Do my ducks need access to feed in the yard?

[Julia1848]

Hi! I have eight happy, healthy ducklings who just turned one month old and have graduated to spending their days outside. Inside, they had 24/7 access to chick feed supplemented with brewers yeast. Now they are outside on a lawn filled with grass, dandelions, clovers, etc. and I’m just wondering if I should still be feeding them feed a couple times a day or all day. They’re actively foraging and I am also giving them fly grub treats so they stay used to me and are friendly, sociable ducks with people. Thanks in advance!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Short answer is yes provide feed.

Long answer is WHY to provide feed.
Most forage we keepers are able to provide is inadequate and cannot come anywhere close to meeting nutritional needs.

 

[HappyDuckie]

While they are young, and probably still learning to forage, you should provide feed a few times a day, or all day, up to you. Mine are adults and forage all day, and at night and in the mornings they eat before I let them out of the coop. They also get fruit and veggies throughout the day.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

My ducks free range during the day and I still provide 24/7 access to feed.

Reason 1: If they are having a rough day finding adequate food they will get stressed. One may think "But there is a lawn full of plants isn't that food?" In short yes, ducks will eat plants, but it is much harder for them to pull them out of the ground themselves than you picking plants and giving it to them if that makes sense? Things like clover are easier for them to grab on their own, but plants like dandelions, thick grass etc. require more effort to pull.

Reason 2: While free ranging can provide a lovely abundance of forage, it is rare for land to provide complete nutrition (I actually take soil and forage samples to send to labs and have gone into lengthy conversations with livestock nutritionist on how the quality of modern soil and forage are lacking). Growing ducks especially need 24/7 access to a nutritionally correct feed for proper growth.

 

[Julia1848]

My ducks free range during the day and I still provide 24/7 access to feed.

Reason 1: If they are having a rough day finding adequate food they will get stressed. One may think "But there is a lawn full of plants isn't that food?" In short yes, ducks will eat plants, but it is much harder for them to pull them out of the ground themselves than you picking plants and giving it to them if that makes sense? Things like clover are easier for them to grab on their own, but plants like dandelions, thick grass etc. require more effort to pull.

Reason 2: While free ranging can provide a lovely abundance of forage, it is rare for land to provide complete nutrition (I actually take soil and forage samples to send to labs and have gone into lengthy conversations livestock nutritionist on how the quality of modern soil and forage are lacking). Growing ducks especially need 24/7 access to a nutritionally correct feed for proper growth.

Yes! They love their clovers! Great information, thank you!

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

yes they need food out all day. mine are almost two and still get it out 24/7

 

[KaleIAm]

I agree with the above posters and would definitely provide commercial duck food in addition to forage - especially since they are so young. Mine are older, absolutely know how to forage, and we have TONS of slugs, other bugs and green plants for them year around. You would think that would provide them with enough food. But after foraging they behave as if they are famished. We joke that eating is so much work that they need to eat.

 

[TomCahalan]

Ducks, unlike geese, can not get significant nutrition from grass. Grass is mostly indigestible cellulose.