Foods for Ducklings

[Crazy Maizie]

What age would you recommend introducing treats? I may have to find a compromise between waiting and ensuring they don't end up too picky, lol

It's not a bad thing for them to be picky when it comes to extras that they really don't need since the most important thing is that they have a nutritionally complete diet which is provided by their feed.
Not sure, I'd be the best one to give an age since mine are picky with regards to treats. They will eat a variety of feeds if I offer a different one.

 

[indianaducks]

From your photos, it looks like they could be pekins? If so, I would make sure you don't offer treats in excess, since you want to make sure they get all the vitamins and such from their food that they need to avoid leg issues.

 

[BelovedBirds]

From your photos, it looks like they could be pekins? If so, I would make sure you don't offer treats in excess, since you want to make sure they get all the vitamins and such from their food that they need to avoid leg issues.

The breed is uncertain, but I do suspect they are part pekin yes! When they do start having treats, it'll definitely be in small amounts

 

[Weeg]

for sure! I dont have any super clear ones, but these are from the last few days! The first was from a little photoshoot with their egg box, since they were from supermarket eggs- and the duckling in the photo hatched on Christmas day! The smaller duckling in the second photo is 4 days younger

This is really neat! My I ask what brand of eggs you hatched?

Also, to answer your question, most of the ducklings I raised in the last few years have been with a broody. I bet her talk them out to free range at about 1 week old for short stents. They also get to swim on the pond with her as early as 3 days old. I toss weeds and meal worms on the pond. They snap at a few, but momma gets most of them.
When mine are free ranging (very closely supervised) they eat bits of grass and weeds, and I use mealworms to keep mom where I want her, so she doesn't wander to far.
Overall, my ducklings get little bits of natural plant material, and grubs as treats at a young age. They've all grown up strong and healthy.
I think small amounts are fine, maybe try to stick to something like 1 tsp per duck when feeding treats. Thats a 3rd of the recommended treat serving for adult ducks.

 

[BelovedBirds]

This is really neat! My I ask what brand of eggs you hatched?

Also, to answer your question, most of the ducklings I raised in the last few years have been with a broody. I bet her talk them out to free range at about 1 week old for short stents. They also get to swim on the pond with her as early as 3 days old. I toss weeds and meal worms on the pond. They snap at a few, but momma gets most of them.
When mine are free ranging (very closely supervised) they eat bits of grass and weeds, and I use mealworms to keep mom where I want her, so she doesn't wander to far.
Overall, my ducklings get little bits of natural plant material, and grubs as treats at a young age. They've all grown up strong and healthy.
I think small amounts are fine, maybe try to stick to something like 1 tsp per duck when feeding treats. Thats a 3rd of the recommended treat serving for adult ducks.

Thats interesting! To answer your question, the eggs were from clarence court, braddock white duck eggs- got them from sainsburys!

 

[BelovedBirds]

For anyone reading this thread in future, I ended up offering treats at about 3 weeks, they're 8-9 weeks now, get treats from time to time and aren't picky at all!