Orphaned mallard duckling

[Treezie03]

Hello! I live in a remote area, I can't run out for specialty ingredients please keep in mind. So my situation is this; I have an orphaned duckling and I've decided to try to care for it but don't know what to feed it. I have chickens and only have access to layer ration. I've read that layer ration is a big no no for ducklings. No one in my area has chick starter or duck feed.

My kids and I have been collecting bugs to feed him, but that is proving to be a huge job. I ran out and purchased crickets and mealworms.

I have read that oats and cornmeal is a temporary meal only. I have many types of cracked grain such as buckwheat, barley, rye and oats. Also, I read that Niacin deficiency is an issue. I do not have Brewers yeast but I do have bread machine yeast. I have tried to feed him some peas and sunflower seeds for niacin but he's not interested.

I have him on softwood shavings but he's not eating any grit so I'm concerned about compaction in his gut. Any advise about how I should proceed with feeding? Can a duckling survive on crickets alone? I can forage on my property for plants but I don't know what types of plants to collect.

Thanks I can't wait to hear your advise! In the meantime he has crickets, mealworm, cracked grains mixed with bread machine yeast and grit, peas, sunflower seeds and cooked egg yolk. One would think that is plenty, but he always seems hungry, LOL!

 

[Amiga]

Get the bread yeast out of the mix - it is not good to feed.

I will post more once I send this.

It is great that you are trying to help the little one.

A little grit is important - good that you include that.

The boiled egg sounds good, too.

Oats are fine for ducklings, per Holderread - as part of their diet (I added chopped rolled oats to my ducklings' feed).

Crushed or moistened cat kibble could provide some protein.

This is from Joybilee Farm, for some ideas for you
Feed Mix recipe:

When supplements are needed, in winter, during gestation or early lactation, for instance, this is the feed that we use:
1 part whole wheat
1 part whole oats
1 part whole barley
1/2 part whole flax seed
1 part whole or split peas, garbanzo beans or other pulse (not soy)
Keeping the grains whole ensures that the oils in the grain don’t go rancid. Ruminants will digest the whole grains in their rumens. Chickens need grit to digest these grains. For young chicks and growing pullets we feed ground grains and increase the protein by soaking in milk or yogourt overnight before feeding it.