Raising Ducks
This is my third summer of raising ducks, and they’re one of my favorite to raise. However their feed and vitamins requirement are important, and I will address in this post.
Raising ducks can come with a variety of benefits. One of the main perks is the production of fresh eggs, which are often larger and richer in nutrients compared to chicken eggs. Many duck breeds are also hardy and disease-resistant, making them easier to care for and manage than other types of livestock.
Additionally, most ducks are quiet animals and don’t create as much noise pollution as other farm animals, making them an ideal choice for backyard or urban homesteaders. I hear Muscovy’s are a bit noisier, but I have not had personal experience with those at all.
Ducks can also be used for meat production, with their lean and flavorful meat being a popular choice in many cuisines. Furthermore, raising ducks can be a fun and rewarding experience, as they are social creatures that can form strong bonds with their human caretakers.
Nutrition Is Important - Raising Ducks!
As I have mentioned before, ducks can eat chicken feed with a few extra steps. If you feed ducks, chicken food I suggest a higher protein one like 19% and I will also add some Nutritional Yeast in their feed for a few extra B vitamins. Plus supplementing extra vitamins like selenium, Vitamin E and B 12-complex.
Ducks require more B vitamins then chickens so check your label on your feed as well. For ducklings you will want to find a 21-22% protein starter food and add the extra as well. You can also supplement other higher niacin foods, like minnows or peas in the water dish or small pool. I like to find a quality feed that also has probiotics in it as well. Good nutrition will prevent illnesses and future expenses.
If buying duck food check the label for extra nutrients such as niacin one of the key nutrients for your ducks health. What I am finding is you are better off feeding a high quality duck feed to your chickens then vice a versa. I am currently mixing a combination duck and chicken feed from Fertrell Co. If you contact them they can make sure you have a good recipe.
Some places offer an all flock feed which is more universal and can cover all types of birds. Just watch the nutrients for the ducks. If you see any issues, supplement immediately or take to a vet is possible in your area.
Watch your Ducks
Watching my ducks daily and multiple times a day is the best thing for spotting any issues early. If they are acting funny, isolating, limping, not eating, not getting out of the water or anything out of their normal behavior, you may need to check them.
I do not have a vet for ducks where I live. I’m not a vet, but I’ve had some successes saving ducks or ducklings and some it was too late. Best option is see a vet, if you do not have access to that then a good support group is great this is my favorite one on Facebook, Raising Backyard Ducks (The Original). A lot of duck owners from all over the world on there. And they helped me cure my baby duckling from, weak and not walking back to walking in 1 week.
Common things that can happen with duck when they are limping or not walking. Two common issues can be bumble foot or niacin deficient. Here’s an article on Limping Issues In Ducks or Google it. Another common issue is Wry Neck and Wet Feather or google for more options. All of these can be deadly and all of them can be caused by vitamin deficiencies, so they can be preventable.
Not All Mamas Are Good Mamas
This can probably be said for all of the species on earth. Not all mamas are good mamas. I had one duck that hatched out 11 duckling. She started sitting in late spring but she got covered in snow a couple of times. She listened for their calls, was attentive to their needs, taught them how to each and go in the barn when they we little at night.
Then Mama Duck #2 her nest was in the barn, one duckling hatched and kept going in my baby chick area, with the chicks. I would put her back and she kept going back. Then one day the duck left her nest and the little one behind. I took the little one out to find mom as she was peeping her poor head off. Mom ignored her but the other mama came, once she realized it wasn’t her duckling she proceeded to run away and even attempted to drown it.
Now don’t be mad at this mama. She was only thinking of her crew to feed and didn’t need another mouth to feed, I’m sure. Fast forward one week I bought the duckling 3 friends and baby duck snuck out and followed mom, she seemed better this time and he was bigger so could keep up better.
Two weeks later I was scooping baby duckling out of the pond. She was weak and couldn’t walk. The day before she was still walking so I caught it early to to watching her behavior. And I felt horrible. So she went to the rehab unit in by her 3 friends I bought her. She was separated to get stronger.
Rehabilitating My Baby Duckling
I am not a vet and I can’t promise this will save your duck. But here is what saved mine. Ducks suffer from loneliness so I put her separately from the other ducklings but so she could hear and see them to rehabilitate.
When a duck is vitamin deficient good food isn’t enough you have to really amp up the vitamins to make up for the deficit. She couldn’t stand or use her legs so I gave her very shallow food and water dishes, so she wouldn’t drown and also so she could reach them laying down. Changing her bedding often to keep her area clean and dry.
Her food was duck food, sprinkled with Nutritional Yeast. I also sprinkled extra vitamins on top Rooster Booster Poultry Booster. Then in her water dish which was approximately 1 quart of water I added 4 drops or Nutri-Drench and 5 Drops of Sublingual B12 Complex. Water and feed were changed out daily and each day she improved. And minnow treats or thawed frozen peas.
I gave her a bath daily but held her up until she was strong enough to do it herself. Then I would dry her off and let her preen herself as much as she was able. Within a week she was walking, however I wasn’t releasing her to the big pond until she and her friends are fully feathered.
Raising Ducks - Water
Ducks are waterfowl and need lots of water. If you are raising the ducks the size of the water will depend on the size of the ducks. They do not always need a big area until they are fully grown. And in winter they can get by with a smaller pool area as well. They need something to bath in and dip their bills into to clean their nares or they will die.
If mama duck is raising them, you have it easy in most cases. If you are raising them. They get messy as they like to fling the water everywhere. If possible I like to keep the food and pool water outside.
Mine are in the barn, to keep the dry bedding and a smaller dish of water at night in the barn. Then in the winter a Heated Dog Bowl works great. Then outside I put a low feed mixing tray, or similar to this a Meat Tote for their pool. See below.
If it is too deep for your ducks to get in and out of add a brick or rock inside tub and outside for steps. Add some grass clipping or minnows or peas to the water and watch them have fun!
Then for winter I connect a Bird Bath Water Heater like this, which is thermostatically to keep it from freezing up.
Raising Ducks Conclusion
Ducks are fun and amazing! They are at risk of predators of course as with chickens or other small farm animals. Predator proofing or even running electric fence along with hardware cloth to keep the smaller predators out too.
As the ducklings grow so must their water pool or pond and their area. They will get more and more curious and need more room to move around.
For winter I plan on adding a smaller amount of B12 complex and Nutri-drench to the water inside the barn for extra nutrients since they are not able to free range on grass, frogs and bugs in the winter.
I hope these lessons I’ve learned and resources help you and your ducks live long and healthy and happy! Enjoy the Journey!
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More Information on Raising Pigs, Chickens and Ducks.
