Pekin Ducks are hardy ducks, able to survive in almost any climate. They are also friendly, getting along well with other breeds, chickens, and humans. Although they are flighty around children, they are happy to be handled and fed by their owners. You can feed them with their favorite treats or by hand-feeding them.
Mealworms
Mealworms are a good source of protein for ducks. They also like to eat slugs. They don’t scratch plants like chickens do, but they’ll eat other insects like crickets and grubs. If you want to feed your ducks healthy food, you can buy mealworms at a bait shop.
You can also feed your duck fruit and vegetables. Apples, peaches, and grapes are safe for your duck, but you need to remove the seeds. You can also give them peas, cucumbers, broccoli, and all sorts of squash. However, avoid giving them canned pineapple since it contains too much sugar.
Another good food for ducks is cabbage. Both green and red cabbage are suitable. You can also feed them turnips, as long as they’re cooked. However, be careful to remove the peels, since the ducks can eat them. Additionally, they can be fed zucchini. But, remember that you shouldn’t feed your ducks spinach.
Mealworms need a moist source, which can be provided by carrots or apple slices. However, you must keep the container away from direct sunlight. The temperature of the mealworm container should be around 75 degrees F. If you live in a colder area, you can also add a heat emitter. Don’t forget to add humidity to your container. Higher humidity will help mealworms reproduce faster. Most areas have enough humidity, but if your climate is dry, you can add some water.
Mealworms are a great source of protein for pekin ducks. Mealworms are also good for the ducks’ health. If you’re interested in owning a pet Pekin duck, make sure to read up on the diet requirements of this species.
Alfalfa pellets
Alfalfa pellets are a staple of a Pekin duck’s diet and are generally high in various vitamins and minerals. Pekin ducks also enjoy other types of foods, including lettuce, spinach, carrots, and apples. However, they are most fond of alfalfa pellets, which contain a high amount of fiber and protein. Alfalfa is also known to help your Pekin duck maintain a healthy weight.
While alfalfa is often marketed as a supplement, it’s actually much more natural than most people think. Ducks have the ability to forage for weeds and herbs that are found in their natural environment. This helps boost their immune system and thwart respiratory infections.
Alfalfa pellets are rich in antioxidants and amino acids, and provide a valuable source of energy for your ducks. The study also measured the carcass yield of male ducks fed with both types of feed. Both diets were designed to contain 25% crude protein on a DM basis.
Alfalfa is a source of vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. It contains Vitamin B1 (thiamine) and Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as well as Vitamin D3. It can also treat digestive disorders. In addition to these benefits, alfalfa is high in calcium and iron. Using alfalfa in your duck’s diet will help prevent them from developing kidney stones.
Duckweed
Duckweed is a type of plant that floats on water. It has one to four leaves and a single root that emerges from its underside. This plant is found worldwide and is essential to ducks and other creatures that live near water. It’s also a good source of energy and protein.
The energy content of duckweed is 10.1 MJ/kg DM. In one study, duckweed was substituted for half of the fishmeal in the conventional diet. The amount of protein was essentially the same for both groups. Duckweed provided a similar level of protein to that of roasted soybeans and fishmeal.
The crude protein content of duckweed is high, ranging from 27.0 to 33.5% of dry matter (DM). When tested in ducks, duckweed showed a high digestibility of protein. Its true protein digestibility was 40.0 to 56.8%, which is much higher than the value of the control diet. However, a comparison of fresh and dried duckweed was not conclusive.
If you’d like to raise a flock of pekin ducks, you can consider growing some of your own duck feed. This will not only save you money, but it will improve the environment as well. Duckweed is also an excellent choice for growing duck feed in a homestead setting. As a bonus, it’s easy to grow and provides a healthy alternative to commercial feed.
