Live food.

[Actionman Keith]

Forgive me if this has been raised before.

Do you feed your ducks live foods ? The abundance of live food retailers on the Internet is staggering, and the prices are definitely in our favour IMHO. I'm debating whether or not to take advantage of this service and get some tasty 'treats' for the runners. I'm just not sure which foods to get.

i think the obvious choices are waxworm and mealworms, although I don't trust mealworms as much because they nip, and ducks don't really chew. This may not be an issue, but otherwise, do you feed crickets, locust, worms etc...?

I'm also aware that tomato and strawberries are good as well as peas and such like, so are these better treats than live foods (nutrition wise) ? I have a wildlife pond which is full of snails too, I bet that will change soon though !

I'm curious to try waxworm. My main aim is to find a nutritional treat in order to teach handling and hand feeding is a positive experience as the ducks I will be receiving will be 2 yrs old.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[melissamerry]

Twice a week I feed my ducks a tasty live treat, either meal worms, night crawlers, crickets or feeder fish. They also find worms and lots of other bugs too. Especially when it rains!

Unfortunately, we don't have any snails, but my ducks go crazy over them when we go to my parents house to visit.

If you haven't checked out this sticky yet, I'd highly suggest it. Lots of great ideas.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/242460/the-ultimate-list-of-duck-treats-and-supplements

What kind of ducks are you getting?

 

[Actionman Keith]

Hi Melissa,

thanks for the response. I will be getting two female and one drake indian runner (Wednesday). All two years old, so I'm hoping to build confidence and good experiences through their tummies. I have a lot of love to give these ducks and they will benefit a whole lot more if they are not timid or shy. I'd love to see them running towards me instead of away from me. Lol.

ill check the link now, thanks again.

 

[DenverDucky]

My duck loves her swimmies (feeder fish). Another treat that has ducks go crazy... Peas

 

[Miss Lydia]

I buy dried meal worms for my flock, I buy bulk it's cheaper but still expensive. [shhh] I don't tell hubby.

 

[cosbackyard]

Petco/Petsmart here sell minnows for a few cents each. I buy a dozen of those, put them in a clear water bowl and the ducks think it's christmas.

 

[Actionman Keith]

the ducks think it's christmas.

 

[kandik]

I have not tried live food yet with my duckies....Im not sure how old they are we have had them 2 1/2 weeks and they might have been a week when we got them. Mine love and I mean LOVE corn and peas. I throw some in the tub when they swim and when I give them fresh water 3 x daily.

 

[kada6305]

mine are 2 weeks and 3 weeks. they all LOVE mealworms. I buy them live at Petco. not sure if they could handle the minnows yet.