What do you feed your ducks?

[duckface]

From duckling to adult, commercial feeds to fruits and greens to unusual snacks, what do your ducks eat?

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Southern States (brand) Floating waterfowl pellets 20% check your local Southern States or Ag-way dealer to see if they can get it. Treats anything from the table or refrig as long as it hasn't spoiled you never know what they will or will not eat.

 

[Soccer Mom]

Mine start with Dumor starter crumbles (20%) and then move to a layer/maintenance pellet. They forage all day and only get pellets in the evening. When things get bare in the winter, I do put a feeder out in the yard with pellets, just to supplement.

They get anything I have an excess of in the garden or that is about to go bad in the fridge. In fact, I have some blueberries that are still good, but only for another couple of days. I'll trundle on down to the pond soon and make everyone's day with a cold treat.

 

[streemers]

mine started on nonmedicated chick starter. now eat PayBack Waterfowl feed and free range.
treats- greens, veggies like peas and carrot shavings ect. watermelon, blueberries,raspberries and we are still trying more foods

 

[onedozenphyllises]

Mine live with my chickens, so they all eat the same thing. Everyone gets unmedicated crumbles (starter/grower or layer depending on life stage) plus whole oats and black oil sunflower seeds. They also get tons of forage and kitchen scraps. They LOVE pillbugs.

 

[Katy]

I start mine out on Purina medicated Start & Grow and then I feed them Purina Flock Raiser. They get veggie scraps from the kitchen and garden.....same as the chickens.

 

[Cetawin]

As I do not have Purina Flock Raiser or "duck" food available near me, I went with the suggestion from Holderread's. I mix in equal parts, organic chick starter and turkey/wildgame starter.

The point is that while one is low in niacin and the other very high in protein, by mixing them you cut down the protein amount but increase the niacin amount. It makes a very balances diet.

They get green every morning and evening before bedtime. They loves thawed frozen peas, spinach leaves, tomatoes and their new love is broccoli florets. They do not mess with the stems, just the florets. They also have free-range time so they get bugs and grass.

Once they begin laying, they will go on a layer food.

 

[Chris09]

From day 1 till first egg I give them a Starter/Grower I been useing Kalmbach 1044
[ http://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/1044.html ] then when they start to lay I start mixing a all grain pigeon feed (16% pro) with the Starter/Grower...
Chris

 

[Violet22]

I feed a waterfowl food from a local mill. The only brand of duck food I can get around here is Purina Mazuri and it's too expensive for me.

I do have a question on greens. My ducks have unlimited alfalfa in a bucket of water, but they are spoiled and really like fresh greens. I have read where they need to be chopped up, so everyday I chop up lettuce or other greens for them. It's beginning to be a real chore.......how small do I have to chop the greens, and do I really have to do it for mature ducks?

 

[onedozenphyllises]

I've never done that, not once. My ducks are always on fresh grass, though, and are free to forage, so they take whatever fresh greens they like.