when can ducklings have these for treats?

[Dolly1218]

Today at bath time I was thinking it would be fun and a nice treat to have minnos/guppies. Or maybe mealworms? My question is how old does a duckling need to be to have these? What if I mashed or cut up the mealworms? Or got the smallest minnos/guppies? My 3 runners are 1 week old yesterday. Could I give them this treat? It is way to cold for them to eat bugs outside or play outdoors. I thought this would be a fun activity for them, and maybe it will get my littlest one to go under water... What do you all think? Any other treat or activities for little ducklings inside would be nice too!! Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Today at bath time I was thinking it would be fun and a nice treat to have minnos/guppies. Or maybe mealworms? My question is how old does a duckling need to be to have these? What if I mashed or cut up the mealworms? Or got the smallest minnos/guppies? My 3 runners are 1 week old yesterday. Could I give them this treat? It is way to cold for them to eat bugs outside or play outdoors. I thought this would be a fun activity for them, and maybe it will get my littlest one to go under water... What do you all think? Any other treat or activities for little ducklings inside would be nice too!! Thank you!

I'm not sure at that age if they could eat minnows or guppies but if they were in the wild I'm sure they would have probably already done so. I give mine dried mealworms and they love them so a wigglie mealworm would probably be a big hit.
Other than peas and chopped up romain lettuce I can't think of anything else. How is your little one doing today?

 

[Amiga]

I think giving them small morsels at first is a good idea. Are they getting any chick grit? I always am concerned about the ducklings getting some grit before they get food other than crumbles. Yup, I am a worrywart sometimes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think giving them small morsels at first is a good idea. Are they getting any chick grit? I always am concerned about the ducklings getting some grit before they get food other than crumbles. Yup, I am a worrywart sometimes.

Grit oh I forgot to mention the grit, thanks Amiga.

 

[Dolly1218]

Do you think I could try minnows? And she seems ok today, her nose is still stuffy and she wont even dunk her head to eat the peas at the bottom, only the ones the others toss around..I have grit in a dish next to their food, ive seen them eat it a couple times... They know to eat it dont they?

 

[Amiga]

Do you think I could try minnows? And she seems ok today, her nose is still stuffy and she wont even dunk her head to eat the peas at the bottom, only the ones the others toss around..I have grit in a dish next to their food, ive seen them eat it a couple times... They know to eat it dont they?

Uhm, I don't know how to break this to you. Sometimes they figure it out. I followed Storey's Guide and sprinkled a teaspoon onto their six inch diameter food bowl in the morning. There is a story in that book about a duckling that starved to death because it filled up on grit. Sorry. Not to make you worry. But as unlikely as it is, sometimes ducklings just do nut ball things. Who was it who checked on her ducklings and found one had gotten inside the watering tube?

 

[Dolly1218]

Oh..so do I mix the grit with their food? Now im confused on how to give grit.. Could you explain what I should do in moe detail, please and thank you very much

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh..so do I mix the grit with their food? Now im confused on how to give grit.. Could you explain what I should do in moe detail, please and thank you very much

Don't mix it in their food. you can sprinkle it on the bottom of their brooder or give them a dish with some in it. they will take it as needed.

 

[Dolly1218]

They have a dish with some grit in it, next to their food bowls. You both told me something different though.. Should I sprinkle it on top of their food, mix it in, leave it in a dish? Thanks again!!


PS: I gave the girls a bath with baby minnows & tiny mealworms; Rachel LOVES both, Phoebe was interested with the fish but couldnt cath them & likes mealworms, & Monica as I expected didnt care for either and was very upset she was touching water again today!

Rachel is running up to me now (she used to hate being touched), since she thinks I have fish or mealworms

 

[Amiga]

Dolly1218,

Sorry for any confusion. Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks recommends sprinkling just a little chick grit on top of their food and that's how we did it. Miss Lydia's experience is different, in that they take what is needed. My Runners don't seem to follow the Duck Play Book all the time

. Go with your gut. Miss Lydia knows what she's talking about. We just had a divergent approach that seems to have worked out nicely.