How to get ducklings to eat

[callmeRISH]

So I didn't get them yet but in a few weeks and I'm wondering how I'm going to teach them to drink and eat

 

[Frindizzle]

With our ducklings, we first put the food out, and saw if that worked. One was smart, and ate.

The others we tried put the food in there beaks, and with water dribbled some down their throats.

If that does not work, tell me!

 

[callmeRISH]

Will do

 

[Frindizzle]

Great, glad I could help!

 

[Duck Drover]

I put wet feed in a small shallow dish and most of the time the ducklings start to nibble it on their own. Sometimes I have to put their bills in it so they get a taste to know it is food but as soon as one starts eating the rest usually catch on. I have had to watch that they don't eat poop, not because it will hurt them but because it will not give them the nutrition they need. It is hard to get ducks to change what they are doing if they think that what they are doing is effective. I had a Call duckling die last year because it would only eat poop. The Calls seem to be the hardest to teach but that could just be my experience with them. The poop eater would shake its head and spit out food from its mouth and then go scouting for poop. Ducklings do seem to look low for food so they don't always recognize a dish full of food right away. Sometimes they will eat spilled food off the shelf liner and then work their way up to the food in the dish.

 

[longwinter]

I have calls. I cook the starter feed like oatmeal on my stove. I keep the jar of cooked feed in my fridge. It's much easier for the day olds to eat and I just water it down a little more they figure it out really fast. This way I also think even if they're just drinking the water they're getting some nutrients.

 

[vehve]

I have calls. I cook the starter feed like oatmeal on my stove. I keep the jar of cooked feed in my fridge. It's much easier for the day olds to eat and I just water it down a little more they figure it out really fast. This way I also think even if they're just drinking the water they're getting some nutrients.

I'm thinking that cooking it might change it's nutritional value, why not just make a mash soaking the feed in water?

*Edit* We started doing that with our chickens, and they started growing a lot better after changing to mash from dry feed.

 

[callmeRISH]

Thanks for the tip funny but sad bout your calls

 

[longwinter]

I don't understand why it's sad. I do switch to just wet feed after the first day or so. I just noticed the really little ducklings were having a hard time with mashed crumbles.

 

[Duck Drover]

I tried putting some dry food out for them but they grabbed it and spit it out again. I think it is too hard for them to swallow it dry and I don't want them to choke. I prefer feeding wet food and they do well on it, as long as they recognize that it is food. If they get used to eating one thing they are hard to convince to change to something new. When they are feathered I make the food dryer and then start them on dry crumble before they go to pellets. The babies need the wet food, though, in my experience.