Nutrient requirements of ducks

If mash is fed to the ducklings, moisten it slightly with water. (Table 2 gives ration mixtures.) Give five equally spaced feedings throughout the day and make sure they do not have more than they can eat at one feeding.

Cheap food, such as stale bread and kitchen refuse, can greatly reduce feeding costs when used in the ration correctly. These substitute ingredients should be fed only to ducklings that are over the age of 2 weeks. Kitchen refuse should be boiled to kill any harmful bacteria and to make the feed more palatable before it is fed to ducklings. After boiling, thoroughly mix the refuse with the mash. Because the quality and type of food from kitchen refuse varies tremendously, no general recommendations can be made for proportions of refuse to mash.

Bread has a protein content of about 9%, and can be used to provide up to 40% of the total ingredients. Use it to replace equal amounts of crushed grain, but adjust so the reduced protein and amino acid content are increased.

Ducklings should have access to insoluble grit, and to plenty of fresh drinking water in a container that enables immersion of the head.

Table 2. Rations for growing ducks*

*A vitamin and mineral premix should be added to the rations in Table 2.

Rations for breeding hens are usually adequate for breeding ducks. Rear potential breeding stock on a similar diet to that given to ducklings raised for meat consumption. When ducklings are about 8 weeks of age, transfer them to a breeder’s ration. Breeding ducks should then be restrictively fed to about 80% of their normal daily feed intake until 2 weeks before the onset of egg production. This will prevent the ducks from becoming over-fat.

Breeding stock require the basic nutritional levels given in Table 1. The same rules apply to feeding both meat ducklings and breeding stock. Ducks can be fed on both mash and pelleted feed, but crumbles and pellets are more economical because less feed is wasted and weight gains are higher. Also, mash tends to stick to ducks’ bills, causing some birds to choke. Crumbles or pellets can be placed in hoppers so ducks have access to them at all times, or wet mash may be fed twice daily. Each duck will eat about 225 g of feed per day. Provide about 40% of this in the morning feed and 60% in the evening feed. Ducks must have access to unlimited soluble grit, such as shell grit, and to unlimited fresh drinking water.

Table 3. Rations for breeding ducks*

*A vitamin and mineral premix should be added to the rations in Table 3.