What should I feed ducks

[Nosha123]

I know the obvious answer is bread... but we have a small stream at the back of our house.. and started off feeding a mother duck and her 4 babies - she then visited more and more and then brought along her mates who have 8 babies.. so I am now feeding 13 ducks!!!! Not only is it costing me a lot in bread.. but I'm sure it cant be that good for them as it's not their natural food source.... What can I buy instead that would be better for them..... ANy ideas? Something thats cheap would be good please!!!

[pug100]

Try this advice page from the RSPB

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/

If you have any questions not answered here then there is a contact us bit towards the bottom of the page.

[horseyspice]

I keep and breed ducks as a hobby. I feed them mixed corn which costs about �6 for a 20kg bag at my local stockist. It lasts for months and they love it. Just sprinkle it on the ground near the water - not in it because it sinks. Also layers pellets (for chickens) are even better because they have added calcium for when they are producing eggs. They are a similar price to the mixed corn. I recommend that you dont feed them to much because they must still be able to find their own food and not become dependant on you.

[garner]

Hi Nosha, You can buy duck pellets and they also like boiled potatoes , other than bread there is wild bird seed which they will take.It's lovely to hear such a nice story,they need all the help they can get when they have youngsters.g.

[horseyspice]

Duck pellets are almost identical nutritionally to layers pellets. Dodson & Horrell stopped producing duck pellets a year or so ago because there is no need for different products that are basically the same.

[Nosha123]

Have just been to local garden centre and the bird seed there was quite pricey.. so will have to keep looking.... got some more bread to keep them going in the meantime... One thing that worries me.. what if all the babies have babies next year and then bring them all too! I could be feeding hundreds!!!!

I need to find a solution that allows me to feed them in the water they swim in as dont want to encourage them onto land - I have two feisty cats! One caught an adult duck last year!!!! Luckily it did get away uninjured though!

I need something that will float so they dont come into the garden..

They are funny though! One baby - now almost grown gets so excited she waddles in the water and cheeps at me! Very sweet!

[Cetti]

You are right Nosha, bread is not good for them, especially the babies. The answer is ( and you probably won't like it ) - please don't feed them, or any other wild creature.

Unless it is a time of famine they will be getting all the body and feather building nutrients from wild plants and their normal food. Bread just bloats them without having much nutrition. Not only that but they will become dependent on your kindness and as you rightly say the word will go around and you will have every duck from miles around in your garden!

Another problem is that all the bread and food bits will encourage vermin, such as rats. It might be kinder to watch them and let them feed themselves as nature intended. And a lot cheaper for you!

[wildwood]

This is not going to sit right with you but you are actually doing the ducks a disservice by continually feeding them.

Like all animals, ducks will breed better if there is a ready supply of food available. You already realise that next year you will have hundreds visiting you. Unless you are prepared to feed them all, many will become emaciated as the environment can not sustain so many ducks.

You can have the best of both worlds by occasionally feeding them just a little 1/2 inch cube of bread per duck, this won't do much harm, or the occasional hand of pellets, but they will hang around for a while. Feed them from a yellow or bright coloured container and when you put that away (even cover it with a towel so they can't see it) they will soon learn that there will be no more food that day.

[Nosha123]

THE DUCKS ACTUALLY HAVE PLENTY AND PLENTY of duck weed on the water that they swim in and eat that all the time - so if I dont feed them CONTINUALLY as you say - they eat that instead... so they are getting natural food sources as well. The stream is completely green in the weed and you cannot see any water at all and all the local ducks eat it. So there is plenty of food for them.

[alfieblue]

Nosha123 - you are such a sweet pea caring for the ducks and ducklings. Wish I had a stream at the back of my house - how wonderful to see the wildlife you have from your back garden.:o)

It sounds as if the ducks and ducklings have quite of lot of good food from the stream thankfully, but no harm in occasionally topping up the diet if they need it, now and again - but in moderation. They will soon learn that you are not there to feed them full time - just that you are no threat - just a friendly soul. They will soon get the message.

They will learn to find food for themselves rather than relying on you.


Good luck to you and the ducks and ducklings - I am sure all will be well - :o)

Best wishes - Alfieblue n pup xxxx

Ps: I still envy you!!! :o)

[Nosha123]

Aww thanks AlfieBlue.. They are rather lovely.. Their quacking wakes me in the mornings sometimes! Sweet.... I love animals and would never do anything to harm them.... and am smart enough to realise that they mustn't become dependent on me. I like them visiting and will feed them (just a bit) each time.. it gives me great pleasure to see them growing up fast! (My cats seem to like watching them too.. but since they dont like water the ducks are safe as long as they dont get out of the stream!!). I would feel awful if ever one got caught!!! Its bad enough dealing with the dead mice etc!!! Gross.. WHy do cats have to do that eh!

[Nosha123]

Hoi Sin too I hear!!! ha ha.. Oh dont be cruel!!

[lankeela]

Many years ago I was on holiday in a caravan with my mum and dad (July '69, we were there when the men landed on the moon!). On night it rained and in the morning we were woken up by some ducks quacking outside the caravan. I fed them bread through the window, and the next morning they had brought all their mates along and there must have been dozens, quacking like mad and waking us up about 4.30 am.
Mum and dad were not impressed!

[alfieblue]

Hi sweet pea. Its been a long time since I had a puddy cat, tho I know what you mean - but guess the cats will leave well alone if there is water to contend with!!! I am now mum to a loopy loo spaniel pup!!!!

I have always wanted a duck pond - have told my kids (grown up kids!) that I will have one when I retire! Heaven knows what the pup will make of that!!!

He's a bit of a coward so would prob leave them well alone!!

Carry on as you are Nosha - you come across as a wonderful nature lover and i guess the ducks and ducklings will do just fine - Lol about the quacking!!! :o) xxx