[Pony-n-trap]

Its cold,  miserable, ducks have ripped up just about everything, until we get the fence up round the veg garden and they can freerange that for the winter months on a good slug hunt, just what do you feed them?  They help themselves to corn and layers pellets and of course their own duckie pellets, we throw any slugs over we find, if in veg garden we only have to look round and they are all stood at the fence waiting in anticipation, but I feel a bit mean! 

They have their pond, cleaned out every 4 days, of the five ducks (1 drake) 3 are laying every day but well, is there anything else I can give them, they arent losing weight but, just thought I would ask......they have the odd bit of lettuce and cabbage, they dont seem to like bread so the dogs have that, any suggestions?

This is my first winter with my precious duckies, they are very special to me as I had to 'deliver' them by hand (they got stuck for over 24 hrs in the egg, membrane had gone rock hard so I helped them out) they all lived so I am very fond of them!

[doganjo]

Well done for such a successful 'whelping'.  I understand your feelings towards them - I feel the same about my babies.  My ducks get their pellets, plus a neighbour brings left over veg and bread, as well as getting out to roan round the front paddock every day.  And every now and then in the winter they get the same porridge mixture that my hens get - porridge oats, boiling water poured over, honey and citricidal added, cold milk to mix it all together.  They love it.

[northfifeduckling]

You are doing well, ponyntrap! I also feel like that about them, when it is below freezing they will hardly move, just eat and lay down to keep warm. I feel much less sorry for the hens, they seem to be able to cope better by going into thei coop and snuggle up. I give all mine the same, wheat , pellets and veg scraps, oats as an extra when it is very cold.  And they will ruin the garden over the winter in search for worms, so I will have to get some instant fencing to reseed the lawn. Once they stop laying for the winter they will eat much less, maybe just because the days are so short....

[Hermit]

Mine are free range but they have a layers mash morning and night with flaked maize mixed in for heat. A mash seems to satisfy them more to me but ducks are greedy and will beg for food24/7. I have a late hatch though that are struggling and am putting them in with the less greedy runners tomorrow which are in a run so they get an extra feed.

[Pony-n-trap]

Thanks for the advice!   Feel better that I am doing right by them but am definitely going to try the porridge, must actually buy porridge first but will try that.

They are going into their new des res tomorrow, a new duck house, homemade by OH, fox proof and secure, with a bit  more room than the recycled Wendy House they currently reside in!  So new house and porridge, they will think they are at the Ritz!

[northfifeduckling]

funny you say ducks are greedy, Hermit. I always found the hens greedy, if I let them out of the run before the ducks get out the latter would be without food! The only thing they are begging for is when they see me coming from the veg patch and think I've got slugs!

[Hermit]

  Mine will run at a fair waddle to come off the moor if they hear the gate go.I feed them in a sheep trough in the morning when let out and it is like a Hitchcock movie. I try to put the food in a row and always keep putting more scoops down as I watch for the ones not getting their share.It is only the Aylesburies and Swedish blues and blacks, the runners have a lot better table manners.Nightime they get two large cat litter trays full of mash and demolish them in a couple of minutes. They are weighty and in excellent condition as well, apart from the youngsters that are getting taken away for extra care tomorrow.They are funny, luv em to bits.

[northfifeduckling]

same here  , only shame is that they are so shy and can't be tricked into being picked up like the chooks 

[doganjo]

Yes, funny that, my ducks scoot off in all directions if I try to pick them up, but when anyone comes with food they are there at the fence waiting, and not very patiently either.

[Pony-n-trap]

Thats a thought!  Do you put feed in with them overnight?  I used to when they were young but they started leaving it, just paddling it into the floor. 

They are happy duckies though, they love their pond, on cleanout day they all stand around waiting for it to be refilled, some jump in a bit early they struggle to get back out but once I have taken the hosepipe out its Jeronimo! and off they go!  I love to listen to them when I muck out their house too, they get so excited, sometimes go in when I have taken the muck and old bedding out and I can almost hear them shouting to each other that its new bed day.  Once I've finished it and put down new shavings with nice dry straw on top, in they go, one by one and have a very loud party.  THey make me smile they really do.

I love my chucks and they get the best treatment I can give em but they dont seem quite so appreciative, maybe the odd squawk when they discover their coop is nice and clean and as for the nest boxes, am sure I can hear the equivalent of a 'Humph' that I might have dared to put fresh straw in and they have to remake their nest!!  Wouldnt be without em though, especially now they are (still) laying.  We have 2 older cockerels, Steptoe and Harold, Harold is only still here as we thought Steptoe (he had bent toes when he hatched) might not make it (All hail the power of Poultry Spice), Harold may have to go at some point, so if anyone wants a nice black (looks like a Bantam RIR) let me know.  Only one hen has a name, of the last hatched this year, she too had bent toes, both birds feet have straightened since starting to scratch about.  But she is still only half the size of her hatchmates even though strong and healthy, she is called Matilda!

[northfifeduckling]

no, ponyntrap, I never put food in with any of the birds overnight. They make enough mess as it is! The only exception was a broody duck as she did not want to come out at all for the first 2 weeks!

[Hermit]

The two cat trays of mash go in the hut at night when they are locked up. I cant lock up an animal without food or water, feel guilty, I like to feel they are having a supper and then go to bed. For water in the larger ducks hut I have an old sheep lick bucket with holes cut in the side so the ducks can get their heads in to drink and not mess in it. The lid is snapped down of course so they cant get in the bucket. The runners gently sip out of an old iron couldren. All the water is gone in the morning so I presume they need it
Mine are the same with new bedding, they have to inspect what I have done.

[Sylvia]

I too love my ducks, I love the way they look up and sideways at you with very intelligent eyes. Also the way they put their heads down and scuttle towards you when you bring their food.
Hermit, please remember that they not only need water to drink but clean "open" water that they can dip their heads in. This prevents eye troubles and is very vital.

[Hermit]

Sylvia, the bucket is for the hut ,my ducks free range on a 35 acre moor with 1/2 mile of burn during the  day.

[Sylvia]

Oh. what lucky ducks!! (and lucky you)  I won't tell mine, they'll be jealous. Sorry, I may have sounded a bit bossy, but a lot of folks keep ducks and don't know they need to dip their heads