Milled flaxseed and oatmeal?

[Nebraskagirl]

I picked up some milled flaxseed and some old fashioned rolled oats (oatmeal) at the store for the ducks. Is this ok? How much? I have only two ducks, both are young, one male and one female. I have read cracked corn can be bad to mix in with the feed.

 

[Amiga]

Yes, I use milled flax seed and oats in with their layer pellets, too. I don't do it scientifically, I just add a handful of flax and three handfuls of oats on top of about four cups of layer pellets, along with a couple of handfuls of cat kibble and an extra sprinkling of oyster shell.

And your ducks either spend time outdoors or get chick grit, right? Anything other than pellets can be problematic if they don't have grit to "chew" with.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

Yes they are outside all day foraging (under close supervision and they don't roam far at all.) Good to hear about the mixture, thank you for your advice!

 

[mrshaggie810]

I have no idea, but I would love to find out since I already have this stuff on hand!

 

[RubberDuckee]

Cat kibble? I haven't heard of giving ducks cat kibble before... there is not too much protien in cat food? Cat food is primarily protien as cats are not able to digest fillers as dogs are... their natural "wildness." That's interesting.

With that amount of food, Amiga, it sounds like you have quite a few duckies on your hands. How fun!

 

[Amiga]

I got the idea for cat kibble from Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, actually. It is not as high in protein as I thought (after reading the label), and I use less of it when the ducks have been nomming on many worms or slugs. Because I take them for forage walks, I cannot vouch for their protein percentage, because not only do they eat creepy crawlies, they eat quite a bit of greenery. They get peas for treats regularly, too.

They seem healthy and content, though.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

Amiga thank you for the advice. I appreciate it. I let my two duckies roam all day in the grass (we live in the country) and they stay really close to the house, but they eat crawlies and grass and whatever else they can get (yesterday a hornet drowned in their water and Frank slurped it up!!!) This morning I mixed in some oatmeal and some flax seed and they seem to enjoy it.

 

[mrshaggie810]

I got the idea for cat kibble from Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, actually. It is not as high in protein as I thought (after reading the label), and I use less of it when the ducks have been nomming on many worms or slugs. Because I take them for forage walks, I cannot vouch for their protein percentage, because not only do they eat creepy crawlies, they eat quite a bit of greenery. They get peas for treats regularly, too.

They seem healthy and content, though.

I'm reading that now!

 

[RubberDuckee]

I got the idea for cat kibble from Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, actually. It is not as high in protein as I thought (after reading the label), and I use less of it when the ducks have been nomming on many worms or slugs. Because I take them for forage walks, I cannot vouch for their protein percentage, because not only do they eat creepy crawlies, they eat quite a bit of greenery. They get peas for treats regularly, too.

They seem healthy and content, though.

That's so interesting! I never knew cat food could be fed to ducks! Thanks for the information.

 

[duckinfuts]

i broke up a dog treat and gave it to my acona ducks yesterday i swear they will eat anything...