Feeding Backyard Ducks
Ducks are easy to feed, but they are not chickens, and one difference matters: ducks, especially ducklings, need more niacin than chicken feed provides. Get that right and the rest is straightforward.
The base diet
Adult laying ducks do well on a complete poultry layer feed, with grit and shell available for digestion and strong eggshells. They forage hard for slugs, snails, worms and greens, which supplies a lot of their protein and is part of why they earn their keep in the garden. Always feed near water, since ducks need to drink as they eat.
The niacin point
Ducklings grow fast and need more niacin (vitamin B3) than standard chick starter contains. Without it they can develop weak, bowed legs. Use a waterfowl-specific starter if you can find one, or supplement chick starter with brewer's yeast. Adult ducks are less at risk but still benefit from a varied diet and foraging.
- Adults: complete poultry layer feed, plus grit and shell, fed near water
- Ducklings: waterfowl starter, or chick starter boosted with brewer's yeast for niacin
- Greens, garden pests, peas and leafy scraps make good supplements
Treats and what to avoid
Ducks love leafy greens, peas, sweetcorn and the slugs they hunt. Skip bread, which fills them with empty starch, and avoid anything mouldy, very salty or sugary. The old habit of feeding ducks bread at the park is genuinely bad for them, so offer cracked corn, peas or greens instead if you want to treat them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ducks eat chicken feed?
Adults can manage on poultry layer feed, but ducklings need more niacin than chick starter provides and can develop leg problems without it. Use a waterfowl starter or add brewer's yeast to chick starter for the first weeks.
Why do ducklings need extra niacin?
They grow very fast and need more vitamin B3 than chickens to build healthy bones and legs. A shortage causes weak, bowed legs, so a waterfowl starter or a brewer's yeast supplement is important early on.
Should I feed ducks bread?
No. Bread is empty starch that fills them without nourishing them and fouls waterways. Offer peas, leafy greens, sweetcorn or cracked corn instead, and let them forage for slugs and snails.