't have too many cukes these days!!!

 

[jmc]

so here is the real fat one. if she doesn't prolapse i will be amazed.........amazed.

note the drake next to her who is normal in the abdomen.

 

[Bleenie]

Oh My Goodness!!! I would be amazed too if she didn't prolapse! I has a Muscovy hen that was pretty chunky early this year and prolapsed after laying an egg. thankfully after i cleaned her up it was very easy to 'put everything back into place' and she hasnt had a problem since. i also cut back on their feed too. They do a lot more free ranging now, and i feed them only at night.

my girl surely wasn't as big as yours though! i hope you can get some of that fat off of her before she prolapses.

 

[sonew123]

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ok yup mine is a fattie..dang it-thats not good right-it a he so I dont have to worry about prolapse thank goodness!

 

[katharinad]

I've got a fatty too, but not as bad as the one in the picture. All other ducks are normal, so I guess she just loves to eat. I will cut back on all of them, because I've noticed how they demand their food bowl and only forage when they are out. Lean times are just around the corner and they don't even know it yet.

 

[TK Poultry]

I might have ALOT of them. I thought that the hens were suppose to have a little thing under there for eggs and thing my geese use to have that but the breeder said that was a sign of egg laying

 

[jmc]

here is another shot of the same bird. at some point ill put a pic of the other chunko, too:

notice the nice abdomen of the girl to the left in the photo, toward whom the fatso is leaning--sort of.

also, this bird--the fatso--is just as active and peppy as all the rest are. yet.............

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
yah my fattie is very active too...thats why I didnt think he was fat I thought thats how he was supposed to look -that nd I never owned a duck before I have food out 24/7 for him/them?

 

[jmc]

I am surprised you got the prolapse to stay in. that is rare to have success.................even though some users do.

SAXONIES tend to get heavy, btw. something in the breed; although some strains may not have such a problem, of course. yes, you should expect that or at least watch out for it with your babies, kath.

re. the egg pouch. that is not what the 'egg abdomen' looks like. what you are seeing is fat in excess.

also, i have cut way down on their feed and no change. i can t just stop feeding em though. though i think i'd like to. lol