Will Ducks Eat Chicken Feed? The Complete Guide to Duck Nutrition

As someone who’s raised both chickens and ducks in my backyard for years, I’ve often wondered about the most efficient feeding approach when keeping these birds together. If you’re maintaining a mixed flock, you’ve probably asked yourself: will ducks eat chicken feed? The short answer is yes – ducks will eagerly eat chicken feed, but whether they should is a more complicated question that requires understanding their unique nutritional needs.

The Quick Answer: Yes, But With Important Caveats

Ducks can eat chicken feed and they’ll happily do so if it’s available. However chicken feed lacks certain nutrients that ducks require for optimal health. While it can work as a temporary solution or supplemental food source, it shouldn’t be their exclusive long-term diet.

As Bradley’s Fine Diner puts it “The short answer is yes, ducks can eat chicken feed However, chicken feed lacks certain nutrients ducks need, so it should not be their sole diet long-term”

Why Ducks and Chickens Need Different Feeds

Despite both being poultry, ducks and chickens evolved eating different diets, resulting in distinct nutritional requirements:

Protein Differences

• Chickens: Need 23% protein in starter feed, dropping to 16-18% in layer feed
• Ducks: Need 20% protein in starter feed and 15-16% protein in layer feed

Too much protein can actually harm ducklings causing

• Twisted leg bones
• Stunted growth
• Angel wing (a condition where wing tips twist outward permanently)

Niacin Requirements

The biggest nutritional difference concerns niacin (Vitamin B3):

• Chickens: Need 15-20 mg niacin per kg of feed
• Ducks: Need 40-50 mg niacin per kg of feed (2-3x more than chickens!)

As Dr. Nancy Jefferson from Kalmbach Feeds explains: “Most animals can easily convert tryptophan – an essential amino acid – into niacin. However, ducks are not very good at this process. Therefore, they require a lot more niacin from their diet.”

Signs of Niacin Deficiency in Ducks

When ducks don’t get enough niacin, they may develop:

• Poor feathering
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Dermatitis
• Swollen legs at the hock
• Bowed legs
• Difficulty walking

How to Modify Chicken Feed for Ducks

If you’re in a situation where duck-specific feed isn’t available or practical, you can modify chicken feed to make it more suitable:

For Ducklings Under 2 Weeks

1. Use chick starter feed (but only for the first two weeks)
2. Supplement with brewer’s yeast or liquid niacin daily
   • Add 1.5 tablespoons of brewer’s yeast per cup of feed
   • Or add 500mg of liquid niacin per 4 gallons of water

For Ducklings Over 2 Weeks

1. Switch to chick grower feed with 18% protein or less
2. Continue niacin supplementation
3. Mix in grains like oats to reduce protein content (about 20% oats)

For Adult Ducks

1. Use layer feed (verify it contains no medications)
2. Supplement with brewer’s yeast weekly (about 5%)
3. Provide greens and insects from foraging

Best Practices for Feeding Ducks

To keep your ducks healthy, follow these guidelines:

1. Use Duck-Specific Feeds When Possible

   • Look for starter, grower, and layer feeds made specifically for waterfowl

2. Supplement With Brewer’s Yeast

   • Add brewer’s yeast to any feed to boost niacin levels

3. Provide Grit

   • Ducks need small rocks and gravel to properly digest food
   • If your ducks have limited access to natural grit, provide a handful weekly

4. Offer Greens and Insects

   • Let ducks graze on grass, vegetable scraps, and bugs
   • Free-range ducks can forage to supplement their diet

5. Change Foods Gradually

   • Slowly transition between starter, grower, and layer feeds

6. Avoid Medicated Feeds

   • Don’t use medicated chicken feed meant to prevent diseases ducks don’t get

7. Read Labels Carefully

   • Verify percentages of protein, vitamins, and minerals meet duck needs

What Can Ducks Eat as Treats?

Ducks enjoy a variety of treats beyond their regular feed:

Green Snacks (Can be fed freely)

• Weeds and grass cuttings
• Kale and Swiss chard
• Lettuce (except iceberg in large amounts)

Bugs and Insects

• Mealworms
• Red worms
• Snails
• Various garden insects

Fruits (Limited to 10% of diet)

• Berries
• Tomatoes
• Melon (especially watermelon rind)
• Strawberries

Vegetables (Limited to 10% of diet)

• Cucumbers
• Broccoli
• Corn
• Zucchini
• Peas
• Squash

Grains (Limited to 10% of diet)

• Wheat bran
• Barley
• Oats
• Alfalfa meal

Foods Ducks Should NEVER Eat

Keep these harmful foods away from your ducks:

1. Avocado – Contains persin, which can cause heart cell death
2. Raw or Dried Beans – Contain phytohaemagglutinin, toxic to ducks
3. White Potatoes – Contain solanine, which can destroy red blood cells
4. Tomato and Eggplant Leaves – Part of the nightshade family, toxic to birds
5. Apple Seeds – Contain trace amounts of cyanide
6. Onions – Contain thiosulfate, which can cause anemia
7. Citrus – Affects calcium absorption
8. Spinach – Can interrupt calcium absorption
9. Junk Food – Chocolate, caffeine, salty, sweet, processed and fried foods

Life Stage Feeding Guide for Ducks

Ducklings (0-2 weeks)

• Waterfowl starter or crumbles with 20% protein
• If using chick starter, supplement with brewer’s yeast

Juvenile Ducks (2-18 weeks)

• Flock feed with 15% protein
• Lower protein prevents angel wing and leg problems

Adult Ducks

• Waterfowl layer feed with 16-17% protein
• Monitor eggshell quality and supplement calcium if needed

Final Thoughts

While ducks will happily eat chicken feed, it’s not the ideal nutritional choice for them long-term. The differences in protein and niacin requirements mean that unmodified chicken feed can lead to health problems for ducks over time.

If you’re raising both chickens and ducks, I recommend either:

1. Using separate feeders with species-appropriate feed
2. Using all-flock feed that’s designed for mixed poultry
3. Modifying chicken feed with supplements like brewer’s yeast

By understanding and meeting the specific nutritional needs of your ducks, you’ll be rewarded with healthier birds, better egg production, and fewer health problems down the road.

Remember – happy ducks are healthy ducks, and proper nutrition is the foundation of their wellbeing!

Have you tried feeding your ducks chicken feed? What results did you notice? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Yes, adult ducks and chickens can typically eat the same feed, but their nutritional needs, especially for ducklings, differ. While adult birds can share a good layer feed, be mindful of the protein content, as excessive amounts can cause leg problems in growing ducks. Providing an all-flock feed or a balanced diet with appropriate protein levels is ideal for mixed flocks of adult birds.

Yes, ducks can eat out of chicken feeders, though it’s essential to choose the right feed and manage the feeding environment to avoid issues like niacin deficiency in ducks. While ducks can generally share chicken layer feed, they require more niacin, higher protein for growth, and different feeders to prevent feed from getting wet. Using an “all-flock feed“ or a waterfowl-specific feed is a safer option to ensure both ducks and chickens receive the appropriate nutrition.

Safe foods for wild ducks include grains (cracked corn, oats, rice), vegetables (lettuce, peas, corn, squash), fruit (grapes, berries, melon), and duck pellets. Cut food into small, bite-sized pieces and offer it in moderation to avoid pollution and health problems like “angel wing”.

Yes, ducks can eat “all flock” feeds, but it’s crucial to consider their age and nutritional needs, especially for growing ducklings, who require higher niacin levels to prevent leg deformities.