What to feed ducks?

[annaagarland]

what are some of your favorite things to feed your ducks? Can ducks eat rye grain and malted barley grain?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They should get water fowl feed

 

[annaagarland]

They should get water fowl feed

They do. But when full grown what other things do you like to give them to expand their diet?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

They do. But when full grown what other things do you like to give them to expand their diet?

If you want to expand your ducks diet, increase their foraging area and provide 24/7 access to their waterfowl feed. Anything other then waterfowl feed and foraging should be considered a treat. Treats should not be viewed as expanding your ducks diet and only given in limited amounts. Even fruits and vegetables can be too much of a good thing if fed too often because ducks will start to not eat their feed and end up with nutrient deficiencies.

For occasional treats my ducks enjoy:

-Peas
-Berries
-Lettuce
-Fresh corn grated off the cob (mine won't touch cracked corn)
-Soldier Flies
-Meal Worms
-Minnows

 

[annaagarland]

If you want to expand your ducks diet, increase their foraging area and provide 24/7 access to their waterfowl feed. Anything other then waterfowl feed and foraging should be considered a treat. Treats should not be viewed as expanding your ducks diet and only given in limited amounts. Even fruits and vegetables can be too much of a good thing if fed too often because ducks will start to not eat their feed and end up with nutrient deficiencies.

For occasional treats my ducks enjoy:

-Peas
-Berries
-Lettuce
-Fresh corn grated off the cob (mine won't touch cracked corn)
-Soldier Flies
-Meal Worms
-Minnows

Thank you this is very helpful! About how often do you give these treats? About once a month? Once a week would you say?

 

[Duckiiess]

I give my ducks treats a couple times a week at least, sometimes every day.. but then again I have 20, and a couple handfuls of peas doesn't make a difference in how much of their main feed they eat.
They definitely like pellets a lot better for food, mine wasted way too many crumbles. I was on Purina Duck pellets, but recently switched to the Nutrena Country Feed All Flock pellets. Significantly cheaper, and just as good from what I've seen.
I did give them crumble for the first couple weeks, but after that they're plenty big enough for pellets.

 

[annaagarland]

I give my ducks treats a couple times a week at least, sometimes every day.. but then again I have 20, and a couple handfuls of peas doesn't make a difference in how much of their main feed they eat.
They definitely like pellets a lot better for food, mine wasted way too many crumbles. I was on Purina Duck pellets, but recently switched to the Nutrena Country Feed All Flock pellets. Significantly cheaper, and just as good from what I've seen.
I did give them crumble for the first couple weeks, but after that they're plenty big enough for pellets.

Thank you!
I actually just started them straight on pellets after they hatched because that is what the tractor supply employee recommended, however I wet them so that they were soft and easier for them to eat. I am wetting them very little now since they have grown. I am wanting to give them treats every now and then. Seeing them happy makes me happy! Lol

 

[Duckiiess]

They'll definitely love you for meal worms at this age, but be prepared for some or all of them to think you're the scariest thing ever in a month or two

 

[annaagarland]

They'll definitely love you for meal worms at this age, but be prepared for some or all of them to think you're the scariest thing ever in a month or two

Heck they are already starting to act terrified of me!! It makes me sad. the more independence they get the less they love me. That’s why I’m hoping some treats will help. I will try meal worms also!

 

[annaagarland]

They'll definitely love you for meal worms at this age, but be prepared for some or all of them to think you're the scariest thing ever in a month or two

This is them today in their coop. (My husband took the pic lol) they are a bit bigger than original photo