Call Duck Association: Feeding Ducklings
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Article first published in CDA Yearbook 2004 

Ingredients
Pellets and starter crumbs for ducks and chickens are basically made from milled wheat plus beans, peas and oil seeds to increase the protein content. Manufacturers are allowed to add a certain amount of re-processed food such as pasta waste. Vitamins and minerals are added in the correct proportions and the moisture content is regulated to 13.8%. It is alleged that cheaper rations contain by-products of the wood, paper and hardboard manufacturing industry (to influence the texture of the pellet), and that harmful solvents are used in extracting soya oils for the less expensive foods. Before worrying about this too much, reflect that non-virgin oils for human consumption are probably also subjected to similar processing. However, in such foods, the pellets do seem to become rather unpalatable to waterfowl once they have become moistened outdoors in the rain, and this may be because of such additives and processing.

Crumbs
Most manufacturers make  chick starter crumbs. These are pellets which have been broken up so that they will fit into tiny beaks. Crumbs which are made for poultry can be all right for ducks, but it is worth while seeking out (from the better food manufactures) starter crumbs which are designed for waterfowl. These crumbs will not contain coccidiostats which are designed to protect against coccidia infections in poultry. These coccidiostats have been tested for use with chickens in the poultry industry but, not necessarily, with ducks. If you read the label of chick starter crumbs carefully, you will find names such as ethopabate and amprolium. Although ducklings are reared on products containing these medications, some may experience adverse effects, and additive-free starter crumbs are much preferred by duck breeders.

Starter crumbs should be fed from about 24 hours old up to about 3 weeks. The ducklings do not need to feed immediately because they have a food reserve (the yolk sac) which has been drawn inside the body around hatching time. This food reserve should be used by the duckling over the first 48 hours after hatching. However, the ducklings peck around and will peck each other’s eyes as they explore. So it is often better to give them a few crumbs, after 24 hours,  to keep them occupied. They should be feeding properly by 48 hours. 

Because Calls are so small, they sometimes find even crumbs difficult to cope with. To make it easier to eat, the food can be moistened and kept alongside the water pot until the birds are feeding successfully. Separate the water and crumb containers when all the birds are feeding well. Drinkers should be of the fountain type, or of a shape and size that precludes drowning. Water should always be available; it does not matter if the crumbs run out first. Dry food must not be left without water. The ducklings will continue to eat so that, when water is made available, the crumbs swell up inside the body and cause problems and even death.

Growers pellets
As the birds grow, their beaks can deal with larger particles. Growers pellets (for ducks) can gradually be mixed in with the crumbs from 2 weeks old. By 4 weeks old, the ducklings should be managing all pellets. The protein content of crumbs is quite high (18-20%) and is too high for birds over 3 weeks. Even the 15-16% protein of growers pellets can cause problems (like slipped wing) for bigger ducks and it is a good idea to introduce a small amount of whole or coarsely milled wheat into the diet by 5 weeks of age. When hard grain is introduced, ducklings should have access to sand and grit. They will dig into the earth of their run to find their own particles from the soil for the gizzard as well. Whole grain alone is not a suitable diet for ducklings, neither is bread.

Greens
As well as snapping at flies, wild ducklings enjoys slugs and worms which are best found in the grass early in the morning. They also pull quite a lot of grass. If you cannot rear ducklings in clean, grass-covered runs between 3–6 weeks of age, give them grass-clippings and chopped dandelions. These too are part of the natural diet and will help the ducklings grow sturdy bones. Allen & Page Smallholder products contain grass and should get your birds off to a good start. Check out their website at www.smallholderfeed.co.uk

Pasted-up bums
Starter crumbs, as you can see, are not a natural diet, and they can cause problems for tiny Call ducklings. Larger birds occasionally suffer from the anus becoming encrusted with a paste of crumb excreta. In Call ducks, this condition is thought to be made worse by chilling or a draughty environment. Call ducks definitely need checking that they are clean. They should all be picked up regularly during their first week to see that they are all right. Where the fluff around the anus is stuck, or a ball of solid waste covers the vent, a duckling can have difficulty in excreting , and can die. Affected ducklings should have a swim in a bowl of warm water. They need cleaning up and watching to make sure they do not drown. Afterwards, dry them with tissue, and keep them warm under the heat lamp.

Rearing Methods
Initially ducklings are often kept on textured paper and moved onto a wire grid or shavings (once they are old enough to realize that shavings are not eatable). Pasted up bums only occur with such dry-rearing methods which are generally practised with domestic waterfowl. Wildfowl rearers more often use wet-rearing methods. As the term suggests, the ducklings have access to water, and can wash and preen themselves, and consequently do not get sticky bums. Wet-rearing units are advertised in the British Waterfowl Association magazine Waterfowl by Arnold and Daphne Zwetsloot. Wet-rearing can also been seen in practice at Blackbrook Zoological Park. In the next CDA issue, Graham and Sandra Barnard will be explaining how wet-rearing needs more supervision in the first stages, but is then more suitable for young Calls. They will also suggest designs.

Food Suppliers
Allen & Page Smallholder Range 0800 0281496 www.smallholderfeed.co.uk — Organic duck food—the best.
BOCM-Pauls Ltd—Marsdens Tel 08457 165103 -  duck food.
Marriage’s Tel 01245 612000 www.marriagefeeds.co.uk