Uncooked rice: Wild ducks eat uncooked rice in rice fields. Small fish: Some species of ducks, such as mergansers, eat small fish. Insects: Ducks eat a variety of insects, including beetles, flies, and mosquitoes. Some common foods for wild ducks include:Īquatic plants: Wild ducks consume a variety of aquatic plants, such as water hyacinth, wild rice plants, and other moist soil plants. In general, they feed on a combination of plant and animal matter. Wild ducks have a diverse diet that varies depending on their habitat and the season. In this section, we will explore what wild ducks eat, why it is important to mimic a natural diet when feeding ducks, what to include in homemade duck feed, and what to avoid. Natural Diet for Ducksĭucks are omnivorous birds that eat a variety of foods in the wild, including aquatic plants, insects, small fish, and even eggs.

Feeding your ducks homemade food can create a stronger bond between you and your feathered friends. It allows you to learn more about your ducks’ nutritional needs and experiment with different recipes. Making your own duck food can be a fun and educational activity for the whole family. You can also add supplements like oyster shell and rolled oats to ensure that your ducks are getting all the nutrients they need. You can include natural sources of protein, such as aquatic plants and wild rice, as well as healthy vegetable trimmings. Varietyĭucks love a varied diet, and making your own duck food allows you to provide them with a variety of foods. You can also include protein sources that ducks love, such as hardboiled eggs, soybean meal, and sunflower seeds. By making your own duck food, you can ensure that your ducks are getting the nutrients they need without any added chemicals or preservatives. Better NutritionĬommercial feed often contains fillers and additives that are not healthy for ducks. This way, you can ensure that your ducks are getting a balanced and varied diet that meets their nutritional needs. You can choose high-quality, natural ingredients that are healthy for your ducks. When you make your own duck food, you have complete control over the ingredients. You can adjust the recipe to fit your budget and the number of ducks you have. You can use ingredients that are readily available and often cheaper than commercial feed. Making your own duck food can be a cost-effective alternative to buying commercial feed. Here are some reasons why DIY duckling food might be a good option for you: Cost-Effective That’s why many people choose to make their own duck food at home. Commercial duck feed is often pricey and can be difficult to find in some areas. However, it is important to research and understand the nutritional needs of ducklings before creating a homemade diet.ĥ.4 What do you put in homemade duck feed? Why DIY Duckling Food?įeeding ducks can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be expensive. Some basic ingredients include grains, vegetables, and supplements like grit and oyster shell.ĭuck owners can also consider adding protein-rich sources such as chicken feed or bugs to their DIY duckling food. There are several options for making homemade duckling food. Recipe should contain all the carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, calcium, and protein, all the things a growing native duck needs. It is important to never overfeed ducks and to give the meal in small portions. Īlternatives to bread that ducks may enjoy include chopped grapes, chopped apple, lettuce, peas, and grated carrot.įeeding ducks bread is not a good idea as it does not provide all their nutritional needs and can cause abnormalities and shorter lifespans.While feeding wildlife, including ducks, can impact heavily on native fauna and their habitats, it can also have benefits for young children wanting to connect with nature. Include crushed eggshells or oyster shells for calcium, and add a small amount of brewer’s yeast to ensure adequate niacin levels. Add dried insects or mealworms for extra protein. Combine rolled oats, wheat bran, cornmeal, and soybean meal as the base. A basic homemade duckling feed recipe consists of grains, proteins, and some supplements. Creating DIY duckling food can be a fun and cost-effective alternative to commercial feed.

Wild duck feeder