What do you feed ducks?

[Zaxby's2]

Okay, I have a few questions regarding this topic so bare with me.

1) What feed do you give few day old ducklings?
2) What feed do you give older ducklings?
3) What do you feed adults?
4) Do ducks that lay year round need layer feed, and do ducks that have a season but are laying currently need layer feed, and is it the same as chicken layer feed?
5) At any point in a ducks life can you give your chickens and ducks the same feed?
6) I've heard someone say that you should give ducks vegetables instead of bread, why is this?
7) Are there any foods ducks can't eat?
Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Zaxby's2 :

Okay, I have a few questions regarding this topic so bare with me.

1) What feed do you give few day old ducklings?
2) What feed do you give older ducklings?
3) What do you feed adults?
4) Do ducks that lay year round need layer feed, and do ducks that have a season but are laying currently need layer feed, and is it the same as chicken layer feed?
5) At any point in a ducks life can you give your chickens and ducks the same feed?
6) I've heard someone say that you should give ducks vegetables instead of bread, why is this?
7) Are there any foods ducks can't eat?
Sorry for all the questions.

Because we can't get water fowl feed here, I feed my ducklings chick grower/starter crumbles, then when they are around 4 weeks they eat the same feed as the rest of my ducks, chickens and goose which is Purina Flock Raiser pellets. I put Brewers yeast on top of the chick crumbles for at least 12 weeks to make sure the duckling is getting the niacin he needs for strong legs. I do feed my flock a small amount of w/w bread or 12 grain just because they love it and it helps me get close to them. I also feed peas and other greens like romaine lettuce. There are alot of things they can eat and I'm sure alot of floks will give you their list. My ducks also love dried meal worms..​

 

[70%cocoa]

I fed my ducks duck starter till they were 6 weeks old (the feed was formulated to be suitable until that age). After that they got duck grower till about 16 weeks old and after that layer pellets, the same as my chickens eat. The adult ducks and chickens all get 'poultry breeder pellets' which are higher in essential nurtients than normal (non-breeder) pellets.

So, when they are adult sized they can have exactly the same as you'd feed chickens. When they are younger it's ideal to give them a feed especially for ducks but if that's not possible adding brewer's yeast to chicken feed is fine (as Miss Lydia explains).

 

[tdgill]

I add the a niacin tablet (NOT the Flush free kind) to one gallon water. Very inexpensive $2.50/100 tablets. It takes a few seconds to dissolve, but then I stir or shake waterer and good to go.

 

[dumb_cluck]

Zaxby's2 :

Okay, I have a few questions regarding this topic so bare with me.

1) What feed do you give few day old ducklings?
2) What feed do you give older ducklings?
3) What do you feed adults?
4) Do ducks that lay year round need layer feed, and do ducks that have a season but are laying currently need layer feed, and is it the same as chicken layer feed?
5) At any point in a ducks life can you give your chickens and ducks the same feed?
6) I've heard someone say that you should give ducks vegetables instead of bread, why is this?
7) Are there any foods ducks can't eat?
Sorry for all the questions.

1) game bird starter crumbles
2) game bird grower pellets
3) same as above and add some veggies like chopped tomatoes or PEAS (the un-thawed version of frozen peas or natural)
4) Depends on duck breed. No need for any special layer feed (however offer oyster shell on the side)
5) I would say NO
6) No bread! Can cause angle wing deficiency
7)There is a post somewhere here with the list......... Anyone know where it's at?​

 

[dumb_cluck]

here ya go: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=242460

 

[Oregon Blues]

Chick starter with Amprollum mixed with game bird starter with Amprollum to get the protein to 20%

After 2 weeks, until they are fully feathered, chick starter with Amprollum with maybe a little game bird to get protein to 16-18%

After their feathers are in, all purpose poultry at 16%.

When they start laying, layer pellets and oyster shell on the side.

Grit all their life.

I can't buy duck food. so I add niacin to the drinking water. Brewer's yeast also works, but it is one of those things that used to be cheap and now costs an arm and a leg. The niacin pills are cheap and the amount is exact.

Vegetables are very good for them. They like the leafy ones, but I haven't found any they won't eat, except for onions. Some times it has to be prepared before they can eat it. Pumpkins, yams, and potatoes baked, for example.

Bread is OK, but only as a treat. It is wheat. Wheat is OK, but bread is not a balanced diet so they can't have too much of it. Like it won't hurt you to eat a donut occasionally, but it should not be a substitute for your dinner.

No chocolate, no green potato skins, no tomato leafs, no eggplant, no rhubarb leafs.

 

[LukePalmer]

The women at a water fowl store sold me growers duck and waterfowl feed as a good diet for adult male ducks? Now I'm thinking that's wrong x

 

[Miss Lydia]

Why? if you can get water fowl feed even if grower is much better than chicken feed. Did they carry finisher?

 

[Ceil's ducks]

I find Oregon Blues said not to feed your ducks tomatoe leaves. Sorry my Rouen thought the whole plants was the boom. They eat 7 of my plants over night.