The daily amount for a Pekin
A grown Pekin is a big, fast-growing white duck, and its appetite matches its frame. Most adults eat around half a pound of feed a day, close to two cups of pellets, with laying ducks, drakes in breeding condition and birds kept outdoors in cold weather eating a little more. Pekins kept mainly for eggs may take slightly less on warm days when they forage well, while birds with no pasture access rely entirely on what you put in the pan and should never be shorted. Treat half a pound as the working baseline, then judge the individual bird in front of you.
Why the feed itself has to suit a duck
Pekins need a ration made for waterfowl or an all-flock feed rather than a diet built only around laying hens. Ducks grow quickly and need stronger support for legs and joints than chicks do, and a duck-specific feed is balanced with that growth in mind. Pellets are easier for a broad Pekin bill to scoop than fine mash, which tends to paste around the nostrils and get wasted in bedding. Scatter a small portion on clean ground or shallow water for enrichment if you like, but measure the main ration into a sturdy, low pan the bird cannot tip.
Water is part of the ration, not an extra
A Pekin cannot swallow dry pellets comfortably without water, and it needs to dunk its whole head to keep its eyes and nostrils clear. Set a bucket or trough deep enough for head-dunking right beside the feed, refill it at least twice daily, and expect it to be muddy within the hour — that is normal duck behaviour, not a reason to restrict access. In freezing weather, break ice or carry out warm water several times a day, because a Pekin that cannot drink will stop eating even with a full pan in front of it.
Greens, grit and the foraging share
On grass, Pekins graze, dabble for insects and take slugs and weeds, and that forage can cover a modest slice of the day's intake without replacing the measured feed. Offer chopped greens, lettuce ends or thawed peas as extras, keeping treats small beside the main ration. Birds without grazing need insoluble grit available so the gizzard can grind whole grains and fibrous greens. Avoid mouldy feed, stale bread as a staple and salty scraps, all of which unbalance a ration that is otherwise simple to get right.
Reading the bird and knowing when to ask for help
Weigh the amount in, then watch the bird: a healthy Pekin feels solid without a sharp keel bone jutting through or heavy fat padding around the vent. Check feeders at night — a pan emptied by midday suggests underfeeding or competition from flockmates, while large leftovers day after day point to overfilling or feed gone stale. Separate a bullied duck at feeding time so it can eat in peace. Contact a veterinarian if a Pekin stops eating for a day, struggles to walk, breathes with an open bill at rest or loses weight despite a full ration, since appetite and leg changes in this fast-growing breed deserve prompt attention. Splitting pellet measuring, bucket scrubbing and the evening leftover check among helpers is simple with KinsLe Care Teams, where each duck chore is assigned to a named person and stamped done when finished.