Ducks and grit

[bucolic beauty]

Is it okay for ducks to eat grit? I have chicks and ducks together in the same brooder(what was I thinking?)so the ducks always end up eating the grit and seem to love it but is it okay for them? Thanks!

 

[whitedove]

I started out with chics and ducks together also. I know some have gotten away with it, I did not. I came home from work one night and the ducks had flooded the brooder and all the chicks were sopping wet and filthy. Ended up losing two chics. The ducks are mine and I thought I was indifferent to the chics because they were the DH's. However I cried because I killed two and made the others so miserable. Needless to say they are now separated.

 

[Lamar Estate]

My ducklings also love chick grit. I read that adult ducks need grit, so I figured chick grit shouldn't hurt them. Right?

 

[goosedragon]

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Right! and if you are able to get them outside on grass they will need it.

 

[bucolic beauty]

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Oh, no! How sad. I'm so sorry. I've been lucky so far but I probably wouldn't do it again.

 

[bucolic beauty]

Thanks, guys! I don't know what I would do without you all.
Funny, I did attempt to let them frolic in the grass a bit yesterday(it was actually sunny here in the Pacific Northwest)but they threw a hissy fit. They don't seem to appreciate being separated from the chicks.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

I did separate at first because the ducks flooded the brooder and since they are bigger than chicks they pushed to the feeder and soon chicks got left out.

When they were 4 weeks old I put them together but the water is in a wire bottom cage (attached to the brooder) so the spillage drains away and the bedding stays dry. Also now that the chicks are bigger they can fight for the treats and they are faster than the ducks.

BTW my ducks eat chick grit and it hasn't hurt them, but I am far from an expert! these are my first ducks and they are 8 weeks old.