Updated September 13, 2021
If you’re reading this resource, there are likely some special duckUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated duck breeds, not wild ducks, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource. residents in your life who you’d like to provide the best possible care for! The compassionate lifelong care of ducksUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated duck breeds, not wild ducks, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource. at animal sanctuaries starts with the food they’re provided. While ducks are all individuals who have their own preferences and needs, there are some general principles to consider in their physiology and nutritional needs!
When it comes to feeding ducks, you may be overwhelmed initially by the number of choices and amount of information out there. By first understanding what a duck’s essential needs are, you can make informed decisions about how to feed and supplement the flock and have the knowledge to backup your choices.
What Does A Duck Need?
Like every animal, ducks have their own specific nutritional needs that must be met. In order to help them be happy and healthy birds, ducks require the following:
Ducks, like other poultry, do not actually require “protein” but the individual amino acids contained in dietary proteins. The proteins in the diet are broken down during digestion to amino acids which are absorbed and used by the duck to make their own body proteins, such as those in muscle and feathers. Certain of these amino acids must be supplied in the diet because the duck cannot make them from other sources. These are called essential amino acids. When formulating foods for ducks, primary attention is paid to meeting the ducks essential amino acid requirements. Protein levels that meet the ducks amino acid requirements may vary slightly, depending upon the amino acid content of the ingredients used in each formulation.
Grains include any small, hard grass family seeds like oats, corn, or wheat. They provide Vitamin B, Vitamin E, and Phosphorus, if you give them whole grains. If you scatter a whole grain duck scratch across the yard, ducks get a dual benefit of food and some foraging fun! Whole grain scratch is much better than an only cracked corn scratch. However, scratch grains should only make up around 10% of a duck’s total diet as they are not nutritionally complete sources of food. It’s critical to know that grains must not be allowed to get wet and moldy. This can be fatal to ducks.
Among many benefits, fresh greens provide Vitamin E, important for a duck’s immune system, along with Riboflavin, Vitamin A, and Calcium. If you have a yard, greens are very simple to provide for ducks. Let them out onto your grass and they’ll get some of these benefits, but do not allow ducks onto your yard if it’s treated with pesticides! You can also feed ducks healthy greens and some green scraps, but avoid known poisonous greens (see “Things that are toxic to ducks”, below).
Not to be confused with the diner classic, insoluble grit refers to small hard rocks and pebbles that a duck will swallow as an aid to digest food in their gizzardthe muscular enlargement of the digestive tract of birds that has usually thick muscular walls and a tough horny lining for grinding the food and when the crop is present follows it and the proventriculus since they lack teeth. If birds are free range, they’ll take care of their grit needs on their own. If in confinement, you’ll have to provide them with hard grit at least once a month. Make sure that this grit is the appropriate size for the bird in your care; a ducklingA young duck can’t handle anything much bigger than sand! You can also leave a bucket of insoluble grit out for ducks to access freely as they desire. If ducks lack grit, they can develop digestive issues such as an impacted crop.
Ducks require nearly twice as much niacin in their diets than chickens in order to remain healthy. This is important to know if you are currently feeding ducks chicken feed, as it will not provide enough niacin needed for a duck. Niacin deficiency in ducklings is particularly problematic and can lead to serious leg and joint issues and even death. Be sure the diet you are feeding your resident ducks is a special duck formula or you are supplementing their diet with niacin.
‘If a bird is eating a lot of greens or formulated food, they’ll get plenty of both vitamin A and calcium. However, you should monitor ducks’ eggshells. A soft shell means they could be calcium deficient, and may require supplementation to protect them from reproductive illness and osteoporosis (though there are other things that could cause soft-shelled eggs, so you should always get your veterinarian’s opinion first). Actively laying ducks require up to three times as much calcium as non-laying ducks, so it’s important to have extra calcium sources on the ready, including natural sources like black oil sunflower seeds.
Vitamin D is typically produced in a duck’s body through exposure to sunlight (just like in people!). If you live in an area with long stretches of dark or cloudy weather such as the Pacific Northwest, it’s important to provide a duck with extra supplementation of Vitamin D, especially in Vitamin D3 form. A Vitamin D deficiency in ducks can lead to weak bones and shells. Their need for vitamin D significantly increases if they have inadequate levels of calcium and (or) phosphorous. Kelp is a popular natural source of Vitamin D for ducks.
‘This should be a no-brainer, but ducks need fresh water every day! They require access to fresh water near their food as they often like to make use of the water to help them eat and prevent an impacted cropA crop is a pouched enlargement of the esophagus of many birds that serves as a receptacle for food and for its preliminary maceration.. Make sure to keep the water in or near their coop so it’s always easily available and ensure that it’s clean, because (probably like yourself), they won’t drink dirty water. Consider investing in a poultry fountain if you want to prevent water waste and maximize cleanliness, but you’ll need to offer an additional open water container for cleaning purposes. In the winter, you have to make sure their water supply doesn’t freeze! Use a barn-safe water heater if necessary.
In addition to fresh drinking water, ducks need water for swimming and bathing. Ducks are particularly susceptible to botulism so it is important that their water supply is kept clean and well aerated. If you have provided them with an artificial pool, you will want to be sure to regularly remove dead leaves and other plants matter and be sure to drain and clean it regularly. If duck residents are lucky enough to have a natural pond, make sure the water is not polluted by household or industrial waste!
Types Of Food
There are a number of duck food brands on the market (though not nearly as many as there are for chickens). Many of them provide complete nutrition for ducks without any antibiotics, hormones, or animal byproducts. Food typically comes in pellet or granular form, which is preferable to mixed seed as it prevents ducks from picking and choosing (and missing out on essential nutrients).
It is preferable to choose a food made specifically for waterfowl, though chicken food can be used. However, chickens and ducks while needing many of the same nutrients, require them in different ratios. If you temporarily have to use chicken food, you’ll want to purchase brewer’s yeast to add to the ducks’ feed because ducks, especially ducklings, require more niacin than chickens. You can ask your local feed store to order this if they don’t have it in stock, or order it online. One high quality, though expensive, brand of duck food is Mazuri. Scratch can be served as a treat or motivator for ducks, but should comprise no more than 10% of their diet, as it is not nutritionally complete.
Comparing Different Commercial Domesticated Duck Food Formulations
The following is a sortable, filterable reference guide to common commercial domesticatedAdapted over time (as by selective breeding) from a wild or natural state to life in close association with and to the benefit of humans duck food formulations. Please note that this is based on information provided by the suppliers and may be different than what is currently offered. Also please note that The Open Sanctuary Project does not endorse any product or brand, nor do we receive sponsorship from any product or brand.
Feeding “Layer” Ducks
Some duck breeds lay close to the same number of eggs as chickens typically exploited for eggs and may require a diet more similar to that of an actively laying chicken to make up for the high nutritional deficit created by egg-laying. A scratch grain-only diet may result in nutritional deficiencies. Some people choose to feed a “layer food” that advertises as being appropriate for ducks as well as chickens, such as Purina Layena SunFresh, or to offer a food such as Purina Flock Raiser SunFresh with additional free-choice calcium available. Majestic Waterfowl recommends feeding a mix of Mazuri Waterfowl Maintenance and Mazuri Waterfowl Breeder, increasing the percentage of Breeder formula based on how much the ducks are laying. If you are feeding female ducks who are no longer laying due to age, you may need to adjust their nutrition in terms of overall calorie or protein ratios. Drakes also do not typically need the extra protein or calcium that “layer” food provides. You should consider having a discussion with a qualified avian veterinarian about food recommendations for different kinds of ducks in your care.
Feeding Large Breed Ducks
As a special note, if you are caring for large breed ducks, such as “Jumbo Pekins” it’s important to offer a food that is lower in fat, protein, and calories. Though Pekins are often referred to as “the broilers of the duck world,” and though they can grow quite large, they do not seem to face the same issues with self-regulation when it comes to food. It’s best to closely monitor the weight and body conditions of every duck in your care, but pay extra attention to breeds typically exploited for their flesh, as obesity can cause foot and joint issues as well as other health conditions.
Suggestions For Food Storage
In addition to feeding a high quality food, you must be sure to store the food properly to ensure your residents reap all the nutritional benefits. Food will keep best if kept in a cool, dry, dark place. All food, including unopened bags, should be stored in tightly sealed metal cans or thick plastic bins to prevent rodents from getting into food. You can contact the supplier to determine their food’s recommended shelf life, but in general properly stored bagged food will last about 3 months. Storing food too long or in undesirable conditions can not only lead to rancid or moldy food, but can also cause food to become depleted of vitamins and minerals. Be aware that you should never feed rancid or moldy food to ducks as it can make them very sick.
Things That Are Toxic To Ducks
There are a number of foods that contain potential toxins or substances ducks cannot digest or tolerate. You can find our list of potentially toxic foods here.
Appropriate Treats For Ducks
It’s good practice to have the occasional treat for the flock. This keeps them happy and can also serve as a motivator if you need them to go to a specific area. Some good treats include:
- Fruit and vegetables (but avoid toxic, moldy, or rotten fruits and vegetables!)
- Broccoli
- Cucumbers
- Corn – warmed frozen corn (not hot!)
- Peas
- Cooked beans
- Kale
- Lettuce – romaine lettuce is the most nutritious. Iceberg lettuce holds no nutrients for the ducks and should not be given with regularity. It can cause scours (diarrhea).
- Sliced Apples – no seeds or cores
- Pumpkin – chopped
- Grapes – chopped
- Watermelon
- Berries – raspberry, blackberry, black raspberry, strawberries, and blueberries are good choices
- Cantaloupe
- Bananas
- Oatmeal and other scratch grains, like cracked corn in moderation
*Keep in mind that these should be supplemental to their diet, not be the bulk of it!
Natural Supplements For Ducks
You should always consult with a veterinarian or avian expert when deciding how to treat duck health issues, as natural remedies rarely will work as the sole solution for many ailments, especially when it comes to pain or infections. However, there have been reported benefits from certain supplements added to a duck’s diet. Here are some natural supplements that you can employ alongside medical treatment in order to help out the flock:
- FlaxseedWhen using flaxseed as an animal supplement, it should be ground, not served whole. Consider using a clean coffee grinder and grinding the seed right before feeding for greatest effectiveness! and turmeric sprinkled on chopped grapes can help as an anti-inflammatory treatment and, when supplemented in the diet of ducklings, it was found to reverse the aflatoxin-induced liver damage.
- Chopped or powdered garlic can be fed to help eliminate worm infestations
- Bee Balm can be used to promote a strong immune system and respiratory health
There are many considerations when it comes to the daily needs and desires of a duck, but don’t get too stressed out over it! Stick with the basics at first and modify depending on what the birds in your care are looking for. They’ll let you know if changes have to be made!
SOURCES:
Waterfowl Care: Ducks And Geese | Farm Sanctuary
An HSUS Report: The Welfare of Animals in the Duck Industry | Humane Society Of The United States
What Should I Feed My Pet Ducks | RSPCA Knowledge Base
Care And Feeding Of Pet Ducks | For The Birds Veterinary Hospital
The Majestic Monthly Issue 22 | Majestic Waterfowl
Angel Wing | Poultry DVMDoctor of Veterinary Medicine, an academic degree awarded to veterinarians in many countries. (Non-Compassionate Source)
List Of Plants Toxic For Ducks And Chickens | Knoji (Non-Compassionate Source)
Turmeric | Poultry DVM (Non-Compassionate Source)
Vitamin D Deficiency | Poultry DVM (Non-Compassionate Source)
Bee Balm | Poultry DVM (Non-Compassionate Source)
Duck Nutrition | Cornell University (Non-Compassionate Source)
