Is cat food really ok for ducks?

[veronicasmom]

I have read several times that people recommended cat or dog food for their ducks. I have never fed it to our, but was just wondering under what circumstances it is warranted? A treat? Cold weather? Sick ducks? I'd hate to miss out on giving our drake and ducks something that they should be having. We feed peas, cabbage, Blue Seal Grower Cal, oyster shell, occasional chopped veggies, and whatever they can find to free range on. Am I missing something important? My ducks seem healthy. And happy.

 

[jdywntr]

As long as they are on a balanced diet, it is not needed. Many people give cat or dog food to either save money on feed costs or to supplement. Cat food is a very high protein diet. Most are 34% or more and typically have meat protein as the main source. It can be given as a treat when ducks are molting to give them a little extra for feather growing. Cat food should not represent more than 10% of the diet (according to Storey's Guide). Dog food, in my opinion, would not be as great of a boon as it is usually grain, not meat based.
I have tried giving cat food to my ducks in the past and they never ate it.

I did look into it and compared costs with using it as a protein source and buying quality cat food and mixing it with grains would cost the same as buying poultry grower here.

 

[veronicasmom]

Thanks.
I am guessing my fussbudgets would turn their bills up at cat food. But some are molting now, so maybe I will take a few pcs out and see what happens.

 

[ChicagoDucks]

I add inexpensive dry cat food to our duck feed at around 10% by weight. Some of the cheaper cat foods are lower in protein and have more corn fillers, so the ingredients and analysis don't look too different from the Duck & Goose Grower Pellets. We add it to stretch the feed a little, because it is a pain for us to get to the feed store. Cat kibble is easy to get around here.

Our ducks pick out the cat kibble from the duck feed and eat it first.

In a pinch when we can't make it out to the feed store, we've also made duck food from mashed potatoes mixed with peas & cat kibble

 

[ewaugaman]

that is a good idea about the cat food, the ducks really like it right?? I cooked up some rice I had that I thought was getting a little old, then I added oat meal and put some of there corn feed in with it they seemed to really like it, they get a lot of scraps that is for sure, but they like cat food ha!

thanks Edie

 

[Wjpeaches]

Good to know about everybody's cat food preps. My question is a food related question. Somebody left a small duck on my front lawn 2 days ago. It looks like a wild diving duck. I didn't see any obvious external injuries or deformities, so I have no idea why it is so far away from a source of water.
Question. Can I feed it the poultry feed I give my geese and ducks?

 

[Miss Lydia]

can you post a picture of this duck? if wild you could call a wild life rehabber a vet would probably know how to get in touch Or Division of Wild life Management. But in the mean time try and get it to eat what you feed your ducks and geese.

 

[ewaugaman]

I would like to know how long to chickens live? They have just started laying again which is good, but my problem is they are not eating there pellets, can someone tell me why is this. I give them meal worms everyday and they just love those, but why are they not eating there pellets. can someone tell me please? Thank you Edie

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a Brahma hen going on 10 and a rooster going on 10 some EEs that are 8 and at least two of them are still laying. As for not eating their pellets is it layer or just reg chicken pellets? You might try crumble and see if they will eat it that way. I ferment the feed I give my flock so don’t have a problem with mine not eating pellets. Is it a new feed?

 

[Cayuga momma]

I would like to know how long to chickens live? They have just started laying again which is good, but my problem is they are not eating there pellets, can someone tell me why is this. I give them meal worms everyday and they just love those, but why are they not eating there pellets. can someone tell me please? Thank you Edie

It depends on what type of chickens you have. Some can live 8 years, others 3 or 4. It depends on their environment, what they eat, how much eggs they produce in a year, etc.
I personally don't give mine treats everyday, only once a week.