Ducks

Diet: Ducks

  • Basic Diet: Fruit and Vegetables. They do not eat seeds and DO NOT FEED THEM BREAD!

    • Fruit Options

      • Bananas

      • Berries

      • Grapes

      • Watermelon

      • Avoid citrus fruits which can disrupt their digestive systems.

    • Vegetable Options

      • Bok Choy

      • Cucumber

      • Dark Lettuce

      • Thawed Frozen Peas

      • Avoid Avocado and Spinach, which are poisonous.

    • Other Food Options:

      • Live mealworms, crickets, beetles or grasshoppers for Proteins

        • Avoid earthworms, as they can carry parasites like hairworms

      • Chick Feed for ducklings (NON-MEDICATED) / Chick grower for older ducklings (Avoid poultry feeds contain coccidiostats)

      • Water Fowl Feed or Chicken Layered Feed for adult ducks (Avoid poultry feeds contain coccidiostats)

      • Cracked Corn/Nuts

      • Grasses/Aquatic Plants

      • Rice, preferably brown (raw or cooked)

      • Rolled Oats (Uncooked Oatmeal) **Use as a treat and not an everyday meal

      Supplemental Options

      • Brewers Yeast (help avoid leg deformities as ducklings grow)

      • Unflavored Pedialyte or Gatorade (to replenish electrolytes for sick or injured ducks)

  • How often to feed:

    • Young ducklings should have food available 24/7

      • Hatchlings to 2 weeks old - starter feed (NON-MEDICATED) with rolled oats and brewers yeast (avoid poultry feeds contain coccidiostats)

    • As a bird gets older, feedings can be spaced further apart.

      • 2 weeks to 20 weeks old - grower feed with rolled oats and brewers yeast (avoid poultry feeds contain coccidiostats)

    • Adults: Twice a day

      • 20 weeks and older - layered feed (avoid poultry feeds contain coccidiostats)

  • FRESH WATER SHOULD ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE

    • For ducklings be sure the dish is very shallow to avoid drowning.

    • For older ducks their water dish must be deep enough for them to dunk their head into it. They must keep their nares (nostril holes) clear in order to rinse out their sinuses and to avoid eye infections.

    • If you have a duck or duckling that is not drinking or eating from the dish, you can help encourage them by having the dish in front of them and dipping your finger into the dish and letting the water or runny food drip onto their bill.  Their bill is incredibly sensitive and this will sometimes help stimulate them to open up and let the water or food drip into their mouth.  Repeat helping them with drops until they realize they can get the food and water from the dish in front of them.

  • Helpful tips:

    • Heat is a priority for ducklings, be sure to have a good heat source available at all times. Brooders or heating pads are great options.

    • Ducks love to be entertained, providing a larger habitat with safe duck toys and water options is a plus. Sprinklers and kiddie pools are great, however ducklings should never be left unattended while swimming.

duck

The most common ducks found in Hawaii are Mallards and Muscovy.

Mallards and Native Hawaiian Koloa are very similar in appearance. Only trained officials can identify the koloa. Muscovy are a domesticated breed who are not meant to be wild in Hawaii. They normally do not survive in the wild, but as they are a tropical breed from South America, and have few predators here, they have a better chance of survival. We, however, work to find forever homes for them in order to assure their safety. Muscovy look like geese, but are closer to ducks. They can be various shades black, white and faded brown and are identifiable by their red bumpy face masks (caruncles). Muscovy ducklings can look identical to mallard ducklings, or their own yellow and brown patterns. Adult Muscovy do not quack. Males huff and females chirp. Males are also considerably larger than females.

Adopt a duck!