Are you a new duck keeper and searching for more information about what to feed baby ducks? If yes, then stop your searching, because you are in the right place. Here we will try to discuss more about what to feed baby ducks.
Actually, like all other domestic bird species, the baby ducks are also born with a good sense of hunger. So, you have to be conscious about your duckling’s diet.
Baby ducks generally grow very fast, and they become very active. They are capable of looking for food from their very early stage of life, and they are extremely excited about eating. So, you have to choose the right feeding for your ducks so that your ducklings can grow as healthy and strong as possible.
Different types of feeding options available for baby ducks. You can choose any depending upon the availability in your area. However, here we are going to describe more information about what to feed baby ducks.
What to feed baby ducks?
Baby ducks eat almost everything and they generally grow very fast. They actually born with a very good sense of hunger. But as a conscious duck keeper, you should be aware of what your ducklings eating.
And all the foods they eat are not always healthy. So, you have to ensure feeding them good quality and healthy food, especially during their first few weeks of age.
Ducklings become very hungry and they eat pretty much everything. But that doesn’t mean that everything is good for them and you can give them anything. Baby ducks actually need special protein and niacin rich foods until they reach their 6 weeks of age.
Try to provide them nutritious food with adequate amount of protein and niacin. Providing them such food will allow the ducklings to develop strong bones and bills. They relatively require less protein after their 6 weeks of age. But, remember that they still need nutrient-rich food to fulfill vitamins and minerals deficiencies.
Today, there are numerous companies available which are producing ready-made or commercial duck food. These type of foods are especially prepared for the ducks and are rich in essential nutrients for the baby ducks. Such feeds are marketed as starter feed.
If you want to avoid commercial feeds, then you can start feeding your baby ducks with some foods that you already have at home. You can give them rice, corn, wheat, barley, fruits, vegetables etc.
However, along with providing your ducks with very good quality and nutritious food, always try to keep enough clean and fresh drinking water as per their demand. Keep enough number of waterers and feeders inside the house depending upon the number of ducklings.
What to avoid feeding baby ducks?
Not all the food items are good for the baby ducks. So, you have to avoid feeding some foods to your baby ducks. For example, avoid feeding bread and junk foods to your baby ducks. Because, bread is a lower-nutrition food, and it is not only unhealthy but also can even be harmful for the ducklings.
Also avoid feeding your ducklings nuts and seeds. Ducks don’t chew their food. So providing nuts and seeds can cause chocking hazard. Some other foods which are toxic for ducklings include buttercups, lilies, sweat peas, poppies, irises etc.
What do baby ducks eat in the wild?
This is a very interesting question. Actually, diet of wild ducklings is totally different from the domestic ducklings. The wild baby ducks typically eat insects, aquatic plants, seeds, small invertebrates (like worms, snails), and small fishes. Although exact diet of the wild baby ducks depends on their location and environmental conditions, with a focus on protein-rich foods like insects and seeds.
How to feed baby ducks?
Feeding baby ducks is very easy and simple, because the baby ducks always remain hungry and they are self feeding. You can use a dispenser and allow the ducklings to take food freely. Ducklings grow very fast during their early weeks.
So, it is very good to have food readily available all the time. Don’t worry about overfeeding during their first few weeks of age, because ducklings need these nutrients to grow and develop.
However, you should remove remaining food daily. Because, old and moldy can cause a deadly lung infection called Aspergillosis.
Ensure that your ducklings always have access to plenty of fresh water throughout the day, especially while they are eating their food. Because, water aids in swallowing and prevents choking.
Make water easily accessible for your baby ducks. But make the water shallow, as the ducklings can be prone to drowning.
These are the information we wanted to share with you regarding what to feed baby ducks. Ducklings are not picky eaters and you can feed them almost everything. We recommend feeding them readily available commercial starter feeds. You can also feed them some seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables etc. Hope this guide has helped you. Consider sharing this guide with your friends and family members so that they can also know about what to feed baby ducks. Good luck and may God bless you!
