What ifs and free ranging ducks?

[Hidrainja4]

I have fat ducks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don’t think your suppose to feed peelings to them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have fat ducks.

What do they eat?

 

[Ratchnick]

I don’t think your suppose to feed peelings to them.

Peels are ok.

 

[Ratchnick]

There's flock leaders too? Is that all ducks that have a flock leader or just those Anconas? Is the flock leader the same all the time, or different from one day to the next?

Wow this is interesting.

On potatoes, could you feed them that all the time, or only for like half or less? Curious about that. (Waste of potato in a way but fun to figure out.)

You can feed potatoes all the time but it can only make up half or less of their diet.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think it was green skins that are a no no https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements.242460/

 

[donkeydew2farms]

I think it was green skins that are a no no https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements.242460/

What about geese can you feed them potatoes I am starting to have problems getting food tsc is the only store. they are eating less food the grass is coming up slow but getting there. they get peas or corn once a day now. ha they still eat better then me.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’m not sure I’ve never cooked potatoes for my birds. And in that link they talk about potatoes are a dense starch and can cause some issues but it’s in the article.

 

[Ratchnick]

Page 234 and 235 of "storeys guide to raising ducks" has the full scoop. Personally If its in that book i take it as more likely true then anything on byc because the author had 60 years experience with ducks at the time the book was written, and is recognized nationally and internationally. Green potatoes are not safe for human or duck consumption. Basically he is saying you can replace the corn in their diet with potatoes, that its actually better then corn.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I not trying to start an argument just think balance is what’s important I wouldn’t want to live on just potatoes and don’t think it’s a good idea to feed a lot of them to our poultry. I would never even try to say I know more or as much as Dave.