Worms in duck food

[Debby Duck]

Today I found a worm and I'm sure there's more in the Purina duck pellets that I've been feeding my ducks for several weeks now. I noticed the food clumping first but didn't know why. It clumps with sort of a webbing. But today I found an actual live worm. Putting a picture below.

I also referenced this in another thread that is actually about another subject. I'm noticing problems with one of my ducks. But this I discovered just today.

Has anyone else had this happen? And do you know if these worms can have an effect on ducks?

Thanks

 

[nuthatched]

Those are weevil grubs. It's not great that they're there but I don't think they'll hurt your ducks.

 

[RandomDucks]

Those are weevil grubs. It's not great that they're there but I don't think they'll hurt your ducks.

I would be less worried about the weevil larvae than the fact the the grain likely is old or hasn't been stored properly and may have other problems in quality now?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Has anyone else had this happen?

I've had "webbing" once before.. in a bag of rice and was caused by a moth invasion.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Can you find the mill date on the bag?

 

[ruthhope]

The weevil grubs are added protein, not a problem. But look for clumping of the pellets and watch out for a moldy smell. Old wrongly stored grains/grain products go sour, moldy and risk harboring aflatoxins that are very harmful. You breathing dust with mold spores is also harmful.

If you have recently purchased the food, return it to your supplier. I stopped using purina duck pellets a year ago when I had 3 forty pound sacks on the run that were moldy (2 and 3, I opened in Tractor Supply before taking it home so they could see the state of the food)

 

[Debby Duck]

The weevil grubs are added protein, not a problem. But look for clumping of the pellets and watch out for a moldy smell. Old wrongly stored grains/grain products go sour, moldy and risk harboring aflatoxins that are very harmful. You breathing dust with mold spores is also harmful.

If you have recently purchased the food, return it to your supplier. I stopped using purina duck pellets a year ago when I had 3 forty pound sacks on the run that were moldy (2 and 3, I opened in Tractor Supply before taking it home so they could see the state of the food)

Yes there are a lot of clumps in the food sticking together with a webbed substance. But I don't notice a smell. I've actually had several issues with the brand too. I've had 2 bags with weevils, I went ahead and gave them that food but still tried to kill as many of the weevils as I could. I figured they eat bugs out there all the time anyway so it couldn't hurt. Then I had another bag once that was definitely moldy, you could even see the mold, I threw that one out. I should be having a talk with the place I purchased from. The only problem is, where I live, I don't have another option for a feed store. I'm not in an area where people typically have these kinds of animals.

I'll have to look around in my garage and see if I still have the bag that the food originally came in I may have thrown it out. So I might not be able to find the mill date.

Well it sounds like from what everyone is saying, the worms are not a problem. But the quality of the food is questionable. So I guess I should toss it, right?

It's really strange that I had the two other bags that had weevils. But I had no clumping in the food and never saw any worms or larvae if that's what they're called.

 

[ruthhope]

Yes there are a lot of clumps in the food sticking together with a webbed substance. But I don't notice a smell. I've actually had several issues with the brand too. I've had 2 bags with weevils, I went ahead and gave them that food but still tried to kill as many of the weevils as I could. I figured they eat bugs out there all the time anyway so it couldn't hurt. Then I had another bag once that was definitely moldy, you could even see the mold, I threw that one out. I should be having a talk with the place I purchased from. The only problem is, where I live, I don't have another option for a feed store. I'm not in an area where people typically have these kinds of animals.

I'll have to look around in my garage and see if I still have the bag that the food originally came in I may have thrown it out. So I might not be able to find the mill date.

Well it sounds like from what everyone is saying, the worms are not a problem. But the quality of the food is questionable. So I guess I should toss it, right?

It's really strange that I had the two other bags that had weevils. But I had no clumping in the food and never saw any worms or larvae if that's what they're called.

Actually I think the webbing is from grain moth, also known as birdseed moth and pantry moth. The larvae may or may not be from weevils that are like little beetles. They could be moth caterpillars. They are not a problem for the ducks to eat.

Grain products whether flour or duck pellets get infected with weevil and moth eggs at the mill. I live in Florida and I put all grains, lentils and flour into the freezer for 3 days, when I bring them home. I the store them in glass containers. Tricks I learnt when I lived in the Caribbean in the past. Unfortunately, we can't put 40lb bags of duck feed in the freezer for 3 days to kill weevil and moth eggs. Nor can we find large enough glass storage containers. So we have to rely on fast turn over of duckfeed at the store, and quickly using it at home, as well as proper storage along the distribution chain. I keep my duck food in aluminum cans, with tight fitting lids, stored where they cannot get wet.

 

[Debby Duck]

Actually I think the webbing is from grain moth, also known as birdseed moth and pantry moth. The larvae may or may not be from weevils that are like little beetles. They could be moth caterpillars. They are not a problem for the ducks to eat.

Grain products whether flour or duck pellets get infected with weevil and moth eggs at the mill. I live in Florida and I put all grains, lentils and flour into the freezer for 3 days, when I bring them home. I the store them in glass containers. Tricks I learnt when I lived in the Caribbean in the past. Unfortunately, we can't put 40lb bags of duck feed in the freezer for 3 days to kill weevil and moth eggs. Nor can we find large enough glass storage containers. So we have to rely on fast turn over of duckfeed at the store, and quickly using it at home, as well as proper storage along the distribution chain. I keep my duck food in aluminum cans, with tight fitting lids, stored where they cannot get wet.

That's a good idea putting grains and flour in the freezer for a few days. I'm in Florida too, and I've never done that. And I have occasionally opened up that box of pasta that had some weevils in it. Ugh! But you're right those 40 lb bags of duck food are difficult to do that with. I've been keeping mine in the plastic containers like people use for their dog food. And then I put it in a shed that keeps it dry.