Food and Treats

[NYboy]

New duck owner, I just got a pair of East Indies. The breeder sent small bag of unmarked food. I live in the city and had to travel for feed store. Last night I went to tractor supply they had every food but duck. I asked one of the workers he said there was no duck and showed me chicken feed which did have a duck on bag. Is that the best food ? Question 2 there housing is a dog house I know it needs bedding again everything from Timothy hay to ceder shavings . Question 3 Ducks are very nervous, what is a treat ducks go wild for. Some where in back of my mind is grapes but don't remember if they are good or bad. Thank you

 

[PirateGirl]

Hi @NYboy I am new to ducks this spring. I will share with you what I've learned or know from my experience with other birds. Depending on the age of your ducks will determine their nutritional needs. It is hard to find "duck" food in the US, but there are other feeds that will work well. Look/ask for something called "flock raiser" or "all flock" or "mixed flock" something along those lines, usually there will be pictures of chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc. on the bags. The food will be good for assorted birds, assorted ages, assorted sexes. Chicken feed can work too, but the community here on BYC seems to recommend "all flock" over chicken feed for ducks. If you have a female that may lay, then offer a small bowl of oyster shell on the side, it usually comes in a 5-10lb bag and can be found with all the chicken stuff. The ladies will eat only what they need when they are actively laying. Do not use cedar bedding, it is not good for small animals (ducks, hamsters, anything low to the ground that can breathe in the dust). I am currently trying straw in my duck house, it was about $10 for a bale at the farm store (probably could get it cheaper from a farmer), and it seems like a bale is going to last months for my 4 ducks. There are some really good articles here with more info.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/other-backyard-fowl-ducks-quail-turkeys-geese-etc.67519/

My ducks like when I put frozen peas in their water bucket and they have to fish them off the bottom.

Good luck, you're gonna love them! The longer you have your ducks the less nervous they will be. I've only actually had mine a few weeks and at first they would all run and honk, and now they don't seem to mind too much when I'm around. They are still not quite sure about my dogs either.

 

[Brookethechickenwhisperer]

My neighbors have a duck that they raised from a baby and they feed him chick starter (which has good supplements in it)and I feed him fried meal worms.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...If the feed has a Duck on it it will be good..Ducks take time to warm up to people and East Indies are a bit more flighty..Romain Lettuce, Tomato, watermelon cucumber diced ..Just sit and talk quietly to them..Don't make eye contact and toss the treats by your feet. They will start trusting you..
Congrats on the Ducks..

 

[PirateGirl]

and if you haven't noticed already, ducks LOVE water. I think mine are more excited when I bring them a fresh full water bucket than any food I have to offer.

 

[PirateGirl]

umm... also we would love to see pictures of your new ducks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Obsessed is a good word for ducks and water.

 

[NYboy]

Thank you guys. I have cement mixer filled with water, I often see the male splashing around, I have yet to see the female go in. Should I worry some thing wrong with female ?

 

[3bird]

We use Mazuri Waterfowl Maintenance Feed (floating pellets) for our seven silver Appleyard ducks. Tractor Supply special orders it for us at no charge, and it's cheaper than buying direct from Mazuri. It's a good, high quality feed that is recommended by vets and zoos. Our guys also forage pretty extensively and get "soup for ducks" (NOT duck soup) 2x/day in the winter.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you guys. I have cement mixer filled with water, I often see the male splashing around, I have yet to see the female go in. Should I worry some thing wrong with female ?

She probably knows if she ventures into the water the drake is going to nail her[mate] maybe she just isn't ready yet.