What grass can be given to ducklings: what they eat and love, what you can’t feed

Cultivation of ducks is considered quite a profitable agricultural direction. Ducks quickly increase body weight. There are many useful elements in the meat of these birds. At the same time, for the maintenance of birds, special efforts are not required. However, some rules still need to be followed. First of all, you need to know what kind of grass can be given to ducklings.

What herb can I give to ducklings?

The basis of the nutrition of young individuals in the summer is juicy food. It is permissible to give ducklings algae, vegetable greens, terrestrial green crops, root crops.To add variety to your diet, you can include cereals. However, their volume should not exceed a quarter of the total volume of food.

In the summer it is worth preparing a combined silo. This will help feed the ducklings all winter with he althy grass. It is important that the silo stops emitting the smell of soaked apples. To do this, the raw material must mature for at least 45-60 days. To remove excess acids, 2 tablespoons of ground chalk should be added to each kilogram of feed. This will help provide nutrients to young birds.

Crushed greens can be given to ducklings from the 3rd day. Birds love knotweed, clover, young nettles. They can be given quinoa, burdock, alfalfa, plantain. Greens are recommended to be washed thoroughly beforehand.

In order for ducklings to grow and develop normally, they need to provide proper and balanced nutrition. Young animals need the following types of food:

• cereals - oats, barley, corn, wheat;
• legumes - peas are most often used;
• food waste;
• greens - dandelion, beet tops or carrots, cabbage;
• special compound feed - it should be designed for feeding chicks.

It is quite convenient to use compound feed. To do this, you need to choose a mixture depending on the age category of the bird and give it to young individuals several times a day. At the same time, farmers who raise ducks usually make their own feed.

A valuable source of carbohydrates should be corn. It can be up to half of the diet. When using barley to feed ducklings, it should be borne in mind that the shell of its grains is poorly digested. Therefore, they must first be soaked for at least 10 hours. The same applies to oats. Its grains often have a hard shell.

Equally important is the preparation of a good pasture for the birds.It is best to choose a site in the south of the farm for this purpose. This is where the maximum amount of light enters. The site should be fenced with a grid and divided into a number of sections. It is desirable that there is a reservoir on the territory of the pasture - ducklings will find up to 50% of food in it, which will help to significantly reduce costs.

What greens should not be given to ducks?

Feeding mulard ducks or other species of forbidden food is dangerous. This leads to negative he alth consequences and is fraught with indigestion or other pathologies. In addition, the lack of certain elements negatively affects the appearance of birds. They begin to literally fade away, lose their immunity. One of the terrible consequences for poultry farmers is the stoppage of growth processes.That's why it's so important to be careful.

Before filling the feeders, feel the duck's esophagus. If it remains firm, it means that digestion has not started. Therefore, loading the stomach is not recommended.

When feeding ducklings with greens, the following rules should be considered:

• do not give ducklings poisonous greens that can cause death - such plants include black henbane, hemlock, cocklebur, celandine;
• cook nettles in boiling water in advance - if this rule is violated, there is a risk of damage to internal organs;
• do not give maple leaves to birds, which pose a great danger to ducklings;
• iceberg lettuce - it is permissible to give it with great care, since an excess of this product can cause diarrhea;
• raw eggplants, green tomatoes, white potatoes - these plants belong to the Solanaceae family and are therefore considered very toxic to ducklings;
• raw dried beans - have toxic properties;
• spinach - interferes with the full absorption of calcium.

Besides this, do not give ducklings the following types of food:

• flour - when adding this product to food, there is a risk of a paste that provokes blockage of the nose;
• bread - both fresh and moldy products are harmful, there is a risk of developing aspergillosis;
• citrus fruits - provoke impaired absorption of calcium;
• milk cereals and fresh milk - these foods spoil quickly and can cause diarrhea.

At the same time, you can give ducklings green onions or spurge. It is recommended to chop the greens beforehand.

Features of winter feeding

In winter, there is a natural lack of greenery and small animals. To fill the lack of nutrients, you need to use other substances. Ducks eat twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. At the same time, poultry farmers can use different food options.

Farmers often give birds dry food. It may include cereals, seeds, dust. It is also acceptable to use fish or bone meal. Some poultry farmers prefer to give birds wet food. Silo, boiled potatoes, steamed hay are used to make the mash.

How many times a day to feed?

Feeding regimen for ducklings depends on age. Chicks that have just been born need to be fed up to 7 times a day. Birds older than 2 weeks require five meals a day. For ducks after 16 weeks, the adult diet is suitable.

Meeting

Before compiling a diet for pets, it is worth determining the purpose of their breeding. It is important to take into account the characteristics of the breed. So, birds that were bred under production conditions hardly adapt to homemade food and require special factory food.In other situations, the menu will not differ.

During the feeding period, you should follow the following tips:

1. Feed the ducklings several times a day. Newborn chicks need 7 meals. At 2 weeks, 4-5 feedings are enough.
2. Before switching to food, it is worth giving beaten yolk to weak birds.
3. Monitor the availability of constant access to food and water. It is not recommended to use cold water. Its temperature should be +20 degrees.
4. After 16 weeks, transfer birds to adult food.
5. Don't give he althy ducklings medicated food. They can negatively affect the state of internal organs.
6. When buying food in a pet store, choose food specifically for ducklings. Chick formulations are not recommended.
7. Don't give birds food that isn't meant for them. So, it is forbidden to use bread for feeding ducks.

It is acceptable to allow ducks in green food when the ground is fully warmed up. In bad weather, it is worth giving cut greens to ducklings in the barn.

Feeding ducklings has a number of features. In order for the birds to grow normally and remain he althy, they definitely need fresh greens. It is important to bear in mind that not all herbs are allowed to be given to ducks. Some types of greens have poisonous properties and negatively affect the condition of birds.

Recommended