Can Baby Ducks Eat Meal Worms?

Baby ducks can eat meal worms, but baby ducks require a greater variety of food in their diet than meal worms alone. Ideally, meal worms should be incorporated, along with a staple food and other treats, as part of a balanced way to provide the baby duck with as much protein as it needs.

  1. Basic Diet

    • Baby ducklings should be fed a steady diet of pellet mash available at most pet stores as their primary staple food. These pelleted mashes come in both medicated and non-medicated, and non-medicated should be used for all ducklings not being raised for commercial meat or egg production. Meal worms can be used as supplemental treats for the duckling, as can garden snails, tomatoes, vegetables, hard-boiled eggs and cracked corn.

    Ages

    • The specific age of the duckling is important in determining how much protein makes up their diet. Baby ducks up to three weeks require between 20 and 22 percent protein. Baby ducks up to six weeks require 16 percent protein.

    Warnings

    • Meal worms are a source of protein and should be factored into the overall diet of the baby duck. Too much protein in their diet can cause deformities in the wing growth. Too little protein in the diet results in major health problems.

    Considerations

    • Baby ducklings should always have fresh water available whenever they are being fed. While meal worms are an acceptable treat, many types of treats commonly fed to ducks should not be part of their diet. The list of prohibitive foods include bread, seeds, chocolate, onions, garlic and nuts.