Compound feed for ducks: composition, feeding standards, do-it-yourself preparation at home

It is profitable to raise ducks as poultry, since the diet can be very diverse from the ingredients that are available. They are suitable not only for cereals, but also for vegetables, as well as animal feed.

It is possible and necessary to make food for ducks with your own hands, since only in this case the breeder will be confident in its rich composition, suitable for raising meat and egg-laying birds. Much depends on whether there is the possibility of grazing the herd near a natural body of water. There, the ducks themselves find insects, small fish, as well as useful herbs and other vegetation. If this is not possible, everything missing will have to be introduced into the diet artificially.

Composition of feed for ducks

Before you move on to creating a feed mixture for ducks, figure out exactly what components the birds are missing. Representatives of the meat and egg poultry industries will need different feed compositions:

Shredded corn and wheat: highly digestible for ducks and equally suitable for feeding meat and egg types. Grain mixtures can take up 50-60% of a bird’s diet; the main thing is to give them grains in crushed form (whole grains are slowly digested and cause growth problems).
Rapeseed and sunflower cake. Better than other wastes, they have a positive effect on the digestion of ducks. You can diversify your food with peanut and soy waste, but only if they are freely available (stale products have a negative impact on the health of birds).
Juicy food in the form of seasonal berries and fruits. Ducks eat peaches, apricots, strawberries, plums, cherries, cherries and some other sweet fruits. The main thing is the obligatory absence of a bone. Such food is a source of vitamins and minerals necessary for the bird, which are easily absorbed by the duck body.
Animal feed is a supplement to the basic diet, especially when it comes to raising meat poultry. In addition, eggs and dairy products are excellent for feeding ducklings, helping to replenish protein reserves. At an older age, when using dairy products, you will have to take into account the direction of the breed: for laying ducks, the part of animal products does not exceed 10%, and for meat varieties - 20%.

The following ingredients will be added to the usual grain mixtures and seasonal feeds:

Fishmeal is a substance that should be used when feeding meat poultry. Of course, in the first day after birth, it is better not to give ducklings such a supplement, but from the 10th day its share in the diet of young animals reaches 15%, with a further increase as the ducks grow older.
Crushed chalk and shells are a source of calcium, which ducks need at any stage of their growth and development. Moreover, solid particles of shells improve the digestion of food, for which it is enough to include only 2-3% of this product in the diet.
Feed yeast. This protein supplement includes a large number of microelements and beneficial amino acids, among which magnesium, iron, chromium, sodium and nickel occupy the first places in terms of usefulness. Yeast is mixed with the main part of the prepared feed mixture, but in a proportion of no more than 1 g per 1 kg of live weight of the bird.
Greens (chopped hay in winter), which is a source of B vitamins, as well as vitamins A and E. More than others, these components are needed by egg-laying ducks and those individuals whose eggs are selected for further incubation (hatched chicks will grow better and gain weight ).

The best manufacturers of feed for ducks

There are many feeds on the market that are used to fatten ducks at different stages of their life. Depending on the age category of birds, they can be divided into several species, according to which marking is carried out, for example:

"PK-21" is excellent for ducklings in the first three weeks of their life and is used starting from 20 g per 1 head per day, with a daily increase in the norm by 2 g. If dosage recommendations are followed, at the end of the third week the chicks should increase weighing about 550 g.
“PK-22” guarantees a rapid gain of muscle mass in ducklings, up to 40 g per day. This option is used for feeding twenty-day-old and older chicks. In summer, compound feed can be given to birds along with chopped herbs, on average about 80 g per day.
“PK-23” is used for feeding young ducks from 9 to 26 weeks, as well as adult ducks during the egg-laying period. On average, 1 bird per day accounts for 160-170 g of feed mixture, with a possible increase in this amount depending on the age of the bird and the season. This option is best served in the form of a mash.

Well-known manufacturers of feed mixtures today include:

"Purina." This manufacturer produces two lines of feed products for waterfowl: starter and finisher, which are aimed at ducks up to 1 month of age and older. In addition to the grain component (represented by wheat and corn), the feed includes all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the bird’s body, and the undeniable advantage of this particular manufacturer is the absence of growth hormones in its products. The initial dosage of the feed mixture is 50-150 g, and subsequently its amount is increased to 200 g per adult per day.
with its Accelerate feed (includes a large range of vitamins, minerals and amino acid compounds). Can be used for both ducks and other poultry when mixed with dry feed or wet mash.
. It produces feed for waterfowl up to three weeks of age and after three weeks of life. The mixture contains components such as soybean and sunflower meal, corn, wheat, fats, amino acids and proteins of animal origin.
JSC "BioPro", compound feed "ProFerm". Pelleted feed is used in feeding not only ducks, but also other types of poultry. Ducks and Indian ducks are given the mixture starting from the 27th day of life, at the rate of 200-240 g per bird per day. The main components of the product are grain, protein, amino acids and vitamin and mineral supplements.
"Agroportal". This company, among other products, produces combined feed for meat ducklings and adult poultry. It contains a whole range of vitamins and minerals, as well as amino acids and a probiotic, complementing the nutritional components of grains, meal, cake and meat and bone meal. The feed mixture distribution rates are average, and for adult birds they amount to 150-200 g per head per day.

Did you know? Despite the fact that the neck of ducks is not very long, the number of vertebrae in it exceeds the number in the neck of a giraffe.

How to prepare compound feed?

In order to prepare a grain nutrient mixture for feeding livestock, it is necessary to prepare all the ingredients and scales in advance in order to accurately determine the weight of the product. It is worth worrying about storage containers and equipping a room where duck food will be located. It should be dark and well ventilated. Recommended room temperature 10 C, humidity no more than 40%. To prepare 10 kg of the mixture, use the following recipe:

corn – 2.9 kg;
barley – 2 kg;
wheat – 1.2 kg;
herbal flour – 1 kg;
bran – 800 g;
meal – 500 g;
yeast – 300 g;
fish meal – 400 g;
bone meal – 200 g;
chalk – 500 g;
salt – 35 g;
premix – 100 g;
methionine – 2 g.

Instead of corn, you can add peas to the composition. This mixture is used for fattening young animals for meat. Compound feed is introduced to ducklings from the 5th birthday. Served in the form of mash with the addition of skim milk. The mixture is suitable for fattening livestock both in cage housing and when birds are placed on litter. The amount of feed depends on the age of the young animals:

№	Helpful information
1	Days 5-10 – 40 g
2	11-20 – 160 g
3	21-30 – 255 g
4	31-50 – 321 g
5	51-60 – 400 g

When using compound feed, it is necessary to feed the chicks. Drinking water must be freely available. It is necessary to follow the feeding regime. Otherwise, the bird may develop pathology in the gastrointestinal tract: blockage of the crop and intestines. Fine gravel must be added to the feed. For young animals up to 20 days – 1 g/head. In the future, give 2 g per individual.

What to feed ducklings in the first days of life

The digestive system of chicks differs from that of a grown duck. Accordingly, the diet of an adult is not suitable for a day-old duckling.

Purchased products must be fresh; leftover food cannot be re-fed

In the first days of life, ducklings should be fed 7-9 times a day. In the first four days, it is necessary to give protein foods - this promotes rapid growth.

The mash is prepared from the following components:

boiled eggs, hard-boiled and finely chopped;
low-fat and homemade cottage cheese;
products containing lactic bacteria.

Purchased products must be fresh; leftover food cannot be re-fed.

A young body needs vitamins and microelements, so a mixture of plants will be useful:

dried nettle;
finely chopped dill;
sweet clover;
buckwheat;
dandelion stems.

If you plan to raise ducklings in late autumn or winter, the grass is dried and prepared in advance.

If you plan to raise ducklings in late autumn or winter, the grass is dried and prepared in advance

In the first 24 hours, you can only give a boiled chicken egg, adding a small amount of finely chopped dill to it, and give cottage cheese separately.

Feeding week old ducklings

The diet of waterfowl must be gradually enriched.

After they are seven days old, the food is mixed with:

corn grits;
barley groats.

The following components are also added:

fishmeal;
finely ground chicken egg shells;
chalk.

It is worth including vitamins and minerals in your food; for this you need to buy starter food - it is ideal for week-old chicks.

Feeding two-week-old chicks

By this time, the digestive system is fully formed. Now individuals can graze on their own, and poultry farmers give the ducklings access to the nearest body of water.

You should include vitamins and minerals in your food

They should be fed several times a day: early in the morning and in the evening. They get the rest of their food while walking.

Boiled eggs and low-fat cottage cheese are excluded from the diet, and vegetables are added:

carrots, finely grated;
sugar beets (finely chopped or grated);
potatoes (preferably boiled).

Farmers recommend adding small amounts of sand or gravel to the mash - this stimulates the intestines and improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Be sure to read:

How many eggs does an Indian duck lay and how many days does the ducklings hatch, how to lay eggs

Young animals: age 31-50 days

Chicks aged one and a half months can be given the following foods:

peas;
legumes;
rye;
tomatoes;
carrot;
potato.

The vegetables must be chopped, otherwise the duckling will choke. Farmers recommend cutting food finely and adding water to it.

Vegetables must be chopped, otherwise the duckling will choke

Ducks need to drink constantly, so drinkers are placed next to the food. The water should be clean, vitamins can be added to it.

After the chick has swum in the pond for the first time, he can be given:

aquatic vegetation;
worms;
small fish.

At this age, you can prepare poultry feed yourself or buy compound feed. Nutrition may be different, but it is necessary to correctly formulate the proportion as a percentage.

Duckling mash

Recipe 1

Depending on age, they create a menu for waterfowl

Ingredients:

corn – 48%;
sunflower cake – 22%;
wheat – 10%;
barley – 10%;
feed yeast – 3%;
fishmeal – 2%;
feed fat – 2%
chalk – 2%;
meat and bone meal – 1%.

Recipe 2

Duckling mash

Ingredients:

corn – 50%;
wheat bran – 20%;
sunflower cake – 18%;
wheat – 5%;
feed fat – 2%
defluorinated phosphate – 2%;
eggshells – 1.5%;
feed yeast – 1%;
salt – 0.5%.

Recipe 3 (designed for one individual).

Ingredients:

grain – 110 g;
wheat bran – 40 g;
meal – 20 g;
meat – 25 g;
potatoes (can be boiled) – 50 g;
yeast – 2 g;
greens 90 g;
chalk – 10 g;
bone meal – 2 g;
gravel – 2 g;
salt – 1 g.

Optimal diet for ducks

The principles for constructing a menu for domestic ducks are as follows.

Grain feed

Among all types of cereals, wheat and corn are best suited for ducks. The benefits of using such a base are unconditional, since the digestive tract of birds is designed in such a way that this food will be digested almost without residue (about 80%).

It is recommended to fill up to half of the daily food intake with cereals. To increase satiety, oats are added. You can get the right amount of fiber with the help of millet; it should be added in an amount of 20% of the daily requirement.

Grain feed

Cake

If there is an oil mill or sugar factory nearby, purchasing waste from their production will not be difficult. This is a cheap but extremely useful nutritional supplement. Sunflower, rapeseed, soybean, peanut, and beet cakes are added little by little at any time of the year. Bran also belongs to the same valuable category of ingredients.

However, both components cannot exceed 20% of the total amount of food eaten. They contain too much fiber, the excess of which is bad for the digestion of birds.

Vegetables, herbs and root vegetables

Ducks really like juicy chopped vegetables. They can be added to feeders at any time of the year. But usually vegetables are added to food in the warm season, since in winter they are much more expensive.

Animal feed

Swimming in ponds and rivers, ducks catch a wide variety of insects, so protein is present in sufficient quantities on their menu. Artificial feeds are enriched with additives such as fish or bone meal, pork fat. They are introduced in quantities of up to 7% of the total feed. Fermented milk additives are also very valuable. Animal feed does not account for much, but it can never be completely excluded.

Compound feed should be nutritious and varied

Based on the criteria listed above, the composition of feed for ducks at different times of the year is formulated. The ideal solution is at the intersection of two principles: feed should be nutritious and varied, but not too expensive.

DIY recipes for preparing feed for ducks and ducklings

Making your own feed is a great way to save on feeding ducks when breeding them. In addition, if you make the food yourself and select the diet accordingly, you can be almost absolutely sure that your birds are getting all the nutrients and elements they need. By following simple tips, you can prepare complete feed for feeding ducks.

If you breed laying ducks, do not forget to add greens to the feed. This is an irreplaceable source of vitamins B and E - they provide good clutch and excellent brood quality. Remember that the greens are just an addition, the base still needs to be a grain.
Meat breeds must be fed periodically. If you raise ducks for meat, then you will have to prepare feed for different periods of the life of individuals. After the end of the period of intensive growth of ducklings, it is worth adding a little more protein food to the diet, bone or fish meal. Seven days before the slaughter of animals, it is worth taking care of the fat layer: for this, oats, dairy products (cottage cheese), and legumes are added to the diet.
Do not let the food become mushy. A consistency that is too sticky may seal the bird's nose or remain in the throat of individuals. Many farmers try to cook grain crops into porridge. In fact, such preparation of feed is a kind of self-deception, since with a large volume of food, ducklings actually receive less food.
If you are going to feed your ducklings dry feed, then provide them with constant access to water. Making food using a special granulator will also require the provision of appropriate conditions: such food for ducks is too dry, the birds will be thirsty all the time. If you want to save money on a granulator, make wet crushed food.
When dry feeding, you can add greens or juicy vegetables. You should not include them directly in the feed: place them separately.

The composition of the food for small ducklings differs from that of adult ducks. The smallest ones can be fed from a pipette. They eat minced chicken eggs - nothing else needs to be added in the first few days of life. If you have too large a population, then it is better not to fatten weak ducklings in principle. After the third to fifth day of life for ducklings, low-fat cottage cheese can be added to the feed; feeding should be done every two hours for meat breeds, a little less often for ordinary breeds.

After ten days, ducklings can be fed from a feeder separate from the adults. From this time on, the birds begin a period of intensive growth; fish or bone meal must be added. Protein foods should make up no more than 7% of the diet. The basis is cereals, which have a minimal fiber content and are easily and quickly absorbed.

The composition of the feed for ducklings after a month of life is not much different from that of adults. Considering that individuals have free space for water walking, it is necessary to provide additional feeding; the amount of protein in the diet can be slightly reduced (not counting meat breeds, the amount of protein for which should remain high until the last fifteen days of life). Feed the ducks three, and then twice a day.

The composition of the feed may be as follows:

up to 50% - corn;
up to 20% - sunflower cake;
up to 15% - wheat;
up to 3% - feed fat.
the rest is fishmeal and yeast.

The video reveals the secrets of bird nutrition and the method of preparing feed.

Feeding ducks at first glance is not a problem, but if you have a large farm, you need to think not only about saving, but also about obtaining quality products in the shortest possible time. It is for this reason that compound feeds are widely used, which will be discussed in this article. Let's look at the types and composition of combined feeds, and also tell you how to prepare a complete version at home.

Types of feed

Several types of feed are used to feed ducks. Let's take a closer look at them.

Full

According to the name, this type of combined feed contains all the substances necessary for birds. It is intended for feeding in its pure form, and its use allows you to avoid additional feeding.

It turns out that this type of food contains both proteins, carbohydrates and fats, as well as the necessary groups of vitamins, as well as macro- and microelements. It is worth taking care to stock up on enough feed for the cold season, which will be enough for the full raising of ducks.

Concentrated feed is not a complete feed and cannot be used in its pure form. It can be compared to a dietary supplement that is a source of vitamins and minerals. The concentrate is used in combination with juicy and roughage feed, which, when entering the bird’s body, triggers the process of proper absorption of the vitamin component.

This variety is also called a “balancing supplement”, as it allows you to regulate the amount of proteins and vitamins in your daily diet. It is a mixture of protein, vitamins and mineral salts, so it is actually a concentrate that cannot be given in pure form or in large quantities.

This additive is most often used to create combined feeds at home. That is, the farmer grinds the grain according to the recipe, after which he saturates it with a protein and vitamin supplement, obtaining a complete feed.

Premixes

This variety can hardly be called compound feed, since it is added to the general menu in small quantities (no more than 5%). It is a homogeneous mixture that consists of minerals, vitamins, antibiotics, enzymes, chalk, as well as crushed bran.

The composition of premixes may be different. This mainly depends on the purpose. This supplement can be used to prevent diseases, saturate the menu with vitamins or minerals.

The necessary components of the feed are:

wheat;
corn;
barley;
peas;
wheat bran;
sunflower meal.

Supplements

Supplements include foods rich in vitamins, minerals or other beneficial compounds that improve the functioning of the immune system and also accelerate the growth and development of poultry:

greenery. In the warm season, ordinary and valuable herbs are extremely healthy food for ducks, as they contain vitamins E and B. At the same time, the bird receives succulent food, which is digested faster and also saturates the body with moisture;
fish flour. It is an affordable source of animal protein. It also contains essential fatty acids and essential amino acids (lysine, threonine, etc.). There is also a mineral component, which is represented by iron, phosphorus and calcium;
chalk. A cheap source of calcium, which also helps digest tough foods;
feed yeast. A source of vegetable protein, as well as valuable macro- and microelements: iron, potassium, magnesium, selenium, sodium, nickel, chromium.

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We will present recipes for complete feed that can be prepared at home.

For ducks

corn flour;
wheat bran;
green mass (nettle, clover, alfalfa, willow leaves).

Please note that this type of feed can only be prepared in the warm season.

In winter, you should not use dry greens, as they lose some of their vitamins, which means that the mixture must be supplemented with fortified supplements.

Take a 10 liter bucket and fill it with green mass.
Then fill it with hot water (not boiling water) and wait half an hour.
Then add 0.5 kg corn flour and 1 kg bran. Mix thoroughly. The feed should be thick.

It is profitable to raise ducks as poultry, since the diet can be very diverse from the ingredients that are available. They are suitable not only for cereals, but also for vegetables, as well as animal feed.

The principles for constructing a menu for domestic ducks are as follows.

Grain feed

Among all types of cereals, wheat and corn are best suited for ducks. The benefits of using such a base are unconditional, since the digestive tract of birds is designed in such a way that this food will be digested almost without residue (about 80%).

Important! Since coarse whole grains are less digestible than ground grains, not only corn, but also all other grains are ground for feed for ducks.

However, both components cannot exceed 20% of the total amount of food eaten. They contain too much fiber, the excess of which is bad for the digestion of birds.

On a note. Not only the vegetables themselves (carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, potatoes, beets, etc.) are used, but also grass (alfalfa, clover). Birds can obtain some of these supplements on their own on natural pastures. But in any case, it is necessary to constantly ensure that the ducks receive succulent additives regularly.

Full

Kinds

There are 3 types of food produced in production:

For young livestock, crumbs are best suited, but during its use there is an overconsumption of the product. To save feed, it is moistened immediately before serving and in the amount that the bird is able to eat, otherwise the mixture will deteriorate.
The pellets are suitable for young ducks. In this case, some amount of food is lost.
For adult ducks, it is recommended to purchase granulated feed. It is easy to chew and process. The ducks eat it completely.

Main Ingredients

Cereal feed made from corn and wheat. It is 90% absorbed in the poultry body, so it is well suited for meat and egg breeds. The disadvantage of such food is that if it is coarsely ground, it will be less digestible, which will slow down the metabolism and the duck will stop growing.

Feed made from production waste – cake. It includes sunflower seeds and rapeseed, peanuts and soybeans. Poultry farmers recommend it as complementary food - it contains a large amount of nutrients that have a beneficial effect on the duck’s body.

For meat breeds, all farmers recommend using animal feed. A large amount of protein and vitamins contribute to the rapid growth of the duck. There is one nuance here: the share of the total diet should not exceed 10%, and young animals should be fed exclusively with dairy products.

The complex of all the above components improves the duck’s immunity, prevents diseases, accelerates growth and egg production. In the warm season, the bird can independently feed on greens, which include vitamins B and E, but in the winter season the farmer cannot do without additives.

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Fattening adult ducks for meat before slaughter

Ducks rejected after breeding are fattened for 3–5 weeks. Livestock are housed in separate pens or cages to gain weight without wasting calories on movement. They prepare high-calorie mash consisting of boiled potatoes, food waste, barley grain, corn and wheat steamed with boiling water. The mash is filled with whey and broth.

Greens are given in abundance, with preference given to legumes.

The mash is offered 3 times a day, making sure that the bird eats everything without leaving a trace.

To improve the quality of meat, ducks are fed dairy products before slaughter, and aromatic herbs are added to the greens: mint, lemon balm, basil, tarragon.

Combined mixtures

Combined feeds are often used as feed for ducks. They are prepared from grains of various types of cereal plants. In order not to calculate every day how many grams the ducks need of this or that grain, the farmsteaders immediately prepare a large amount of the mixture. Store feed for ducks in plastic containers in dry rooms. The following cereals are used:

corn: it is a source of not only protein, carbohydrates and fiber, but also carotene; corn is recommended for young animals for fattening, individuals that make up the parent herd; carotene promotes the full development of reproductive functions in females and drakes;
barley: the protein found in barley is absorbed by the body more easily than the protein found in wheat; in addition, the grain contains a lot of iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium; barley must be crushed, because the grain shell is difficult to break down in the gastrointestinal tract of the duck;
wheat; in addition to proteins, it contains vitamins “B” and “E”; substances normalize the functioning of the hematopoietic organs and nervous system; regulate hormonal levels; grain is given whole or crushed; sprouted wheat is useful;
oats: fattening ducks will be ineffective without oats; it promotes accelerated weight gain in ducklings; oats contain a lot of fat; ducks are given peeled grains;
peas; it contains a large amount of protein; give peas in small quantities so that the birds do not become obese; legumes stimulate laying in laying hens and cause sexual activity in birds; Peas are introduced into feed only in spring and summer.

Some recipes for grain mixtures call for the use of wheat or corn flour. It cannot be given as a separate food. Flour can clog the sinuses of the respiratory tract. It is added to wet mash. Flour is especially useful for young animals in the first week of fattening.

Protein additives are added to duck feed. It is recommended to use waste from oilseed production. Among them are sunflower cake, soybean pulp, peanuts, and corn. Wheat bran and feed yeast are useful. It is recommended to grind pulp and cake so that they are better absorbed by the body. Their number is limited. Food additives can cause obesity.

For the full formation of the skeleton and better growth of muscle tissue, animal products are added to the combined mixtures. Chicks are given a boiled egg and cottage cheese for 1 week. Mash is made using skim milk or yogurt. At week 2, fish and bone meal are introduced. If there is a clear lack of calcium, minced boiled fish is recommended. Some breeders add a little minced beef to duck feed as an additive.

Duck diet

Homemade combination mixtures may include succulent foods. They are added to the grain before serving. Many homesteaders are interested in whether it is possible to feed ducks vegetables from the garden. Experts say that vegetables from the garden are very beneficial for ducks at any age. They are given cabbage, zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, and beets. Young animals gain weight well if they are fed boiled potatoes.

In the summer, the livestock is walked on an area with alfalfa and clover. Dandelions and nettles are beneficial for ducks, but the nettles must first be steamed and chopped. Podvortsy add willow, cherry, and currant leaves to grain mixtures. Berries are useful, but the seeds must first be removed.

As duck feed, combination mixtures are often purchased from manufacturers. They are balanced in all nutrients. They are easy to use; you don’t need to add any grains or succulent feed to them. It is recommended to fatten broiler ducks using commercial feed. This technique is cost-effective for large poultry farms with large numbers of livestock.

Nutrition for full growth

For a duckling to fully grow, its diet must contain many useful substances. Let's start with the fact that first of all, it is necessary to consume grain - a source of carbohydrates that are well absorbed by birds. It is grain that should make up the majority of a duck's diet. Also, we must not forget about animal feed. Their quantity in the general diet is not so large compared to grain, but this does not diminish their importance.

Of the cereal crops, corn is excellent for feeding ducklings; every day, 50 percent of the bird's diet should consist of corn. Wheat is also useful due to the presence of vitamins B, E and proteins in its composition. Poultry farmers try to avoid using barley in duckling feed, as this crop has a poorly digestible shell. The only solution to this problem is to soak the barley for at least 10 hours before feeding. The presence of oats in its diet has a positive effect on the health and overall growth of the bird. Like barley, oats can be covered with a film, which complicates the digestion process, so it is better to choose varieties that do not have a film.

Legumes are the most important part of duckling food. Most homestead farms use peas due to the high concentration of protein and protein in their composition. But this crop also has its drawbacks - a specific taste and smell, due to which ducks do not actively consume peas.

It is important to add products that contain animal protein to the duck feed, for example, meat and bone or fish meal, dairy products and incubation waste. Fishmeal contains high concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, proteins and vitamin B. When using fishmeal, it is very important to control the level of fat content. The higher the fat content, the shorter the shelf life of the product, so fishmeal with a fat content of 10 percent is often used to feed poultry. Dairy products that can be fed to a duckling include buttermilk, whey and cottage cheese. The only drawback of such food is rapid souring. If you inadvertently feed sour foods to birds, this will lead to gastrointestinal upset. In the process of making liquid mash, it is better to use milk rather than water. This additive will increase the nutritional value of the feed.

Duckling food contains very low levels of calcium, so to compensate for this, chalk, shell, coarse sand, bone meal or regular eggshells are introduced into the bird's diet. Mineral additives should make up only 1-3 percent of the total mass of the mash. Table salt, which is characterized by a high content of sodium and chlorine, also does not hurt. It must be introduced into the diet of domestic ducks very carefully, not exceeding the limit of 0.2 percent of the total mass of the mash.

Complete and concentrate

Complete feed contains everything necessary for a high-quality diet for poultry. The composition includes nutrients, trace elements, vitamins and minerals.

This type of feed is intended to be served in its pure form. When using it, there is no need to add any complementary foods or vitamins.

To raise good livestock, it is worth stocking up on a large amount of feed for the winter. The duck will receive all the proteins, fats, carbohydrates, feel good and produce healthy and strong offspring.

Unlike complete feed, concentrate feed cannot be used in its pure form. It is more suitable as an additive to the main diet.

In order to feed ducks with concentrate, you need to purchase coarse or juicy feed and mix them. The mash, entering the bird’s stomach, starts a process that helps the body absorb all the vitamins and nutrients from the concentrate.

Factory feed

Feed manufacturers produce different types of their products. They regularly conduct research to improve the effectiveness of feeds for certain species. Factory-made products are conventionally divided into age categories:

Compound feed "PK-21" is intended for young offspring of ducks aged 1–3 weeks. The daily feed intake is 20 grams per duckling. The manufacturer recommends increasing the daily intake by 2 grams daily. The composition of “PK-21” completely covers the poultry’s need for energy, vitamins and biologically active substances. Farming practice has shown that additives in the form of greens can enhance the effect of the PK-21 formula. The average daily increase in live weight of a duckling is 20–25 grams. By the end of 3 weeks, food “PK-21” allows the duckling to gain more than 550 grams;

Compound feed PK-21 for ducks aged 1-3 weeks

Compound feed "PK-22" is a growth feed for ducklings. Provides rapid growth and weight gain. The composition includes nutrients that increase the rate of weight gain up to 40 grams per day. The formula is suitable for feeding young animals over 20 days of age. Can be used with chopped herbs and fresh herbs. The presence of greens in food improves the digestibility and absorption of food. Composition “PK-22” is started to be given at 80 grams per day. The dose is increased daily by 2–3 grams. By the end of feeding, the specific weight of the duck reaches more than 2.5 kg;

Compound feed "PK-23" is a complete composition for raising young animals. The PK-23 formula allows young animals to better prepare for the transition to an adult flock. The manufacturer recommends using its products from 9 to 26 weeks of duck life. It is worth noting that PK-23 feed is the only formula where there is no need to increase the dose. On average, each individual consumes about 160–170 grams of food per day. Vitamins and minerals contribute to the rapid formation of the duck’s reproductive system and prepare it for laying eggs. It is given wet;

Scheme of feeding ducklings with compound feed

Compound feed "PK-23" is a formula for feeding laying ducks. The dose depends on the amount of grass feed in the laying hen’s diet and can range from 150 to 250 grams per day.

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Protein and vitamin supplements and premixes

A vitamin supplement with a high protein content acts as a protein supplement. In addition, it regulates the amount of absorbed micro and macroelements.

This supplement contains proteins, vitamins and mineral salts, so it can only be given with roughage. Typically, each package contains instructions on how to mix the concentrate to feed your duck. The poultry farmer grinds the grain, adds a protein and vitamin component in a certain proportion and receives compound feed.

Another type of feed is premix. It can hardly be called a complete meal. These are simply vitamins that are given to poultry to strengthen the immune system and prevent disease.

Premixes include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, antibiotics, crushed chalk, enzymes and bran. Different manufacturers change the composition, so you should study it carefully before purchasing.

Seasonal feeding

If the livestock is kept on litter, the farm practices duck grazing in a plant area or walking on a pond, then it is recommended to use seasonal rations to feed the flock. When preparing the diet, the amount of green grass or the amount of algae that ducks eat during the day is taken into account. Seasonal feeding of domestic ducks is used for parent flocks and for small private farms where poultry is not bred for business.

In winter, ducks require a lot of energy to maintain body heat, so the basis of their diet is grain mixtures. Each individual must eat at least 255 g of feed per day, taking into account the fact that it contains protein and mineral supplements. To avoid vitamin deficiency and pecking in a duck herd, the livestock can be fed with carrots, beets, and potatoes.

Vegetables are given 150 g. It is recommended to add 10 g of cottage cheese to the mixture. For evening mash, the feed is moistened with reverse, 20 g. To prevent pecking, fish oil is administered to the birds, 10 ml per head. Instead of fish oil, you can add sunflower oil to grain mixtures.

In the spring, feeding ducks at home changes slightly. With the appearance of the first sprouts of green grass, the herd is taken out to pasture or to a pond. Grazing lasts no more than 4 hours. The bird should get used to eating green food gradually.

Each duck receives 245 g of grain mixture. The supply of vegetables is canceled. In the morning they give 15 g of hay and 50 g of feed. The rest of the diet is made up of green grass. At lunchtime and in the evening, 1 individual should eat 98 g of grain mixture.

In the summer, ducks spend the entire daylight hours on a pasture or in a pond. Poultry farmers often discuss what to feed ducks other than grass. In summer, the bird begins to molt. She needs a lot of protein to restore her feather cover. Despite the fact that individuals eat a lot of succulent food, grain mixtures are left in the diet. Their supply is not reduced. They contain a sufficient amount of protein and mineral salts. Additionally, you can add cottage cheese and skim milk to the mash, 20 g of each ingredient.

If the livestock is kept in a pen on a growing area, then an area with a canopy is made in it. Duck feeders, drinking bowls and nests are located under the canopy. There is no need to do major construction. When the vegetation in the meadow ends, the enclosure along with the equipment is moved to another meadow.

In the fall, the herd remains in the pen until the first frost. Poultry farmers feed ducks with succulent feed and combined grain mixtures. On day 1, an individual should eat at least 150 g of green grass. Part of the mixture can be replaced with vegetables from the garden. In this case, the amount of grain an individual eats is 200 g/head, vegetables 40-60 g/head.

Mineral supplements and vitamins are not used. It is acceptable to administer premixes to laying hens with high egg production. The drake is added to the diet with 30% protein feed. Males weigh more than females. They require an increased portion of the grain mixture.

How to prepare duck food?

For the full development of ducks, in order for them to gain body weight well, they need a complete diet. It is balanced by proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and microelements. Ducks are given grain mixtures. They are the main source of protein for the body. The diet includes succulent food. Most of them are carbohydrates and fiber.

The diet is supplemented with food of animal origin. It acts as a mineral supplement. Ducks benefit from minced fish, fish and bone meal, chalk, and crushed shells. A little table salt is added to the food.

If the livestock is grazing and spends most of the day on the planting area, then the individuals are given roughage and hay. It is steamed and crushed. Hay prepares the gastrointestinal tract for the arrival of large amounts of succulent food. What to feed ducks at home? What diet should I use?

Feed consumption standards

The daily volume of feed mixture per individual depends on age. If these are purchased products, approximate proportions are indicated on the packaging. If the food is homemade, for ducklings up to 45 days of age the daily intake will be as follows:

ground barley: up to 30 g;
crushed wheat: up to 21 g;
split peas: 11 g;
soybean or flax cake: up to 8 g;
soybean meal: 5 g;
fat: 3 g;
ground fish bones: 9 g;
meat and bone powder: 4 g.

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As the ducklings grow older, the diet is adjusted. After 45 days of age, the serving size increases, and some components are replaced. Thus, the norm of peas can increase to 20 g, flaxseed cake - up to 11 g, feed fat - up to 4.5 g. The norm of wheat is reduced to 18 g, and fish meal - to 2 g. Adult waterfowl do not need as much additive as growing chick.

Different types of granulated feed

Feed granulator prices

What food can be used when feeding small chicks?

Farmers prefer to give complementary food in the first month of life of chicks - this is PK-21 feed.

It contains the necessary cereals, cereals, calcium, vitamins and minerals. A small amount of milk or whey is added to it. You also need to remember about water.

Leftover food should be thrown away

The remaining food must be thrown away; it is a perishable product. When the ducklings have reached the age of 30 days, they should be switched to another food - PK-22.

Cereals

The duck is an omnivorous bird, so choosing food at home is not difficult. The main component is cereals.

They contain carbohydrates, protein, fiber, which promotes rapid weight gain:

Wheat – it contains protein (15%) and vitamins. It is given in its pure form or made into flour. The product is well suited for mash. The part of wheat in the total composition of the feed does not exceed 30%. Flour should only be coarsely ground.
Corn is a favorite food of ducks. Contains fiber, keratin, essential vitamins and protein. The portion of corn in the daily nutritional intake should be 45-50%.
Barley – 25% of the total weight of daily food. It must be added when it sprouts, or use a crusher to grind the grain.
Oats - this crop contains fats that contribute to weight gain. Oats are peeled from the outer shell so as not to harm the health of the chick.
Peas – contains protein (18%). It should be given in crushed form, the total volume of grain is no more than 10-12% of the daily requirement.

Root vegetables and succulent forages

It is better to raise poultry in warm periods . This will help save time and money. Any breed of duck needs a lot of greens and vegetables.

It is better to raise poultry in a warm period of time

Ducks also take the necessary nutrients from the pond.

The diet should contain the following products:

greens (clover, buckwheat, legumes);
aquatic vegetation (duckweed, pondweed, elodea);
vegetables (cabbage, carrots, pumpkin, sugar beets).

Products of live origin

Proteins of animal origin must be included in the diet, regardless of the breed of the chick. The product promotes rapid weight gain and increases egg production.

Dairy products (except fresh milk, it causes digestive system upset). Other dairy products are well absorbed by the body. They contain the necessary protein.
Fishmeal – contains phosphorus, protein and calcium.
Meat and bone meal – contains protein (45-55%). Add to the diet when the duckling is 5-6 days old.

Be sure to read:

Common diseases of ducks: why do ducklings roll over on their backs and twitch their paws?

Mineral supplements

Mineral supplements are needed for the proper development of waterfowl: they normalize the digestive system and ensure the proper formation of eggs.

You should add to your diet:

bone meal;
sand or gravel;
chalk;
egg flour.

Mineral supplements contain:

vitamins: A, B, D;
macroelements: magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus.

Sand should be given once a week, the norm is 10-15 g.

Is it possible to give ducks other feed?

In addition to feed, there are many other types of such products for ducks, so in the absence of specialized nutrition, farmers buy any feed mixture available to them: for chickens, pigs or even cattle. It is inappropriate to talk about a balanced diet in this case, but this does not mean that you should immediately refuse this opportunity. Let's consider the features of using two popular types of premixes in feeding ducks.

Pork

Pork feed can only be fed to Muscovy ducks or representatives of other meat breeds raised for meat production. In such mixtures, most of the composition is occupied by cereals, which contribute to rapid weight gain, while ducks will grow longer on pasture. There should be at least 150 g of feed mixture for pigs per bird per day.

For egg-laying breeds, such food is undesirable, because overweight ducks will not be able to lay eggs well.

Chicken

Prepared waterfowl feeds are different from chicken and turkey feeds, but in a pinch they can be used interchangeably. For example, feed mixtures for broiler chickens are also suitable for meat ducks, and varieties for laying hens can be safely used when feeding egg-laying ducks.

Already from the fifth day of life, musky ducks can receive dry compound feed labeled “PK-5”, intended for young broilers. After the first month of life, grown ducks can be fed feeders designed for laying hens (“PK-1”) or mixed chicken and pork feed mixtures. One duck can eat 200-250 g of the mixture per day, but the exact amount depends on feeding with herbs or minerals.

Thus, you can prepare combined food for ducks of different ages yourself, because the ingredients for it are available. If you do not have time to create mash according to the above recipes, you can purchase ready-made products, especially since the choice is unlimited.

Is it possible to feed ducklings with pork or chicken feed?

It is clear that only in duck food the ingredients are selected in such a way that they meet the needs of this bird. But what to do if, for example, it is not on sale, but you need to feed the ducklings. Chicken and even pork mixture can be used as a substitute, but only in certain cases.

Pig pellets can be fed to Muscovy ducks and those raised for meat. They are filling and promote accelerated weight gain. For 1 head per day, 150 g are needed. Pellets for pigs are not suitable for feeding egg-laying birds, because of it they become fat and stop laying eggs.

Chicken pellets differ in composition from duck pellets, but, if necessary, they can be used. For broilers, mixtures for meat chickens are suitable; ducks that lay eggs are fed with a composition for laying hens.

Combined feeds for ducks, especially commercially produced ones, are easy to use. They don't spoil, they're easy to use, you just need to pour a portion into the feeder and that's it. Ducks, as voracious and omnivorous creatures, do not refuse feed and eat it with pleasure. Properly prepared, it promotes body growth and weight gain. Moreover, if you buy the mixture at a reasonable price, the purchase costs are justified by obtaining high-quality meat and egg products.

What feed to feed ducklings

The peculiarity of feeding ducklings is that up to 2 months their growth occurs very rapidly, and for this they need a special diet rich in protein and vitamins. Compound feed balanced in composition is crucial for the growth of ducklings.

A special diet rich in protein

1- 10 days

Strong and healthy ducklings can feed themselves. But sometimes you have to feed the weakest ones through a pipette on the first day. This is done only on small farms. With a large population, there is simply not enough energy and time to do this.

10-30 days

10 days after hatching, normal feeding is started and food for ducklings begins to be served in special feeders, but in no case together with adult birds.

The menu includes fish or bone meal, which should account for about 7% of the serving. The rest consists of ground grains, as well as cakes (up to 20%).

If the diet at this time is chosen correctly, then changes in the appearance of the ducklings will be noticeable to the naked eye every day. Their weight also changes noticeably.

After 30 days

Already at the age of 1 month, ducklings eat the same as adult birds. If there is a free range nearby where you can catch insects or fry in a pond, then you no longer need to add animal additives to the food. But not for meat breeds, which require much more protein throughout their lives than others. The optimal feeding regimen is 2-3 times a day at regular intervals.

Starter feed for ducklings at 1 month is as follows:

50% - corn;
20% - sunflower cake;
15% - wheat;
3% - feed fat;
12% - fish meal.

Obviously, the optimal diet for ducks is a rather loose concept; each breeder has a lot of room for maneuver. And one of the main rules is this: the more often you change the composition of the feed, the better. Knowing how to make mash for ducklings and adult birds, any farmer will be able to raise a full-fledged flock.

Feeding the ducks

This information is from our Portal Consultant for feeding farm animals and poultry Denis Vladimirovich, for which we thank him very much!

Duck is a meat bird, which is characterized by high growth rates in the initial period of life. Depending on the breed and feeding conditions, the weight of ducks ranges from 2.5 to 4 kg. The live weight of ducklings at 2 months of age is 2.1-2.8 kg.

Ducks are demanding in terms of feeding and housing conditions. They need water exercise. They require a large amount of water for normal digestion. A lot of water is released with droppings and during breathing, so it is beneficial to breed ducks near reservoirs with spacious walking areas and in winter.

Digestion in ducks is intense and is adapted to assimilate a large amount of plant food, mainly young greenery and vegetation of water bodies, as well as frogs, aquatic invertebrates - mollusks, worms, larvae, plankton. They have well-developed goiter and blind processes, in which active absorption of fiber occurs with the help of microorganisms.

Feeding adult ducks . The main task of proper feeding of ducks is to maintain their health, achieve high productivity, and good incubation quality of eggs. Only with standardized and adequate feeding, which fully meets the nutritional needs of laying ducks, can high egg production (up to 200 eggs per year) be achieved and year-round rearing and fattening for meat be carried out.

The high productivity of laying ducks is closely related to their fatness. With a loss of live weight, their egg production not only decreases, but also the incubation quality of the eggs deteriorates. Duck eggs are used only for incubation; they can be eaten after special cooking.

When raising ducklings year-round for meat, laying ducks must be fed abundantly throughout the year to ensure year-round egg production. This can be achieved by using double and sometimes triple stocking of the parent flock, with a high level of feeding in accordance with detailed standards. Examples of nutrient standards for Peking ducks per 100 g of feed and per head per day are given in Table. 183, 184. The vitamin needs of ducks are ensured thanks to guaranteed additives, g per 1 ton of feed: vitamin A - 10 million IU, D3 - 1.5 million IU, E -10 thousand IU, K - 2, B2 - 1, B2 - 5, B3 - 10, B4 - 500, B5- 20, B6 - 3, B12 - 0.025, Sun - 0.5, N - 0.1.

In duck farming, dry and combined types of feeding are used. In large industrial farms, dry feeding of adult ducks with granulated complete feed from automatic feeders is used, while simultaneously providing fresh drinking water and gravel.

An example of a recipe for complete feed PK-20 for laying ducks, % by weight: barley - 40, wheat - 26, sunflower meal - 10, feed yeast - 5, fish meal - 1, meat and bone meal - 2, grass meal - 8, tricalcium phosphate - 0.9, limestone, shell, chalk - 5.6, table salt - 0.5, premix P 1-1 - 1. 100 g of feed contains, %: metabolic energy -265 kcal (1110 kJ), crude protein - 16.2, crude fat - 2.7, crude fiber - 5.3, calcium - 2.5, phosphorus - 0.7, sodium - 0.3, lysine - 0.64, methionine + cystine - 0.50 . The approximate rate of feeding complete feed to adult Peking ducks is 240 g, and to meat cross ducks - 270 g per head per day.

The combined type of feeding of adult ducks is common in small duck breeding and homestead farms with one-time staffing of the flock, which determines the seasonality of egg production and the division of feeding according to the seasons of the year (in the spring-summer period there is egg-laying, and in the autumn-winter period there is no laying).

In the spring-summer period, in the structure of ducks’ diets, a mixture of concentrated feeds takes up approximately 45%, green and succulent feeds - 55% of the daily need for metabolic energy. In the autumn-winter period, in addition to grain feed, the diet includes potatoes, beets, carrots and other root fruits, combined silage, and grass meal. The composition of the concentrated feed mixture includes, % by weight; grains - corn, wheat, barley, peas, etc. - 60-75, wheat bran - up to 7, cakes and meal - 6-12, animal feed - 3-4, feed yeast - 3-6 and mineral feed - 4 -6.

Approximate diet for laying ducks with a combined type of feeding in the autumn-winter season, g per head per day: wheat - 35.2, barley - 81, sunflower meal - 40, feed yeast - 13, fish meal - 8.6, flour meat and bone meal - 6.6, bone meal - 2.7, chalk - 10.5, table salt - 1.6, premix - 2.2, boiled potatoes - 160, corn silage - 50. The diet contains, %: metabolic energy - 665 kcal (2780 kJ), crude protein - 40.7, crude fiber - 17.8, calcium - 6.35, total phosphorus - 1.87, sodium - 0.82.

With a combined type of feeding, ducks are fed loose mash: liquid and dough-like ones can cause blockage of the nasal openings. Drinkers are placed next to the feeders, which are filled with fresh water before feeding. At the same time, gravel is provided. In the spring-summer season, instead of potatoes and silage, the diet includes fresh green grass - about 300 g per head per day. During the productive period for the preparation of wet mash, grain (mealy) feed and the necessary additives are moistened with skim milk, whey, buttermilk, and yogurt. To increase egg production, laying ducks are fed some of the grain (oats, barley) in sprouted form.

Adult ducks are fed 3 times a day: in the morning and at lunch they are given wet mash, in the evening - concentrates. The feeding front when using dry feed and feed mixtures is 2 cm, when using the combined type - 15 cm; drinking front - 4 cm.

Feeding the young. For young ducks, as well as for adults, two types of feeding are used: dry and combined.

With the dry type, ducklings from the first day after hatching from the egg until the end of rearing (26 weeks) are fed with complete feed ad libitum, taking into account the norms (concentration) of nutrients and metabolic energy contained in 100 g of feed. Particularly effective are granulated feeds with a granule size for ducklings of the first age (1-20 days) of 2-4 mm, for ducklings of the second age (21-56 days) 5-8 mm.

The growth rate of ducklings at the age of 1-3 weeks is provided by feed with a high level of crude protein (18%) and a moderate content of metabolic energy (1172 kJ) per 100 g. Recipes for feed for ducklings at the age of 4-8 weeks are characterized by a lower concentration of crude protein (16%), but with a higher energy nutritional value (1213 kJ), which promotes fat deposition and improves the presentation of carcasses (see Table 183).

An example of a recipe for complete feed PK-21 for young Peking ducks aged 1-3 weeks, % by weight: corn - 10, wheat - 50, barley -15.4, sunflower meal - 7.5, feed yeast - 4, fish meal - 7, grass meal - 3, bone meal - 0.3, chalk, shell and limestone - 1.6, table salt - 0.2, premix P 5-1 - I. 100 g of feed contains, %: metabolic energy - 280 kcal (1170 kJ), crude protein - 18.1, crude fat - 2.7, crude fiber - 4.3, calcium - 1.2, total phosphorus - 0.8, sodium - 0.3, lysine - 0 .78, methionine + cystine - 0.61.

In the conditions of industrial duck farms, young animals are fed with compound feed from automatic feeders while simultaneously being provided with fresh water and gravel. The residence time of gravel in the gizzard of ducklings is about 10 days. 1 head is given 10 g of gravel (granite chips or quartzite) per week. The particle size of gravel for ducklings aged 1-3 weeks should be 1-3 mm, 4-8 weeks - 4-5 mm; for adult ducks - up to 10 mm. In the absence of gravel, the digestibility of dietary nutrients is reduced by 50%.

Approximate norms for feeding complete feed to young Peking ducks per head per day:

Age, weeks	Norm, gram	Age, weeks	Norm, gram
1	40	6	230
2	70	7	250
3	115	8	255
4	185	9	230
5	215	10-26	230

At 8 weeks of age, ducklings destined for meat are killed, and some are transferred to the replacement group. After 8 weeks, replacement young animals are fed with mixed feed with reduced nutritional value, containing 260 kcal (1088 kJ) of metabolizable energy and 14% crude protein per 100 g, and are transferred to a limited feeding regime until 26 weeks of age (before transferring to the diet of adult ducks), the norm feed is 230 g per head per day.

An example of a recipe for complete feed for replacement young Peking ducks, % by weight: wheat - 55, barley - 20, wheat bran -7, sunflower meal - 3, feed yeast - 4, grass meal - 6, bone meal - 1.7, chalk , shell and limestone - 1.8, table salt - 0.5, premix P 6-1 - I. 100 g of feed contains,%: metabolic energy - 260.2 kcal (1090 kJ), crude protein -14.3 , crude fat - 2.2, crude fiber - 5.1, calcium - 1.21, phosphorus - 0.7, sodium - 0.24, lysine - 0.51, methionine + cystine - 0.44.

With a combined type of feeding, from the first days of rearing, ducklings are fed wet crumbly mash prepared with skim milk, buttermilk, whey, sour milk, yogurt, etc. The mash for ducklings up to 10 days of age includes grain mealy feed (cereals) screened out from films, cottage cheese, fresh herbs. Wet mash is fed from trough feeders. From the 10th day, boiled potatoes are introduced, which can take up to 30%, from the 20th day - green and succulent feed, constituting 15-20% of the daily need for metabolic energy. The composition of the concentrate mixture is as follows, % by weight: grains (corn, wheat, barley, peas, etc.) - 65-75, wheat bran (from the 9th week) - 5-10, meal and cake - 10-15 (up to 8 weeks) and 1-5 (from 9 weeks), animal feed (meat and bone, fish meal, etc.) -3-5 (up to 8 weeks) and 2 (from 9 weeks), feed yeast - 3-5, flour herbal 3-5 (up to 8 weeks) and 5-10 (from 9 weeks), mineral supplements (chalk, shell, bone meal) - 1-2.

To prevent the onset of premature puberty and to prepare replacement young ducks for intensive and long-term egg production, the nutritional value of the diet in terms of metabolic energy is reduced from 739 kcal (3096 kJ) to 597 kcal (2502 kJ), and the amount of crude protein - from 40.8 to 32, 2 g per head per day. Limiting the feeding of replacement young ducks is carried out by including in the diet up to 10% grass meal and up to 40% root crops, combined silage and greens. Guaranteed vitamin supplements are per 1 ton of mixed feed or dry grain mixture, g: A - 7-10 million ME, D3 - 1.5-2.5 million ME, E - 5-10 thousand ME, K - 1-2, B1 - 1, B2 - 3-5, B3 - 10, B4 - 250-500, B5-15, B6 - 1-2, B12 -0.025, Vs - 0.5, N - 0.1 depending on age ( maximum standards for young ducks up to 8 weeks of age, minimum - from 9 to 26 weeks of age). The feeding front for young ducks with the dry type is 1.5 cm, combined - 5; drinking front - 2.4 cm.

Duck on the pond

Some farmsteads build a pond to keep ducks. The banks are lined with stones. It is recommended to make one bank flat so that the birds can freely get out of the water. On the lake, the ducks feed themselves. Vegetation must be planted in the reservoir located in the yard. Experts note what to feed ducks on a pond:

duckweed should be the main food; it is caught from a natural lake with a net and transferred to the farmstead; poultry farmers note that a flock of 30 birds a day eats a bucket of duckweed, so trips to the lake for algae will have to be made frequently;
in addition to duckweed, ducks eat pondweed, hornwort, and elodea;
You can release fry and shellfish into the lake.

The herd does not spend all its time on the water. Individuals come out to nibble meadow grass and eat grain. Due to the bird’s feeding habits, a plant area is planted around the pond and feeders are installed. Chicks can be released into the pond. They know how to swim from birth. A duck with ducklings will become a real decoration of the yard. She will show the young what they can eat in the pond, how to pick algae, and catch fry.

Store-bought feed: labeling and manufacturers

There are dozens of mixed feeds on store shelves. They are all different in composition, so for each stage of duckling development, you can choose the optimally suitable food. Each package has its own marking depending on the age of the bird:

"PK-21". This food is purchased for feeding ducklings from 3-4 days to 3 weeks. Complementary feeding starts with 20 g per day, adding 2 g of the mixture every day. If the dosage is followed correctly, by 21 days of age the ducklings should have gained weight to 550 g.
"PK-22". Promotes active weight gain (up to 40 g daily). Mixtures with this marking are fed to birds from 3 weeks of age. In summer, the food can be mixed with chopped herbs, the total serving size per day is 80 g.
"PK-23". Suitable for young animals aged 9 to 26 weeks. They are also fed to adults during egg production. You should give no more than 170 g of feed per day; the best way to feed it is in the form of a mash. Additives are used depending on the season.

Video - Preparing starter feed for ducklings

We prepare the food ourselves

Feed for ducklings can be a wet mash or a dry feed mixture placed in trough feeders. Feeding ducks from trays is not recommended, as the bird tramples the food and makes it unfit for consumption. It is very important to take feed preparation seriously, since the completeness of the diet determines how the bird will grow and develop.

Having learned about the number of ingredients that are needed to create a complete feed, you may decide that preparing it is a very difficult task. Everything is not at all as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Once a farmer has tried preparing his own food for ducklings, he is unlikely to return to store-bought mixtures. If we talk about the recipe, then there are too many variations that include certain products, so you should choose the recipe that will provide the duckling with maximum nutrients.

Food in the first 10 days of life

In the first days of life, duckling food is a mixture of greens, wet mash and crushed hard-boiled eggs. On the fourth day, feed can be supplemented with animal products. The composition of the starter food also includes low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, baker's yeast, shell and chalk. In the first ten days, it is better to choose corn, ground grain waste, bran and cake as the cereal component of the feed.

From 10 days to a month

At the age of 10 days to a month, food for ducklings should contain a maximum of useful substances to strengthen the health of the bird and activate growth processes in its body. Therefore, the mixture uses 48% corn, 13% wheat, 19% sunflower processing waste, 3% dry skim milk, 5% feed yeast. The composition must necessarily contain 3% herbal and 7% fish meal. Feed fat and chalk – 1% each.

From one month

Further feeding of the poultry is carried out to ensure its weight gain, therefore the composition of the feed is modified. The main condition for keeping poultry during this period is the presence of free range, where ducks can find the greens necessary for their complete diet.

For ducks over one month of age, the farmer prepares a mixture of 13% wheat, 45% corn, 8% barley, 17% cake, 5% feed yeast, 4% fish meal, 3% feed fat and meat and bone meal, 1% grass meal and chalk.

Video “Preparing food for ducklings”

The video shows how to prepare crumbly mash for babies older than one month.