Muscovy duck questions

[SundownWaterfowl]

Got 2 muscovy ducklings 3 weeks ago. They were probably 2 weeks when I got them. They are now are about 50% feathered out.

When can I start giving them treats? And what types of treats can I give them? I have heard that cat food is a good treat. I do have some plain alfalfa pellets. Can I start adding some of those to their food?

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

My muscovies go NUTS when you throw a little cat food out, its hilarious!!
I have never fed alfalfa pellets, but sounds okay.
Every day you have them you will like their personalities even more!!

 

[conny63malies]

I fed mine dry dogfood, leftovers and boiled noodles as soon as they went outside. They also love worms.

 

[Wifezilla]

I give my ducks greens right away. Thawed frozen peas and french cut green beans, salad trimmings, dandelion leaves torn in to smaller pieces for them...even seeds from the grass my son missed with the mower

If you give them treats they will need grit.

Cat food is a favorite treat of my big ducks, but because the pieces are kind of large, I wait until they are almost full grown before I feed that.

Worms are a favorite and my baby Welsh Harelquins got those for the first time this weekend (they are almost 2 weeks old).

The alfalfa pellets can be soaked in fresh water. They MAY eat them as is at this age, but I soaked cubes in warm water and gave it to my adult ducks over the winter. They liked it on a cold day. Kind of like duck oatmeal

 

[keeperofthehearth]

PEAS!!!

Mine free range w/their moms during the day so get plenty of greens but when they see me coming about noon each day they come running for those peas. Even the littlest week olds start grabbing them as fast as they can. I also give them some scratch grains and provide a big bowl of sand/grit mix.