Duck food advice

[Olivia9801]

I’ve had chickens for years but have only just had ducks for the first time. They share a large secure run with our chickens and get on really well. In the winter I primarily feed my hens on mixed corn which the ducks are having as well.

Can anyone advise me on what else I should be feeding the ducks in general and as a treat? Whenever I can I let them out in our field but not as much as I’d like due to fox worries.

Thanks

olivia9801

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hi! Mixed corn would be the ‘treat’ their main ration should be pelleted feed such as Fenland waterfowl pellets or Allan and Paige poultry pellets which is suitable for both chickens and ducks. ???

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Ps and of course they need greens such as romain lettuce and kale (not spinach) I think there is a good article about what to feed ducks on this site.
Quacks!

 

[Marigold]

Hi Olivia, and as you mention that you mainly feed your hens on mixed corn, that counts as an occasional treat for them as well as the ducks. The hens need mainly layers pellets, which wil have the correct balance of extra calcium to support strong eggshells, vitamins and minerals, and sufficient protein for their needs when laying. Too much mixed corn will put their diet out of balance and will cause them to gain weight and put on fat round their ovaries, which can cause egg laying problems and other potentially fatal disease in later life.
I understand it can be difficult to feed the two species separately as their needs are different, which is one reason why keeping ducks and hens together in the same run isn’t ideal. Maybe, as you say it’s a large run, you could divide it?