Nutrition

The right diet is of the utmost importance for happy, healthy ducks. A balanced diet provides ducks with the vitamins and minerals they need such as Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin B, Calcium, Phosphorus, etc. The nutrients from these foods also help prevent deficiencies and/or significant health problems.

Your ducks’ main diet should consist of an age appropriate commercial feed of pellets/grains. In addition to this, their diet can be supplemented with certain suitable fruits and vegetables. Adult ducks, for example, can eat:  

• Courgette
• Cucumber
• Peas
• Leafy greens (especially kale and romaine lettuce)
• Chopped pumpkin
• Chopped grapes
• Cabbage
• Warmed (but not hot) frozen corn
• Canteloupe
• Vegetable peels, like carrots
• Non-citrus fruits (banana, watermelon, and berries. Apple, pear, peach, cherries, plum can be fed to ducks but ONLY if they are chopped and cored – this means they do not have any seeds or pits as they can be toxic to ducks)

Oatmeal and other safe grains (like cracked corn), can be given to your ducks, but only in moderation. Remember, grains and the above list make for great additions, but should not make up the bulk of your ducks’ diet.

Always consult a veterinarian so they can help you develop a plan for very best diet for your ducks!

Two of a duck’s most natural behaviours are swimming and foraging. As such, it’s not surprising that ducks like to eat in and search/browse for their food around water.

As a responsible duck guardian, you must ensure that you provide your ducks with opportunities to perform this normal behaviour, as it is a key part of their wellbeing. This means they should have access to grass and garden areas, as well as ponds and other water sources.

Ducks love foraging in grass, around the garden, in mulch, and under plants by drilling small holes in the earth. They enjoy eating grass and the many delicious grubs and worms they’ll be able to find in their environments.

Your ducks’ main diet of pellets and grains should be fed to them inside to prevent it from getting wet.

There are many breeds of ducks that are kept at companions – Indian Runner ducks, Pekin ducks, Muscovy ducks, etc. so it’s always important to check in with your veterinarian to ensure you’re catering to your specific ducks’ dietary needs.

Age is also a very important factors when feeding your ducks. Just like puppies need puppy food, and dogs have adult dog biscuits, ducklings need different things from their food than adult ducks.

Before the age of 3 weeks, ducklings need more protein in their diet to grow big and strong. It’s best to feed them a quality commercial duck starter crumble. After 3 weeks and until 20 weeks of age, a little less protein is needed and they can be fed a quality commercial grower food.

After 20 weeks of age, ducks can have quality commercial adult pellets and mixed grains. It’s essential that no matter your ducks’ age, it is best to feed a quality commercial food that is nutritionally balanced for their species and age.

Remember that this is just a general guide - it is always best to consult a veterinarian that specializes in ducks so that your flock is getting the very best diet. Always talk to a veterinarian before feeding your ducks anything you are unsure of.

Insoluble grit is essentially tiny rocks that ducks eat. Because ducks do not have teeth, these rocks help ducks digest their food. Consult a veterinarian to see if, what, how much, and how often your ducks need to be given insoluble grit. Lack of grit can lead to digestive problems such as gut impaction so it’s a key element of your ducks’ health. Grit needs will vary depending on the age of your ducks so be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian, and check to see if they would benefit from the calcium shell grit provides as well.

You should not feed your ducks the following foods:

• Popcorn
• Chocolate
• Garlic
• Avocado
• Citrus fruits
• Mangoes
• Spinach
• White potato
• Bread
• Crackers
• Onions
• Iceberg lettuce  
• Rhubarb
• Peanuts
• Coffee/tea
• Eggplant
• Green Tomatoes
• Moldy or rotten food
• Salty, fatty, greasy, and sweet human foods

These foods are either unhealthy or dangerous for ducks of all ages. A lot of human foods are not a natural part of a duck’s diet and those that are high in carbohydrates can increase a duck’s risk of health issues, like obesity. Always talk to a veterinarian before feeding your ducks anything you are unsure of.

It’s also important to note that feeding ducks is different than feeding chickens. They are different species that have specific feeding needs and most chicken feed will not contain the right formula for your ducks, which can be especially harmful to growing ducklings. Your veterinarian will be able to let you know when/if certain chicken feed is appropriate to give to your flock and if they need supplements.

It is essential to NEVER feed your ducks grains that have gotten wet and moldy. Ducks are particularly sensitive to mold and it can cause serious health and welfare issues for ducks that can often be life-threatening.

As such, you need to make sure that you are storing your ducks’ food appropriately. This means all food should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place, tightly seals in appropriate containers. This will also ensure your ducks are getting the full amount of vitamins and minerals from their feed!

There are a number of plants that are poisonous to ducks, so it’s important to make sure they are not growing in the pasture or garden where they forage, and that you do not feed them to your flock. Some of these plants include:

• Plants that come from bulbs such as lilies, hyacinth, and daffodils
• Avocado
• Bird of Paradise
• Buttercup
• Coriander
• Elderberry
• Azalea
• Beans including castor beans, fava beans, navy beans, etc.
• Honeysuckle
• Ivy
• Juniper
• Mistletoe
• Some types of mushrooms
• Potato plants
• Rhubarb

Always ask a veterinarian before feeding your ducks anything you are unsure of.

Not only do ducks need constant access to fresh water sources like ponds and pools to carry out natural behaviours, but they also need clean, fresh water available to drink at all times!

In fact, one duck will use approximately 1 litre of water every day so they need to be able to have access to several different water sources. There should be water dishes near their food dishes as well, as they need heaps of water to wash their food down. Just be sure that they are not too close so that the water is kept as clean and their food does not get wet. Keeping your ducks’ water on a safe drainage area can help with this as well.  

All sources of drinking water need to be freshened and cleaned every day so that your ducks do not get sick. Ponds and pools should also be kept clean and away from harmful pesticides and fertilizers. It’s essential to implement a cleaning and disinfection schedule so that this is done routinely!

Be sure to learn your ducks’ normal feeding and drinking behaviours (when, how much, and how often they eat/drink) so that if there is ever a change, you will notice right away and can consult your veterinarian.

Another thing to check is your ducks’ droppings. Any abnormal changes should be reported to your vet.

For more information about how to know whether your duck may be ill, check out our Health section.

You must always make sure that your ducks get the care and attention they need when you are on holiday. Your ducks are dependent on you, so it’s important they are not left alone. 

While you’re away, make sure whoever is caring for your ducks knows about your companion animal’s requirements. Leave a list of care instructions including your veterinarian’s contact details for emergencies.