What else can I feed my duckling?

[whitneyrae]

I purchased my Pekin duckling the morning after Easter. It was estimed 2 weeks old when I bought it. I bought a medium bag of duckling starter feed. Unfortunately, our dog got into the feed container and spilled it all over the yard. All of my local feed stores are closed at this hour and I need a substitute food for the day. First thing tomorrow I will buy a new bag, but I don't want him to go hungry today. Is there any type of vegetable or anything like that which would be safe to feed him for now? He has grown so much, so he isn't small anymore. He's already starting to get his quils on his tail and growing white fuzz instead of yellow.

 

[cheyfrie26]

I use to use wet oats. Let the oats set in water for about 5 minuets, and feed them. They LOOOOVVEE it!

 

[DurhamDuck]

Boil some potatoes mash them up and let them cool. When its cold give him that along with some peas and or romaine lettuce.

 

[Amiga]

If you can get some good quality dry cat kibble, crunch some of that up and give it with the oats. That will add more protein (oats don't have any, if I recall correctly). Also, feeding something other than crumbles or pellets, the duckling needs to have ingested grit already. Have you been giving grit? Otherwise I'm not sure it can handle the oats or kibble.

 

[DurhamDuck]

According to "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks" the best supplement after duck feed for ducks is cold boiled potatoes! Raw potatoes can make them sick, but cold boiled potatoes are a good source of protein for ducks. Many duck raisers will supplement boiled potatoes instead of cracked corn (corn can alter the feather colors of SOME breeds of ducks- like Blue Swedish- but boiled potatoes will not).

For more on this, see page 234-235 of "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks" by Dave Holderread.

Good luck!!

 

[DuckDuckDuckGoose]

Quote:
They also love hardboiled eggs, which has lots of protine, and your ducks are old enough to take field trips out to the yard and grub on some slugs!!!!! their favorite!!!!

T.

 

[DuckyGurl]

Hardboiled eggs, mashed up into itty-bitty pieces.