what should i feed a duckling?

Answer 1

depends how old the duckling is. usually between 1 and 2 days old, they don't have much of an appetite (for water or food) because they are still living off the yolk from their egg. you can see it and feel it as kind of a tender bubble on their tummies, often with a visible "umbilical stump" belly button type thing. when the bubble goes down, you need to start feeding it real food. also the bubble makes walking very awkward, so they don't move very fast or gracefully during those first couple of days.

you can usually find a chick/poultry starter feed at a feed store or sometimes at hardware stores in rural areas. this is good as a staple, but it isn't a complete duck diet. you should try to feed the duckling things that it will find in the wild as well. they are omnivorous, and will eat young vegetation (sprouts and whatnot), insects, small fish, shrimp, etc.

i give my duckling the chick starter, and mix in different kinds of "fish food" like blood worms, baby shrimp, plus baker's yeast. older ducklings will benefit from whole eggs. the shells are an excellent source of calcium, and the yolks contain a good balance of nutrients. as a treat, i give him little crumbs of what i'm eating, like bread or chips. not too much though, if he gets used to junk-food he is likely to get some kind of deficiency (thiamin deficiency is common in ducks who are fed only chicken food, and can result in calloused and cracked feet). same thing if he is fed nothing but bread or people food.

corn is a nice treat, wheat grass sprouts, live insects (make sure the area wasn't recently treated with insecticide).

two other very important things that aren't technically food: insoluble grits, like sand, will help them digest, and water. they can't chew, so they need the rough sand granules to help break up the food. ducklings need to drink a lot of water, but in those first two days it is better not to give them any since they have a hard time regulating their intake. the remaining yolk has enough moisture for them during that time. later, ducks will enjoy wetting their food, swimming and pooping in the water, and bathing themselves in it. they need a lot of water to support their rapid growth. if the water gets too gross, replace it with fresh water. they do tend to use their water dishes as toilets, though.

young ducklings are great swimmers but they need the protective oils from their mother to stay dry. otherwise they can freeze or drown. so better to give your duckling a shallow pan of warmish water to splash around in and then dry him off when he is done playing.

as for fully grown ducks, give them chicken food as a staple (or waterfowl food if you can find some) and let them forage. they'll eat weeds and crickets and stuff like that around your property. you can give them most "leftovers" like banana peels, unfinished rice, lima beans, egg shells..... they will love you for it.

Answer 2

Go to your local feed store and get some poultry mash (also called layer feed or layer crumbles). It's a grain product that is the best food for raising baby ducks. Put it in a shallow dish and add water until it is thoroughly damp. They can have as much of this as they'll eat. Be sure to give them fresh food at least twice a day, as it will spoil pretty quickly. Make sure they have fresh drinking water also.
You should also offer some shredded greens. Romaine, leaf lettuce, and spring mix or field greens are all good choices. Spinach is fine in limited quantities.
As the ducks get older, you can stop wetting down the food and start mixing in some chicken scratch (also available at feed stores).
I have raised many baby ducks on this diet, and they thrive on it. Poultry mash provides just the right amount of protein, and they really love the added greens.

Answer 3

Ducks like bread, the also need grit in order to proccess anything they eat, due to the fact that ducks, like chickens do not have stomachs, but gizzards. Also, oyster shells are recomended if you want your duck to lay eggs. If the duck is real young, you should give them a special duckling food. As it matures, cracked corn will do well. All of these things can be found at your local pet and farm supply stores.

Answer 4

DO NOT FEED IT CEREAL,BREAD,CRACKERS, etc....these are bad for the baby. Go to your local feed store and get some game bird starter crumbles, make sure it is not the medicated kind or it will kill the baby. Ducks make great pets. I have one of my own in my home. Make sure you get it some grit. Or you can just get it some sand. It has to have access to this at all times, especially if it's allowed outside. Keep all metal and shiny things away from it. Ducks love anything shiny and will die if something like that is injested. Please visit these sites, they will be VERY helpful to you!

http://www.liveducks.com/

http://www.geocities.com/petducksrus/...

http://www.thegoosesmother.com/...

Answer 5

when ever we go to the park i feed the ducks crackers and the little ducklings mushy bread or try feeding him some milk or something. good luck i wish i had a little duck..lol.

Answer 6

DON'T feed them bread. Bread is really bad for birds. When they eat it, it bloats up in their stomaches. The bird will be convinced it's full, when really it isn't, and won't eat for a long time, since the bread is also very hard for them to digest. It could take days, and that could kill them. Sure ducks LIKE bread, but it's not good for them at all.

Give them vegetables, like corn, instead.

Answer 7

NOT bread and milk. Duck food from the feed store. Bread and milk is very bad for them. Cute at the park but not good for them. Lots of water and duck food.

Answer 8

Yep poultry starter is best I know because I have raised ducklings.

Answer 9

Bread soaked with goats milk

Answer 10

Yep never bread. Glad some people know their stuff on birds :) if you get corn get it cracked you can buy it in large quantities or small.