Elsbeth and Otto have arrived

[Intrepid]

Hi all,

firstly, I am new to duck keeping, but my landlord who I share the house with, has had plenty of experience. So it is a joint venture and hopefully a happy and successful one. However, I have one question: Despite the fact that we did buy pellet food neither of the ducks are interested in it. They also do not touch slugs when given them. I am wondering how I will get the ducks to eat, as I am getting a bit worried that they are starving.

I'd appreciate any advice.

Thank you
Karina

 

[Intrepid]

Didnt realise you could not upload 2 pics at once.

 

[foxy]

They are beautiful! Try them with some mixed corn..they might be more used to grains then pelleted food.

 

[Intrepid]

Oh, great idea. Thank you so much.

Karina

 

[Intrepid]

I am afraid to say that these ducks are not settling very well at all. Unfortunately, having got them from the auction, there is no background information as to what they were used to foodwise and how they have been kept. We have left them in the enclosure now for a couple of days and opened it up today for them to have a potter around the garden. They are not interested and they are still not interested in any food. I have tried to lure them with grass, but that does not work either. I cannot get anywhere near them, but they do seem to enjoy when I talk to them from a respectable distance.

I wonder if anybody has got any advise on this? It would be much appreciated.

Regards
Karina

 

[4jordynjoeynjorge]

How are your ducks fairing? Hopefully there has been an improvement. Are they drinking? If they are, try tossing cracked corn into the pond. Mine go after it. It's how I have gotten them interested in the "big pond" instead of a little sink.

If they are struggling with drinking, too. Try a white salt with water mixture. I believe it is found at the health food store. It's not the regular table salt.

 

[Marigold]

Hi Karina, sorry your previous post got overlooked. I expect they are still settling in - moving home is hugely stressful for poultry, especially if they have not been used t being handled and have gone through a long and noisy day at an auction.
Have you tried feeding wheat in a container, covered with water s they can dabble for it? This will slightly soften the wheat and may be what they are used to. Is good for them to have this natural way of feeding and it will get their heads wet as well. As she's presumably not in lay, the lower protein content of wheat compared with pellets will not be a bad thing.

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya, sorry for missing this post.

I agree with Marigold, offering them food in water often helps, but they dont tend to eat for a couple of days when they are stressed or moved.

Letting them see other ducks eating really helps, I couldnt work out if your landlord already had some or just had experience?

Zo
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