Newly hatched ducks need a very different diet than adult ducks. What they eat helps them develop into strong swimmers and capable flyers.
For their first two weeks, start your ducklings on a chick feed that has high protein levels (approximately 18-20%). Switch to grower when they reach 3 weeks old.
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Duckling Starter
When you bring home new ducklings, it’s important to keep in mind what they need to eat. A good diet for baby ducks will give them the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy into adult ducks.
They also need water to drink at all times. Change the water daily and be sure to clean the waterer after each use.
The waterer should be large enough for them to hold their whole body in it, and deep enough that they can rinse off their nostrils and beaks while drinking. This will help prevent impaction and other problems.
You can also feed hard-boiled, mashed eggs to them. This will give them a quick energy boost, and it is a good temporary feed.
Feeding your newly hatched ducks a proper diet is one of the most crucial things you can do for their health and well-being. Follow these steps and you’ll have happy, healthy ducklings in no time!
Greens
Ducklings need a wide range of foods to ensure healthy growth and development. They need around five feedings per day and should be fed a variety of high-quality foods such as eggs, vegetables, fruit, seeds, herbs, and dried grass clippings.
Start them off on the right foot with duck starter feed that is made to meet their needs. This feed is low in fat and contains a high level of protein (up to 18% for their first two weeks) that is essential for their growth.
It also has all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for their health. Niacin is a must as it plays an important role in the development of strong legs and healthy joints for ducklings.
Greens such as Swiss chard, kale, and Romain lettuce are favourite treats for your ducklings. Chop them up fine and float them in their water bowl, or offer them as a small side dish at meal time.
Eggs
Whether you are raising ducks for food or just for fun, having freshly hatched ducklings is an exciting and wonderful experience. But like chicks, newly hatched ducklings require special care to ensure they are healthy and ready to be transferred to the brooder once they have hatched.
To be sure you are providing the best hatching environment for your eggs, keep a log of daily temperature and humidity readings as well as any changes you make. It is especially important to monitor humidity levels during the last 10 days of incubation as the ducklings inside the eggs will increase the incubator’s heat naturally and you will need to adjust it down as needed to maintain optimal conditions for hatching.
After the duckling has pipped and begun breathing outside air, it will begin working to crack their egg shells, a process called “zipping.” Newly hatched ducklings are generally tired and need a day or two in the incubator to dry off and rest before being transferred to the brooder.
Treats
Ducklings need a diet rich in vitamins and minerals to ensure healthy growth. Insufficient levels can cause rickets, bone disorders and even death.
They also need adequate water, as it helps their digestive system and keeps their bills clean. If possible, you can give your ducklings a pond to bathe in.
Baby ducks should start out on a diet of mealworms, plant matter, and other natural foods that are easy to digest. Once a duckling reaches four weeks old, they may shift to eating more grass or bugs, as long as the food hasn’t been moldy.
A high nutrient feed is recommended at this age with a protein level of around 18-20%. During their egg-laying life, they need this protein to keep their bodies and bones strong enough for the long haul.
