Ducklings in the wild have a very different diet from those kept as pets. Ducklings require nutrient-rich food to help them grow and become good swimmers. Therefore, the nutritional requirements of ducklings differ significantly from that of adult ducks, and simply giving them the same food can be detrimental to the health of your ducklings. This being said, what do baby ducks eat? And what is the best food for ducklings?
Ducklings eat many things, including worms, algae, grass, bird seed, nuts, and barley. No single food group is best for ducklings. Still, a combination of different types of food is the most nutritional for them. Ducklings may also eat pellets, lettuce, and oats.
Store-bought duck food may be a convenient option but may not be ideal for raising the healthiest ducklings. For example, many people are tempted to feed ducks bread, but this should be avoided and has no nutritional value for ducklings. In addition, bread can be dangerous to their digestive system. There are many healthier alternatives to feed your ducklings that are also highly nutritional.
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What Do Ducklings Eat?
In the wild, ducklings eat whatever they can find. But as pets, their options can be a bit more limited. Many duckling owners opt to feed their ducklings store-bought duck food or even the same food that adult ducks eat. While this can provide some nutrients for ducklings, it does not meet all their nutritional requirements.
Ducklings eat ¼ pound of food daily, but as they grow, they begin to eat a lot more. During the first 4-5 weeks of a duckling’s life, they will graze and won’t need much food during this time.
When raising ducklings, the best foods to feed them are:
- Barley
- Oats
- Mealworms
- Fresh fruit
- Greens
- Birdseed
- Duck pellets
- Cracked corn
What To Feed Ducklings From A Day Old To 3 Weeks Old
When raising ducks from a day to 3 weeks old, you can feed them waterfowl crumbs or chicken feed. Fancy Feed Chick Crumbs is a good starter feed for ducklings. However, the crumbs are rich in protein and are not healthy for your ducklings if eaten past 3 weeks. This can be complimented by a few greens, but the ducklings may be too young to show interest in them.
What To Feed Ducklings From 4-16 Weeks Old
Ducklings that are 4-16 weeks old are big enough to eat pellets, greens, mealworms, and grass cuttings. To help digest this type of food, ducklings need chick grit. The smaller-sized chick grit is best as it’s easier for the ducklings to eat.
What To Feed Ducklings When You Have No Feed
If you run out of food for your ducklings, you can hard boil eggs, mash them and feed them to your ducklings. This shouldn’t be done long-term and is only a temporary solution when you run out of feed.
What Is The Best Food For Ducklings?
The best food for ducklings is a starter feed with other foods like mealworms, lettuce, and cracked corn. Depending on how old the ducklings are, you’ll want to make most of their food starter feed. Ducks need a good amount of protein, roughly 18% -20%, which they can get by consuming starter feed.
Ducklings love fruit. You can give ducklings a variety of fruit, including strawberries and peaches. If feeding your ducklings leafy greens, you can include these:
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Swiss chard
- Cut grass
All fruit and greens should be mashed for your ducklings. Ducklings don’t chew and won’t be able to eat pieces of fruit. On occasion, ducklings can be fed corn and other grains. Ducklings should also not be fed spinach.
Other vegetables that you can feed your ducks include:
- Zucchini
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Peas
What Food Should You Avoid Feeding Your Ducklings?
The worst food you could give your ducklings is bread. Bread has no nutritional value for ducks and can hinder their digestion. This is because a duckling’s digestive system struggles to break down bread, causing them to feel unwell after eating it. This being said, feeding ducklings bread also makes them less likely to find their own food and graze, which offers more nutritional value.
The following foods must be avoided when feeding your ducklings:
- Bread
- Baked goods
- Chocolate
- Citrus fruits
- Onions
- Avocados
- Popcorn
- Crackers
- Cereal
- Potato chips
Can You Give Your Ducklings Treats?
As ducklings grow into adult ducks, they can enjoy occasional treats. However, duckling treats should be given in moderation and should not make up more than 10% of your duckling’s diet.
Some good treats include:
- Earthworms and mealworms
- Insects
- Yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Mashed fruit
- Apple sauce
- Slugs and snails
Can Ducklings Eat Regular Duck Feed?
Ducklings should not be fed regular duck food. Adult ducks eat layer feed which consists mainly of calcium and is not sufficient protein for ducklings. Eating this feed will not provide the correct nutrients for your ducklings.
Regular duck feed may also be too tricky for ducklings to digest. Ducklings need grit to digest their food. They’ll find their own grit if they are free roaming outside during the day. Ducklings eat quite a lot and should have access to food throughout the day.
Ducklings eat chick feed, the most suitable feed for their nutritional requirements. Therefore, regular duck food should not be given to ducklings.
Tips On Feeding Ducklings
When ducklings are 7-9 weeks old, they can be kept outdoors and are ready to start swimming as soon as their feathers grow. When ducklings are kept outside, they may forage for their own food but still rely on you to feed them.
Here are a few tips on feeding your ducklings:
- Ducklings swallow sand and pebbles, this helps with their digestion, and there is no reason to be concerned if you see your ducklings eating dirt
- For the first few days after ducklings have hatched, they will live off the egg yolk from their hatched egg
- Starter feed and a vitamin B complex in the first few weeks are crucial to a duckling’s development
- Fruit should be given in moderation
- Vegetables and leafy greens should be given regularly; they are highly nutritious for ducks.
- Once ducks are 12 weeks old, you can include cottage cheese and greek yogurt into their diet.
- Avoid foods that are citrus, processed foods, and acidic foods.
Conclusion
The best food for baby ducks is a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruit, starter feed, and leafy greens. Depending on how old your ducklings are, they may require different types of food. Duck treats should be limited to keep your ducklings healthy. Ducklings will also eat sand and stone to help their digestion and, when kept outside, will often look for their own food.
