What NOT to feed ducks

[Wifezilla]

As I prepare my run and "duck hut" in preparation for Spring (and getting some Khaki's and/or Runners), I am trying to learn as much as possible about the care and feeding of ducks.

What should I NOT feed them (aside from seeds and chocolate...already read those are bad)?

Also, while I find plenty of info on protein percentage, what about the other macro-nutrients fat and carbs?

Do ducks HAVE to have grains? I would rather not feed them if ducks do not require them since I will be eating the eggs and have wheat intolerance and generally have a thing against soy and other carbs

(Of course if they NEED them that is something different)

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[nettie]

every place i've read says ducks need whole grains. It makes up half of their feed. It's pretty much a staple to their diet.

unless anyone else has heard different?

Question for you though, have you had eggs from animals that eat grains and had a problem? My grandmother had a severe gluten intolerance and never had a problem with eggs.

 

[cayuga mommy]

I have heard from many Fowl specialist that ducks can die from eating soggy bread. Aparently, a kind of bacteria or something grows on damp bread.
So, I suggest not giving them bread.
Their feed ( I feed flock raiser/Layena ) should already consist of whole grains.
But, I wouldn't feed them anything too hard, or too big to get down their throats. I dont suggest feeding carrots just because they can be too hard to get down their throats.

 

[nettie]

i've also heard potatoes and avacados have a toxin int hem that could kill ducks/chickens

 

[Wifezilla]

have you had eggs from animals that eat grains and had a problem

Yes.

Not serious reactions, but too many eggs and I can get hives. I also have to avoid the flu shot because I end up with this hot, burning knot in my arm at the injection site that lasts for over a week.

every place i've read says ducks need whole grains. It makes up half of their feed.

While this very well may be the case, people are ALSO told to base their diet on whole grains. Doing that helped me get up to 280 lbs and develop a nice case of hypertension. Cutting ALL grains out of my diet has led to me now being 207 lbs and having a bp of 101/62 (instead of 149/95).

Think about it for a moment. Khakis were domesticated from mallards. Do mallards in the wild have access DAILY to whole grains? No. They would only be able to get them seasonally and in limited quantity. What do ducks eat until the seed heads on grain ripen?

Bugs, little fishies, snails, grubs, insect larva etc. These things are mostly protein and fat. The rest of their diet would be fresh greens...things low in glucose unlike wheat, corn and soy.

So, are we being sold the same bill of goods from "big corn" and "big wheat" about our critters food that was sold to us??? Shouldn't I research the wild diet of a mallard and try to replicate that? (And can I do that without making myself crazy and spending too much money?)

I have 3 cats. One was seriously obese....a tiny female who was 22lbs. Shortly after I went low carb, I figured out if grains and starches were bad for me they had to be EXTRA bad for my little carnivores. She has been on canned only grain-free wet for for about 6 months and she is now down to 11 lbs. My other cats are a 19 year old who is still going strong and a 1 year old. All are doing great.

I guess I need to do some more homework. GOod thing I have a couple of months to figure this out! LOL​

 

[Wildsky]

Good for you - finding out BEFORE you get the ducks.

Many folks seem to wait until they HAVE the baby chicks or ducklings and then start trying to figure it all out.

 

[Wifezilla]

I have my stupid moments, but yeah...got this right.

 

[Wifezilla]

Any thoughts on free-dried meal worms or crickets?

 

[Wildsky]

I'm sure those would be fine. My chickens and the ducks like to dig through the hay to find dried out crickets.

 

[Wifezilla]

I found quite a few reptile sites with meal worms, crickets and other bugs in bulk.

Once they are in my yard, they will be able to free-range during the day. My yard has lots of slugs, pill bugs, and earwigs. The lawn has its share of dandelions and clover. Flies and mosquitos are never in short supply

There will be plenty of greens for them from kitchen scraps...kale, spinach, etc...

Just trying to work out what to put in their pen for them at the end of the day.