do ducklings need grit if eating watermelon?

[CoriM]

I just had a quick question. I'm taking care of my neighbor's 12 ducklings for the week. They eat a crumble and she has no grit for them. She left watermelon to feed them little bites as treats. Is it okay if they have a few pieces of watermelon with no grit? I want to give them the treat, but now I don't want it to be bad for them.

 

[KaleIAm]

My understanding is that if they have access to the ground it is ok, since they get grit from the ground. Otherwise they need chick grit if they eat anything besides crumble.

 

[CoriM]

That's what I thought. They don't have access to the ground yet. Is it bad form to give her ducks a bowl of chick grit while she's away, or should I not give the treats?

 

[KaleIAm]

That's what I thought. They don't have access to the ground yet. Is it bad form to give her ducks a bowl of chick grit while she's away, or should I not give the treats?

That's a good question. It might depend on your relationship with your neighbor and what type of a person she is.

Personally... I would probably offer the ducklings chick grit because then I would also be subtly educating the neighbor when she returned. But I could see someone taking offense.