When ducklings hatch from their eggs, they require a warm and secure home to grow up in. This could include a brooding box or other enclosure, food, and water.
As a general guideline, baby ducks should receive five feedings daily. Furthermore, they require an ample supply of protein and niacin. Niacin deficiency may lead to symptoms such as bowed legs, enlarged hock joints, or difficulty walking.
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Starter Crumbs
Ducklings require a high nutrient feed with protein levels of 18-20% for their first couple of weeks. Feed them starter crumbles for two weeks, then switch to lower protein chick grower feed (16-18%, still non medicated).
You can also add rolled oats or other grains to your starter crumbs to replace up to 20% of their protein level. Doing this helps your ducklings grow at a normal rate (vs the faster rates often recommended for broilers and commercial egg layers), which in the long run is better for them.
Niacin is especially essential for ducklings, and you can supplement their dry food with brewer’s yeast to meet their niacin needs. Add 5 to 7.5 pounds of yeast per 100 pounds of chick starter.
Duck Egg Yolk
Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs and contain more fat, protein, cholesterol and calories per egg. Their yolks tend to be richer in color as well, making them ideal for custards, puddings, scrambled eggs or waffles.
They whip to stiffer peaks than chicken eggs, making them perfect for meringues and macaroons. Not only do these eggs taste incredibly delicious, but they’re better for your heart too – than their chicken counterparts!
The hue of a duck’s egg yolk depends on their intake of xanthophylls (pronounced zanthofils). The more xanthophylls they consume, the oranger their yolk will appear!
These eggs may be harder to come by than chicken eggs, but they’re certainly worth searching for! Not only are they more difficult to crack open, but the flavor depends on which duck laid them.
Grower’s Pellets
Ducklings grow quickly during this stage, so it is essential that they receive a high-quality diet to meet their nutritional requirements. The food should be complete and balanced with all essential vitamins and minerals.
Feeding a grower’s pellet diet to young ducks can help maximize performance and minimize wastage. This diet, with an estimated protein level of 16-18%, makes for an excellent choice for newly hatched ducks.
Be mindful that ducks have a gizzard which uses small stones to break down food, so providing them with grit is beneficial, particularly during their first few weeks of life.
Once a duckling has reached adult size, you can transition them onto standard chicken layer feed or water fowl layer feed (if available). This will provide them with more protein content which in turn encourages them to develop and lay eggs.
Adult Duck Food
Newly hatched ducklings require a high quality feed with a protein level of 18-20%. They can begin with starter crumble or non-medicated chick feed. Make sure it’s an easily digestible dry mash for young birds.
They will require daily access to shell grit for calcium to support the development of strong eggshells, and should transition onto a grower’s pellet diet once they reach 3 weeks old.
When your birds begin laying eggs, you can switch them over to a high quality layer feed with 16% protein and added calcium for shell strength. For drakes and senior hens, however, you may need to switch their weight-related maintenance feed with less protein and calcium if needed.
Make sure they get plenty of water to drink each day – up to half a gallon! Plus, let them swim and paddle in the pond! Additionally, provide them with daily access to bugs, worms and earthworms for nutrition.
