Welcome back to Duck Adventures. One of the most fun parts of having the ducks is feeding time. They have a ferocious appetite after wandering around the yard and swimming in the pond all day. You might be wondering, what do ducks eat?
First have a look at my video.
In nature ducks eat:
Small fish and fish eggs.
Snails, worms, slugs, and mollusks.
Small crustaceans such as crayfish.
Grass, leaves, and weeds.
Algae and aquatic plants and roots.
Frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, and other amphibians.
Aquatic and land insects.
Seeds and grain.
Even though they forage all day for some of the above items, I supplement their diet to make sure they stay healthy. I feed them a mixture of cracked corn and a poultry feed, the latter of which of which provides protein and necessary nutrients. I normally feed them once a day, usually in the evening. I don't have to call them up from the pond most days, as they are very aware of when it is dinner time!
Another item I have found that ducks love is lettuce. How do I know? My garden is very close to the pond and the ducks have been known to eat lettuce right from the garden. Last year I built a raised bed type wooden box to enclose the lettuce and other greens I grow, I cover with fabric to protect from the ducks, insects and harsh sun. Occasionally I will feed them some of the "scraps" for a treat.
Many people will feed ducks bread including myself in the past. However, THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE DUCKS. It can lead to obesity, malnutrition, and a disease called "angel wing", which s basically a malformed wing causes by too much food in a short period of time
Stay tuned for more Duck Adventuress.