Protein for naughty ducks??

Date sort Score sort
I had the better luck with the cubes if i added water and let them hydrate over night. Then I'd add the mush to a dabbling bowl. They'd eat it but it wasn't their favorite.
 
Last edited:
Miss Lydia said:
I just think it's boredom and once one lets them do this they will find others who are willing. I have seen it here. Sounds like they are getting good protein so best thing is to separate I could not have my ducks and chickens in the same pen or house but usually if they are in the half acre fenced they are okay as long as the chickens stay away from the ducks and geese. When my chickens begin to be responsive to the rooster by squatting for them that is when they get in trouble because they will squat for a duck or geese or me.
Click to expand...
I agree with Miss Lydia. I haven't had ducks too long, but I can't keep them pinned up with the chickens. They hate each other so much. I can get away with free ranging them together sometimes but if I pinned them up together I'd have dead birds.
Plus the difference in anatomy poses a huge risk to hens if a drake attempts to mate them.
 
I plan on separating them in the spring- we are figuring out how/where to fit another pen for them. I am lucky right now in that the drake is only interested in his mate...and they only seem to get frisky when there is a fresh basin of water out. I have not seen him go for the hens "in that way" yet...but I know the trouble that can arise. Right now it is the ruffling and eating of the feathers that is bothersome- and it is not just the drake that does it- his mate does too!!! I have been keeping them all separated if they can't free range (like during yesterdays winter storm). Since the chickens like to hang out with the ducks, I think they all get bored and too lazy to move and that's when the ducks eat the feathers. The hens are not too happy about being closed up in their coop, but there is plenty of room for them and things to do. The ducks stay in the enclosed area under the coop that is stuffed with straw, and can go into the run for food and water.

Looking forward to the spring when I can build a new pen. So frustrating....I think back to when I was a teenager, and we had 10 chickens (all bantams) and 6 ducks (2 were drakes if I recall) all living in my backyard happily together...so I guess I was thinking everything would be zen like it was then.

I did soak the alfalfa cubes but still no interest. Now stuck with the giant bag. Heading out to do errands today so leafy greens are on the list.
 
KrisCVT said:
I plan on separating them in the spring- we are figuring out how/where to fit another pen for them. I am lucky right now in that the drake is only interested in his mate...and they only seem to get frisky when there is a fresh basin of water out. I have not seen him go for the hens "in that way" yet...but I know the trouble that can arise. Right now it is the ruffling and eating of the feathers that is bothersome- and it is not just the drake that does it- his mate does too!!! I have been keeping them all separated if they can't free range (like during yesterdays winter storm). Since the chickens like to hang out with the ducks, I think they all get bored and too lazy to move and that's when the ducks eat the feathers. The hens are not too happy about being closed up in their coop, but there is plenty of room for them and things to do. The ducks stay in the enclosed area under the coop that is stuffed with straw, and can go into the run for food and water.

Looking forward to the spring when I can build a new pen. So frustrating....I think back to when I was a teenager, and we had 10 chickens (all bantams) and 6 ducks (2 were drakes if I recall) all living in my backyard happily together...so I guess I was thinking everything would be zen like it was then.

I did soak the alfalfa cubes but still no interest. Now stuck with the giant bag. Heading out to do errands today so leafy greens are on the list.
Click to expand...
Know any one with goats? they might be interested in the cubes.
 
I'm sorry the cubes didn't work. I gave my cubes to a local chicken keeper that also raises his own beef. i'm not sure if he fed them to the chickens or the calves.

you can also use them as soil amendments. And I've read on other forums that people mix them in with hay/straw bedding. As they get wet they break down to mush.
 
We feed ours less today. Because they didn't eat it all. But they still will not eat the pellets. We tried oatmeal barley grits you buy at grocery store they didn't care for it . Or the meal worms. We keep trying.
 
tracyjg said:
We feed ours less today. Because they didn't eat it all. But they still will not eat the pellets. We tried oatmeal barley grits you buy at grocery store they didn't care for it . Or the meal worms. We keep trying.
Click to expand...
Try crumble mine don't care for pellets either and you could also try Fermented feed with the pellets If interested let me know I'll get you the info.
 
Please I'd like the information on the fermented feed. We our going back up to the original owner these weekend. And getting another female. I want to help aid her. She already knows them. We didn't want to spook them with one on a different breeder it might be to much for them/her at moment .
 
Last edited:
To night I smashed the feed with a hammer it took me a while in the dark because the child need my help.doing the day and I by myself.by light of outside light not much neighbor helped by turning her out door light on to help me. Thank god for good neighbors .
 

Similar threads

C
Help! Drakes picking on duck hen
Replies
1
Views
355
Callduckies
C
P
Putting young ducks with older obes
Replies
3
Views
329
CoriM
C
C
Drake pulling and eating feathers of one hen
Replies
3
Views
381
Chickies321
C
OzarkEgghead
    • Like
Intro-duck-tion age
Replies
2
Views
430
ruthhope
ruthhope
G
    • Like
Duck Introduction
2
Replies
12
Views
814
Gone
G

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom