What Do I Feed Ducklings?

The nutritional needs of ducklings are similar to those of other poultry. In their earliest weeks, they need a protein-rich starter feed that will provide them with amino acids for healthy growth. As they grow older, they need a grower feed with less protein. In both stages, ducklings must have constant access to fresh food and clean water. Mixing a healthy, nutritionally balanced duck feed requires considerable time and knowledge. Therefore, you'll want to provide ducklings with a commercial duck feed from a farm supply store.

  1. 24 Hours to Two Weeks

    • In the first 24 hours after hatching, ducklings rely on their egg̵7;s yolk sac for nutrition. After this time, ducklings should have access to a starter feed consisting of high-protein crumbles or mash fortified with vitamins and minerals. If duckling feed isn̵7;t available locally, a nonmedicated chick starter containing roughly 22 percent protein will provide adequate nutrition -- medicated chick starters can be toxic to ducklings. Place the crumbles in egg cartons or on a piece of rough paper, such as a flattened grocery bags, as ducklings may injure their legs if forced to eat from a slick surface. Water must be readily available near dry food to prevent choking and should be changed daily. Young ducklings can drown or succumb to hypothermia in small amounts of water, so you must prevent them from getting into the water dish.

    Two Weeks and Older

    • After two to three weeks of starter feed, you can mix some grower pellets with the ducklings̵7; crumbles. Again, this can be a specialized duck feed or a nonmedicated grower feed for chickens. Ducklings aged three to six weeks can also have green feed, such as chopped grass, dandelions or lettuce. By five weeks, the pellets should be supplemented with grains like cracked corn, oats and wheat, as well as an insoluble grit or sand. Older ducklings will forage for green feed if given the opportunity. They will also eat slugs, worms, aphids, beetles, snails and similar prey.

    Food Quality

    • Ducks are extremely sensitive to mold, so it̵7;s essential to give them fresh, clean, high-quality food. To avoid contamination and spoilage, store duckling feed in a dry, safe place away from bugs, rats and other vermin. Feed should be used within three weeks of its date of manufacture; discard any feed that looks or smells moldy. Household scraps, wet mash and other moist foods should be given only in amounts that ducklings will eat in a single day.

    Foods to Avoid

    • Many people have fond childhood memories of feeding bread to ducks at a local pond. However, ducks of any age should not be given bread, crackers, popcorn or similar products. These foods fill their stomachs without nourishing them, which can lead to deformed wings and other growth defects. Apart from age-appropriate duck feed, a duckling̵7;s diet should be as close as possible to its natural diet. If you wish to give your ducklings a treat, live and dried mealworms are widely available at pet and poultry stores.