Seeds for Pasture?

[HomesteadDucks]

Hello,
I am planting a small grazing area for my laying khaki campbell ducks. Right now it is just a large plot of freshly plowed soil that has nothing growing in it. I want the best mix of plants to provide them with the proper nutrients needed for them to produce eggs and just be healthy and happy overall. For example, a grass or weed with high calcium would be great for them to graze on. So far, I have ordered organic perennial ryegrass and organic red clover to plant in this plot as well as collecting my own seed from wild grasses I have found. I would love for the ducks to have more of a variety in their diet. What are the best perennial grasses, weeds and/or other plants for ducks to eat? What plants will provide them with the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to be healthy and produce more eggs?

P.S. There are plenty of snails, worms, flies, slugs and other insects to go around.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Hello,
I am planting a small grazing area for my laying khaki campbell ducks. Right now it is just a large plot of freshly plowed soil that has nothing growing in it. I want the best mix of plants to provide them with the proper nutrients needed for them to produce eggs and just be healthy and happy overall. For example, a grass or weed with high calcium would be great for them to graze on. So far, I have ordered organic perennial ryegrass and organic red clover to plant in this plot as well as collecting my own seed from wild grasses I have found. I would love for the ducks to have more of a variety in their diet. What are the best perennial grasses, weeds and/or other plants for ducks to eat? What plants will provide them with the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to be healthy and produce more eggs?

P.S. There are plenty of snails, worms, flies, slugs and other insects to go around.

I probably sound like a broken record with this sometimes, but are you able to get a copy of Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks? It has a lot of information about things that are good for ducks and what ratio you'd want to aim for. It comes in both print and electronic form.

 

[seashoreduck]

Ducks love bugs, so that's good, but they might destroy a plant if it is too yummy. I would also make sure the roots are well establisthed before you let them at it becuase ducks love making a mess of things, and nothing is more appealing than freshly tilled ground.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Hello,
I am planting a small grazing area for my laying khaki campbell ducks. Right now it is just a large plot of freshly plowed soil that has nothing growing in it. I want the best mix of plants to provide them with the proper nutrients needed for them to produce eggs and just be healthy and happy overall. For example, a grass or weed with high calcium would be great for them to graze on. So far, I have ordered organic perennial ryegrass and organic red clover to plant in this plot as well as collecting my own seed from wild grasses I have found. I would love for the ducks to have more of a variety in their diet. What are the best perennial grasses, weeds and/or other plants for ducks to eat? What plants will provide them with the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to be healthy and produce more eggs?

P.S. There are plenty of snails, worms, flies, slugs and other insects to go around.

I forgot to ask if you have a pool or pond for them. If so, you could start some duckweed for them. They love that.

 

[HomesteadDucks]

JadeComputerGal I have read parts of Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks but I haven't yet bought it for myself. It is a very informative book though and I will get it soon. There will be a pond for them by next year. That is the next project I have in mind. I hope to make it a natural pond with clay and rocks instead of pond liner. The area it's in is where all of the rain water seeps down so hopefully the pond can be fed by rainwater alone. Duckweed is a very good idea. For now, I have a large galvanized metal water trough with a ramp for them to swim in. Maybe I could plant some duck weed in that. Though, they would likely eat it all.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

JadeComputerGal I have read parts of Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks but I haven't yet bought it for myself. It is a very informative book though and I will get it soon. There will be a pond for them by next year. That is the next project I have in mind. I hope to make it a natural pond with clay and rocks instead of pond liner. The area it's in is where all of the rain water seeps down so hopefully the pond can be fed by rainwater alone. Duckweed is a very good idea. For now, I have a large galvanized metal water trough with a ramp for them to swim in. Maybe I could plant some duck weed in that. Though, they would likely eat it all.

That sounds like a wonderful plan! If you're going to make a natural pond, just keep in mind that duckweed is an extremely invasive plant. People who don't want it have a terrible time getting rid of it once it takes hold. I'm starting some right now in a container so I can add it to my ponds once it starts to multiply.