laurielexus Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 I have a nice little secluded drain to feed its about 10 foot wide and constantly 1 foot deep. I have put a few bags of wheat in there should I leave a few decoys to encourage the duck or let them find there own way? Thoughts please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 Don't bother with decoys. Just feed round the edges of the water Ps barley is better if poss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 feeding ducks is not a topic worthy of the wildfowling section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 feeding ducks is not a topic worthy of the wildfowling section So ducks arn't wildfowl then ? each to there own . If there's any Teal about they love rape seed and yes Barley is better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 feeding ducks is not a topic worthy of the wildfowling section Have to disagree with that one. It may not be 'wildfowling' but they are definitely wildfowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cumbrian top shot Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 Don't be putting to much feed on it to start with your better off little and often, forget about decoys on it once the ducks find it the word will spread so to speak and you'll soon be having a few flighting in, I agree with the guys above if possible feed barley not wheat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 As all ready said no need for decoys and feed little and often. They'll find it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 (edited) When I used to shoot a drain I also used old rotting potatoes Edited October 5, 2012 by ayano3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 yep spuds n barley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norrie Posted October 5, 2012 Report Share Posted October 5, 2012 When I used to shoot a drain I also used old rotting potatoes LOL, Took the words out of my mouth...Freeze some uncooked potatoes, then chuck them in the margins, duck love them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurielexus Posted October 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 Thanks to the helpful guys posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 Why use barley in preference to wheat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowlingmad Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 Why use barley in preference to wheat? The ducks prefer it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joknob Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 The ducks prefer it. bread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowlingmad Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 haha cant argue with that! would get a bit expensive though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeper sam Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 Using barley has nothing to do with ducks prefering it. It is because its lighter than wheat meaning it floats unlike wheat which will sink. But at the end of the day floating or not if there is food there they will come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markyboy Posted October 6, 2012 Report Share Posted October 6, 2012 I'm feeding my ponds a mixture of mainly barley! Rotten spuds from local farm just put a bag in chest freezer and let thaw out! Have access to apple trees and currently using them aswel and freezing them to soften up. I have a local bakery that supplies most the town with a mixture of bread types and feeding with bread mostly brown bread if possible, cakes , scones ! Doing ok but duck numbers def down this season and to much water lying need a cold spell to freeze up splashes but not to cold and not for too long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted October 7, 2012 Report Share Posted October 7, 2012 Using barley has nothing to do with ducks prefering it. It is because its lighter than wheat meaning it floats unlike wheat which will sink. But at the end of the day floating or not if there is food there they will come in. Yeah, i remember reading somewhere that ducks actually prefer wheat. This was written by someone who worked with wildfowl. I use wheat for a couple of flight ponds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammydodger Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 If you can get crushed barley it doz not re jermanate,it floats,& the ducks love it,also rotten spuds,keep your spud peelings over the week & put out at the week end,feed little & often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Motty , I expect it was a past post of mine that said that duck prefer wheat to barley. Barley can work when feeding ducks into a pond and has the advantage of some of it floating , but given the chance duck will always go for wheat first. If anyone doubts this next time you rear a few mallard overfeed feed barley and wheat mixed in the same dish. The next day you will find all the wheat gone , but plenty of barley left. I suspect this myth started because mallard seem to prefer barley stubbles to wheat stubbles. However this is mainly because of seed availabity. After harvest there can be a lot of spilled barley as it gets knocked off the stalk during harvest. Wheat tends to stay in the ear until the harvester gathers it up and less is spilled. So the mallard tend to go to the stubble with the most spilled corn , usualy barley , but if the food is there they will also visit wheat stubbles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Motty , I expect it was a past post of mine that said that duck prefer wheat to barley. Barley can work when feeding ducks into a pond and has the advantage of some of it floating , but given the chance duck will always go for wheat first. If anyone doubts this next time you rear a few mallard overfeed feed barley and wheat mixed in the same dish. The next day you will find all the wheat gone , but plenty of barley left. I suspect this myth started because mallard seem to prefer barley stubbles to wheat stubbles. However this is mainly because of seed availabity. After harvest there can be a lot of spilled barley as it gets knocked off the stalk during harvest. Wheat tends to stay in the ear until the harvester gathers it up and less is spilled. So the mallard tend to go to the stubble with the most spilled corn , usualy barley , but if the food is there they will also visit wheat stubbles. Yeah, thought it might have been you that i read that from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Motty , I expect it was a past post of mine that said that duck prefer wheat to barley. Barley can work when feeding ducks into a pond and has the advantage of some of it floating , but given the chance duck will always go for wheat first. If anyone doubts this next time you rear a few mallard overfeed feed barley and wheat mixed in the same dish. The next day you will find all the wheat gone , but plenty of barley left. I suspect this myth started because mallard seem to prefer barley stubbles to wheat stubbles. However this is mainly because of seed availabity. After harvest there can be a lot of spilled barley as it gets knocked off the stalk during harvest. Wheat tends to stay in the ear until the harvester gathers it up and less is spilled. So the mallard tend to go to the stubble with the most spilled corn , usualy barley , but if the food is there they will also visit wheat stubbles. Total agreement with this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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