The Quack Shack

[Luv Ducks]

OMG! - Can Horseflies kill ducklings?

Went to the garden to harvest some tomatoes, inside of the fence i let ducky loose so it could nibble on whatever it watns to nibble on and started to pluck. Suddenly i heart that typical aggressive hum of a horsefly, but i was prepared with a flyswatter. Horse and deerflies are very common here this time of the year and the duck love to eat them after i turned them into chips.
Anyways i was swatting after that horsefly a couple of times, some close calls then it disappeared and i turned back to the toma… - Ducky screamed like i have never heart a duckling scream! I literally jumped in its direction, saw it running towards me and there was a dark speck on its back. That horsefly sat on the back of ducky digging through the fluff to bite!
I flicked that insect off and tried to stomp it but missed. - Instead it bit a piece of of my thigh and flew away:

Spoiler: Picture of a bloody horse-fly bite

View attachment 3631235

What on earth was that? I have seen and killed deer- and horse-flies during the last five years here, but that was about twice the size of the largest insect i have encountered, about a full inch (2.5cm) in length and sounded almost like an aggressive hummingbird - if they ever sound aggressive...
Ducky is back to »muste be held in my hand at all cost«.

So sorry to hear this Frank. Thank heavens you were out with Ducky. I have seen some big horseflies before but never knew they could do that much damage. I hope that you are both alright.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Anybody any idea what i can try to feed "ducky"?
Five days old and still just 50grams...
Here is what i have tried

• Duck starter crumbles from mamma pro
• Meatbird crumbles
• ground layer pellets
• ground catfood
• ground scratch grain (multi grain)
• ground sunflower kernels
• banana
• tomatoe
• strawberry
• bread
• salad
• peppers hot and sweet
• apple
• peach
• crumbled egg yolk
• scrambled eggs
• wheat tortilla
• cracked corn
• whole corn
• whole sunflour seeds
• my fingers
• my toes
• ham
• spaghetti worms with and without sauce
• a dozen other crazy things

Everything is being refused by ducky! The only things this spoiled brat eats are flies, crushed meal-worms soaked in water and bits of croissant.
It eats some of the mealworm-soup, feels full due to lots of protein after a few bites, then wants to nap in my hand, poops and is hungry again within 15 minutes.
b4 you ask, the mealworm soup contains a healthy dose of niacin and a ground up multi vitamin tablet - everything from vitamin a to z.
Can a duckling grow up eating only flies and mealworms?
Is it time to prepare for force feeding?

I would not force feed if he were mine. My two week old Runner Ducklings are just now getting a better appetite. They have only been eating small amounts of Duck Starter crumbles, two different types even. Nothing else but that and water. I could feel them getting heavier though and they are bigger than they were when I got them so I know they are doing fine. It has taken that long though for them to show much interest in their food for some reason. My last two were the same. I don't weigh mine but can tell how much bigger they are by handling them daily. They run around like crazy and peep and no longer need any heat and haven't since they were a week old. Good luck with yours Frank. I wouldn't worry as long as it seems healthy.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Okay, i am scared now: Ducky helped me to distribute fresh straw into the ducknager's bed and ate a generations of flies of all sizes. It must have been several grams, then ducky emptied out the ½ gallon waterer and now is sleeping on my belly again. There is a noticeable hump where there was none before. If all that comes out on the other end...

 

[Luv Ducks]

Okay, i am scared now: Ducky helped me to distribute fresh straw into the ducknager's bed and ate a generations of flies of all sizes. It must have been several grams, then ducky emptied out the ½ gallon waterer and now is sleeping on my belly again. There is a noticeable hump where there was none before. If all that comes out on the other end...

Good Luck because whatever goes in comes out, lol.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I would not force feed if he were mine. My two week old Runner Ducklings are just now getting a better appetite. They have only been eating small amounts of Duck Starter crumbles, two different types even. Nothing else but that and water. I could feel them getting heavier though and they are bigger than they were when I got them so I know they are doing fine. It has taken that long though for them to show much interest in their food for some reason. My last two were the same. I don't weigh mine but can tell how much bigger they are by handling them daily. They run around like crazy and peep and no longer need any heat and haven't since they were a week old. Good luck with yours Frank. I wouldn't worry as long as it seems healthy.

You are actually correct! On Monday this little bundle of fun was at 30 grams, today its 50 grams, almost doubled its weight in six days. Next weekend it will be over 100 grams and by the end of October ducky will clock in at 12kilogram...

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

GOTCHA‼

Google lens says its a cow-fly, Blanca Duck said its crunchy an delicious...

 

[Canadian Wind]

GOTCHA‼

Google lens says its a cow-fly, Blanca Duck said its crunchy an delicious...

You can keep it!!!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

You can keep it!!!

Just boxed a couple dozen and sent them north to Canada... they were feeling so warm here...

 

[Canadian Wind]

Just boxed a couple dozen and sent them north to Canada... they were feeling so warm here...

Good thing we're having a cold snap right now!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Wohoooo! Ducky clocked in at 55 grams! And it loves to eat cooked rice‼