snow ducks

[chickens really]

Corn in winter gives carbs to stay warm and fed in moderation will not make them fat but will help keep them warm. @Iain Utah said her vet even recommended it for her flock. Along with proper diet.

Corn doesn't keep them warm. It takes longer to digest.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well it's the carbs actually in the corn.

https://ask.extension.org/questions/310101 and I know ducks aren't chickens but they are poultry

 

[chickens really]

Well it's the carbs actually in the corn.

https://ask.extension.org/questions/310101 and I know ducks aren't chickens but they are poultry

....

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Mine go nuts for whole corn I mix 50/50 whole corn and 6 way scratch they all gobble it up.

Tried a scratch grain mix for my ducks, big mistake: They only eat the cracked corn and leave everything else for the wild birds.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Ducks actually don't need all the extras in winter. Corn is high in fat. I feed mine the same all year but feed more Romain and veggies to compensate for the lack in forage. Plus give them soggy alfalfa cubes in a bowl of warm water.
Mine bath if it's not cold out. Yesterday they all bathed and are fine today.

My Indian Runners really need some additional calories during the cold season: They run around a lot on their - now barren - pasture but there's nothing to forage anymore. If their pool isn't frozen or if i put out a bowl of hot water they bathe, splash the water all over the place and try to make little ducklings.
They get their cracked corn for supper to give them enough energy for the cold night and every time i go outside they come running at me asking for something to eat - they don't do this when there is something to forage, for example when i was digging out a drainage ditch, they all searched the ditch, the dug out loam and found something to eat.
=> During the winter months, when there is almost nothing to find outside they need a little help…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Corn doesn't keep them warm. It takes longer to digest.

That's right, but cracked corn is easier to digest and contains lot's of carbon-hydrates that are easy burned by the duck to stay warm.

 

[casportpony]

Well it's the carbs actually in the corn.

https://ask.extension.org/questions/310101 and I know ducks aren't chickens but they are poultry

Excellent article @Miss Lydia!

 

[Iain Utah]

Since Miss Lydia mentioned me, I figured I'd chime in to say I live in mountains in northern Utah and my flock free range 24/7 (with large barn they can go into if they want). I feed my geese, ducks and chickens liberal amounts of whole corn in the winter especially when there is deep snow on property. They also get Mazuri and grass hay. My flock is very healthy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[casportpony]

That's right, but cracked corn is easier to digest and contains lot's of carbon-hydrates that are easy burned by the duck to stay warm.

Have you tried rolled corn? Mine *love* it, and I think it might be easier to digest than cracked corn.

Since Miss Lydia mentioned me, I figured I'd chime in to say I live in mountains in northern Utah and my flock free range 24/7 (with large barn they can go into if they want). I feed my geese, ducks and chickens liberal amounts of whole corn in the winter especially when there is deep snow on property. They also get Mazuri and grass hay. My flock is very healthy.

Thanks for the input!