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How long does it take for a duck to fully mature?
It varies depending on the breed, and each duck is different. Normally, it can take anywhere from about 10 to 20 weeks for a duck to fully mature.
What duck food should I feed my ducks?
- Ducks up to 3 weeks old should be fed non-medicated starter mash/crumbles with 20-22% protein.
- Ducks 3 to 6 weeks should be fed 16% protein non-medicated mash, crumbles or pellets.
- Females over 6 weeks that are laying eggs should be fed 16-18% protein duck food and can have calcium supplements.
- In other cases, feed ducks 14-16% protein duck food.
- Other than that, duck food should provide enough nutrition for your duck. You may also supplement your duck's diet with other vegetables.
- Do not feed ducklings medicated chicken feed; it can be fatal.
- Try not to buy and store over 40lbs of duck food for long term use, because the food could get contaminated and nutrition will deplete during long-term storage.
- Cracked corn may be fed as a treat, but it does not have enough protein to be used as duck food.
- Make sure to provide ducks with water to drink when they are eating; they need it!
Remember: bread is bad for ducks!
- Ducks 3 to 6 weeks should be fed 16% protein non-medicated mash, crumbles or pellets.
- Females over 6 weeks that are laying eggs should be fed 16-18% protein duck food and can have calcium supplements.
- In other cases, feed ducks 14-16% protein duck food.
- Other than that, duck food should provide enough nutrition for your duck. You may also supplement your duck's diet with other vegetables.
- Do not feed ducklings medicated chicken feed; it can be fatal.
- Try not to buy and store over 40lbs of duck food for long term use, because the food could get contaminated and nutrition will deplete during long-term storage.
- Cracked corn may be fed as a treat, but it does not have enough protein to be used as duck food.
- Make sure to provide ducks with water to drink when they are eating; they need it!
Remember: bread is bad for ducks!
At what age should my ducks be allowed to swim in deeper water?
Once your ducks are fully feathered (usually 30-45 days after birth), they can safely swim unsupervised in deeper water. Ducks can swim at any age, but make sure to supervise them at first. Ducklings may get cold after swimming.
Can ducks be potty trained?
No. But if you're feeling crafty, you can try making duck diapers, which will need to be changed at least every few hours.
Who are some veterinarians who care for ducks?
Here is a list of veterinarians who care for ducks (and geese) !
Where can you buy ducks?
You can buy ducks from Tractor Supply Company stores, a local farm, online, and many more places, depending on where you live and if you want to get them in person or not. Remember, make sure you're ready to take care of ducks before you buy them! Ducks are social animals, so unless you have a lot of time to spend with your ducks, you should get two ducks, not just one.