Whether you keep a few ducks for eggs or simply enjoy their company in the garden, knowing what to feed ducks is the key to healthy, happy birds. Here is a simple guide to a good duck diet, what to avoid, and how to adjust as the weather cools.
What should you feed ducks?
The foundation of any duck's diet should be a good quality complete feed, which provides the balanced protein, vitamins and minerals they need. For laying ducks, a layers pellet is ideal, giving them the nutrition to stay healthy and produce good, strong-shelled eggs. This should make up the bulk of what they eat, with treats and foraging on top rather than in place of it.
Can ducks eat chicken layers pellets?
Yes, ducks can eat layers pellets, and a good layers pellet designed for poultry works well as their main feed. One thing worth knowing is that ducks need more niacin, a B vitamin, than chickens do, particularly growing ducklings. Many keepers of laying ducks are happy feeding a quality layers pellet as the mainstay, and some choose to add a little brewer's yeast as a simple, natural niacin top-up. If you keep ducks and chickens together, a shared layers pellet makes life much easier.
Treats, greens and foraging
Ducks love to forage, and letting them dabble about the garden is great for them. They will happily hoover up slugs, snails and insects, which is good news for your plants. You can also offer leafy greens, peas and the odd handful of mixed corn as a treat. A scatter of mixed corn in the afternoon is a lovely way to give them something to root around for, and a little extra energy heading into a cold night. Keep treats to a sensible amount so they do not fill up at the expense of their balanced feed.
Please do not feed ducks bread
It is a hard habit to break, but bread is poor food for ducks. It fills them up without giving them the nutrition they need, and uneaten soggy bread pollutes water and attracts vermin. The same goes for anything mouldy or heavily processed.
If you want to treat wild ducks at the local pond, far better options are porridge oats, sweetcorn, peas or defrosted frozen peas, and chopped lettuce.
Grit and fresh water
Like all poultry, ducks need access to grit to help them digest their food properly, so keep some available. Water is even more important: ducks need enough clean water not just to drink but to dip and clean their beaks and nostrils. Change it regularly and, as winter approaches, check daily that it has not frozen over.
Feeding ducks through autumn and winter
As the days shorten and the temperature drops, ducks use more energy keeping warm. Keep their layers pellets topped up, add that afternoon handful of mixed corn for a little extra energy, and above all make sure their water never freezes. Ducks are hardy creatures and cope well with cold, but a steady supply of good food and unfrozen water makes all the difference through the winter months.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best food for laying ducks?
A good quality layers pellet as the main feed, which provides the protein and calcium needed for healthy birds and strong eggshells, with treats and foraging on top.
Do ducks need different food from chickens?
They can share a good layers pellet, but ducks need more niacin than chickens, so some keepers add a little brewer's yeast, especially for ducklings.
Why is bread bad for ducks?
Bread fills ducks up without proper nutrition and, left uneaten, fouls water and attracts vermin. Oats, peas, sweetcorn and lettuce are far better treats.
Feed your flock well this autumn
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