Feeding the neighborhood ducks

[Kezs]

I just moved to a new neighborhood, and I'm so excited to have a few small flocks of Muscovy ducks wandering around the street and in the nearby retention pond. I have one that literally sits at my front door at the same time every day to wait for his "dinner". He (and a few others) even eats from my hand, and I'm loving it!! baby ducklings are starting to come and visit too!

I've been giving them cracked corn, about 2-3 cups for the 10-20 adult ducks every day. However, I'm wondering if there is something that would be healthier and also cheap, especially with the babies starting to eat. I'm currently paying about $15 for a 50lb bag of cracked corn that lasts about a month. I need to stay in that price range because my husband is less than thrilled to be feeding "wild animals" when we a zoo to feed in the house/backyard but I'm so happy he puts up with it.

These ducks are already pretty fat, so I want to give healthy food to help them and the ducklings. What are some ideas that you may have? Should I switch them to actual duck food even though they are wild?

I forgot to add, leftover table scraps aren't an option. The dogs eat all the meat, and the chickens and guinea pigs eat everything else. We rarely have any leftover scraps!

Thanks!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I would think actual duck food or even chicken feed would be a healthier choice...and should be in your suggested price range most places.

 

[Kezs]

That was my thought, but I wasn't sure about wild ducks. I'll get that next time. Thanks!

 

[Alaskan]

Muscovy also love dog feed.

But a duck feed, or an all poultry feed would be healthier for them than the corn.

 

[cmobley]

They love bread the ones at our park lived forever on it when I was growing up.

 

[3xhhheather]

2x the all flock feed, but also throwing it out there if you have room for a zucchini plant that will produce a ton of free veg for them.

 

[Demonwolf37]

Duck feed for sure, but lentils or frozen peas are also a fun treat for ducks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Bread and corn provide some but little vital nutrition, especially essential amino acids.

 

[raingarden]

The good thing about corn is that they will find all of it without waste, spoilage or vermin. A formulared feed will need to be given in a bowl or something and not allowed to get moist.