Feeding Ducks - What to Feed For Correct Nutrition If You Want To Raise Healthy Ducks?

Probably one of the most common images
conceivable while strolling on a lovely summer
day in a nearby park with adorable little ducks
in a pond is of the passersby throwing these
creatures crumbs of bread or crackers, or even
pieces of doughnuts or bits of popcorn. What
most people do not know about feeding ducks is
that these types of tidbits are potentially
dangerous to them. Bread, for ducks, is
equivalent to junk food, and therefore an
excessive amount can lead to malnutrition and
weight gain. Bread is acceptable if given in
moderation but it is extremely difficult to
judge the amount of their intake if everybody
keeps on throwing them these morsels.

Waterfowl such as ducks can thrive beautifully
on aquatic plants, grass, even snails and
insects. If the urge of feeding ducks must be
satisfied, one can give them chopped hardboiled
eggs even with the shell on, vegetable greens,
or tomatoes. Otherwise, the urge should be
curbed.

As for pets and domesticated ducks, unmedicated
mash pellets are the recommended staple food. It
can be supplemented with the above mentioned duck
snacks such as vegetable trimmings, tomatoes,
boiled eggs with shell on, and even some cracked
corn. Cracked corn though must not be used as a
staple as it does not supply the proper amount
of protein, which can pose health problems. It
is also important to always read labels because
the level of protein is crucial to a duck's
growth.

Here is a brief summary of the advisable protein
levels for feeding ducks according to their age
requirements:

- Ducklings to three weeks: 20-22% protein
- Adolescents (3 to 6weeks): 16% protein
- Females over 6weeks (laying): 16-18% protein
- Females over 6weeks (not laying) or Males over
6weeks: 14-16% protein

When feeding ducks, always make sure they have
fresh drinking water. Ducks have no teeth, so
the water is essential for them to swallow their
food. Pellets and crumbles are ideal because they
are very simple to use and do not make much of a
mess.

Here is a quick look on what to feed your
domestic duck:

- Staple foods: Mash, crumbles or pellets
- Supplements: Vegetable greens, tomatoes,
carrots -> chopped hardboiled eggs with shell on
-> worms, snails, slugs, insects
- Avoid: Bread, seeds, nuts -> human food that
even humans should not consume in large amounts
such as fatty, salty, and sweet foods

Remember to consult your veterinarian for more
explicit instructions on feeding ducks together
with your pursuit of how to raise ducks, in
order to provide your ducks with optimum care.

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Are you looking for more tips on feeding ducks?
If you think you still need guidance on where to
start, consulting existing duck owners and
farmers will certainly be a big help. If you
would like to learn more about raising ducks
correctly, click here:
http://www.howtoraiseducks.com

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