Guest just gave my 2 day old duckling some veg!

[BelovedBirds]

It just caught me off guard after traumatic assisted hatchings and several deaths. I hadn't organised grit of any kind and they were not even really eating their starter yet. I only found out by accident they were given veg. What happens if ducks eat foods that require them to have grit and they do not have grit?
.

It will either manage to be digested, be pooped out whole, or worst case scenario cause a blockage- but that's really larger harder things, or food like grass.

I'm sure peas would manage to be digested partially, but they ought to have grit for it. In an emergency, offering a little patch of dirt and tiny little gritty stones from your garden will be okay.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Be sure when you get grit it's chick grit

 

[Sondraa]

I had planned to keep them on duck/goose starter and then start foraging outside around week 2 or 3. Its Summer here and it is warm enough for them to be out for 10 min here or there most days. Never gets over 26C here in Summer or below 8 or 9C overnight. Changeable but mild year round as we are low mountains coastal on an island.

I have read once ducklings have opportunity to forage outside even for 10 min daily, they won't need grit. I have also read chick grit has too much calcium. Honestly though...lots of contradictory advice on Google. It's a bit scarey. This site has been amazing for discussion and clarity. Keep it coming.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oyster shell has the calcium not grit it is just ground up stones rocks granite etc. They will love being outside.

 

[NatJ]

I have also read chick grit has too much calcium.

If you are in the USA:
"Grit" is little rocks.
"Chick" means a baby chicken.
"Chick grit" is tiny rocks for baby chickens. "Pullet grit" is bigger rocks for bigger chickens. There are other sizes as well. Even though the labels talk about chickens, the same grit is fine for ducks and geese and turkeys and presumably other kinds of birds too.

"Oyster shell" has a lot of calcium. It is not good for grinding up food. But for adult female chickens or ducks, it can be a good source of the calcium they need to make eggshells.

In some other countries, terms are used differently.
For example, I have heard of "shell grit" being the high-calcium stuff from oyster shells. Because different places use different terms, you can find confusing information on the internet even when it is actually correct. (Of course you can also find wrong information.)

If you are not in the USA, I do not know what terms are used in your country, but someone else might be able to tell you. Or you can read labels and see if they make it clear whether the product is little rocks for grinding food, or chunks of calcium for adult females that lay eggs.

And yes, if your ducklings have the ability to choose their own grit while foraging outside, they should be fine. So you would not have to figure out what kind of "grit" to buy.

 

[Sondraa]

If you are in the USA:
"Grit" is little rocks.
"Chick" means a baby chicken.
"Chick grit" is tiny rocks for baby chickens. "Pullet grit" is bigger rocks for bigger chickens. There are other sizes as well. Even though the labels talk about chickens, the same grit is fine for ducks and geese and turkeys and presumably other kinds of birds too.

"Oyster shell" has a lot of calcium. It is not good for grinding up food. But for adult female chickens or ducks, it can be a good source of the calcium they need to make eggshells.

In some other countries, terms are used differently.
For example, I have heard of "shell grit" being the high-calcium stuff from oyster shells. Because different places use different terms, you can find confusing information on the internet even when it is actually correct. (Of course you can also find wrong information.)

If you are not in the USA, I do not know what terms are used in your country, but someone else might be able to tell you. Or you can read labels and see if they make it clear whether the product is little rocks for grinding food, or chunks of calcium for adult females that lay eggs.

And yes, if your ducklings have the ability to choose their own grit while foraging outside, they should be fine. So you would not have to figure out what kind of "grit" to buy.

Makes sense!