New to the duck family! :)

[LCARTER87]

We recently added ducks to our home, we got two, one runner and one khaki campbell! I have some questions for everyone who already has ducks!

A. What can ducks eat? I have been giving them water obviously, flock starter, and sometimes greens. But I give our chickens everything, fruits, Veggies, Pasta! Can ducks have these items too?

B. How can I tell what sex of ducks we got?

C. Is there anything ducks love to do? Besides swim and forrage that is! We have a small pool we let them go in each day!

Here is a photo of them swimming the other day!

 

[Kevin565]

Welcome to the duck side

, We're secretly more fun

.

1. As long as they have access to grit all of the treats you listed.

2. You can voice sex them soon. Females will start quacking very loudly while males will stay raspy.

3. They are the ultimate pea hunters

 

[LCARTER87]

Do I need to cut up the fruit really small? I have a duck book a purchased and the author make it seems like they will choke on anything but food!

Now that you say it one of my ducks voice is still very high and the other is very low, I believe they are days apart from one another.

Ducks are a whole new thing for me! They are so attached to me, they follow me everywhere, they take naps on me, if they dont see me, oh goodness all duck crazyness breaks out!

 

[jdywntr]

For young ducklings, you need to cut things up kind of small. I always opted for caution and did a small chop when mine were young. You won't be able to tell sex by voice until 8-12 weeks (usually) they make ALL kinds of noises. They are different breeds so you won't really be able to compare everything between them. They are cute and look happy.

FYI at the top of the duck forum is a section called "stickies" there you will find all sorts of info including a list of treats.

Welcome to the duckly darkside.

 

[keyt1969]

Like Kevin said, soon you can voice sex them. You can also tell (in most breeds) by the tail. The tip of the tail will curl on the males. As babies, yes everything has to be small. As adults we give ours just about everything from the gardens. They also get scraps like the chickens do like egg shells (we cut ours up), leftovers (no onions, hot stuff, etc) and they LOVE peas. Frozen peas that are thawed.

WARNING: DO NOT give bread. The only time you can do that is if it's wheat-related. We get free bread at a nursing home. It's all diabetic stuff like 3 grain, etc. Ducks and chickens can't have white bread because 1. when it gets wet it expands and makes them sick 2. too much sugar (it's not good for humans either) 3. too many additives!! It's also better if it's toasted. Lastly, not until they're at least 4 or 5 months old!

Anytime I see someone at a park feeding ducks bread I say something.

As Jdywntr said, there is a list of treats! There's some great stuff on there!