Do ducks need grit?

[MuranoFarms]

My Pekin duckling was raised with chickens and whenever I gave them grit he would eat a couple mouth fulls. He started pulling on the feathers of his chickens so I had to take them away from him. He can still see them, and talks to them but no more feather pulling. lol

Anyway.....do I need to give him/her grit?

 

[chickenma]

I don't think they do. Do you free range him. they find it in the dirt .

 

[MuranoFarms]

Quote:
I will, but not yet. We have over a foot of snow right now and its only 12 degrees out. Hopefully in a month they'll all be able to go out and play/forage in the yard.

 

[rainplace]

If doesn't free range, then yes, he should have access to grit.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

all birds need some form of grit. Grit however is nothing more than dirt. If the birds are on the ground, they are getting all they need. If they are in wire cages off the ground, that would be the only time you would need to supply grit for them. If they are on the ground, surely you have notice them with their bills in the mud/water, smaching them together really quick, he's getting his grit there.
Feather pulling in them is a territorial thing. I've had tiny calls attack grown pheasants and turkeys doing it before. Kind of funny to watch a 1 pound duck holding on to a 20 pound turkeys tail and being drug around the pen!!

 

[rollyard]

Yes ducks do need grit. I have found that my Muscovies look for grit & consume it in far larger amounts (daily) then my chickens ever have.

 

[fletchersmom]

How do you give an indoor grit?

 

[dotknott]

Hi @fletchersmom I'm not sure what your question is as I'm not familiar with Indoor grit. Maybe you can provide some more information?

 

[fletchersmom]

Oh my gosh! Sorry, it should have read, Do indoor ducks need grit? I am taking on a disabled Pekin duck and I assume they need to have some grit in their diet, but I don't know that much about it.

 

[dotknott]

You'll want to provide grit if the duck is going to be getting treats like bananas, peas, tasty bugs etc. Since the duck won't be going outside, he/she won't get grit through foraging. You'll want to provide grit appropriate to the ducks size: full adult? regular grit. duckling? chick grit or pet bird grit (I get my ducklings grit from the local feed store, in the pet section. They carry grit for parakeets which is fine enough for the young birds.)