What Do You Feed a Duck?

[kaytieeldr]

Seriously. There's a duck sitting on eggs outside my apartment building. Nobody's sure when they'll hatch, but several people are feeding her bread several times a day - and there has to be something healthier. I have a can of low-sodium tuna, and I'm going to food shopping tomorrow.

Suggestions?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Quick Google search brought up this:

Grapes cut in half
Cracked corn, barley, oats, birdseed or other grains
Frozen peas that have been defrosted
Duck feed pellets available from farm supply stores

 

[FlyingDumbo]

What kind of duck? I think they eat worms and fish. Not sure if they would eat tuna. Tuna is on my "once a week or less" list (from my ob) while pregnant due to the high mercury content. I have no clue how high the risk of mercury is in tuna, but I think I would not give it to the duck just to lean towards cautious.

 

[scrapquitler]

Seriously. There's a duck sitting on eggs outside my apartment building. Nobody's sure when they'll hatch, but several people are feeding her bread several times a day - and there has to be something healthier. I have a can of low-sodium tuna, and I'm going to food shopping tomorrow.

Suggestions?

Bread and crackers are not good for them. The duck would not have chosen that place to lay her eggs and make her nest if she were concerned that she couldn't find her own food supply. I would leave it alone.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Great. I have grapes, and a knife so I can bring down some graPes in a little while. I'm not going worming (but she might be), but i can get the peas and grains tomorrow morning - and, duh, I'm sure the store has birdseed. Why didn't I think of that???

Thanks, everyone!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Bread and crackers are not good for them. The duck would not have chosen that place to lay her eggs and make her nest if she were concerned that she couldn't find her own food supply. I would leave it alone.

It's a shaded area with bushes and mulch, in the middle of a parking lot. Nobody ever reports the mother not being there, but nobody's watching 24/7 either. There's a pond behind the building, but no evidence she's going (or not going) to it.

 

[Janepod]

Bread and crackers are not good for them. The duck would not have chosen that place to lay her eggs and make her nest if she were concerned that she couldn't find her own food supply. I would leave it alone.

I agree. Animals have been propagating their species just fine without us. Let her be.

 

[TDC Nala]

If they're mallard ducks, I read that sometimes the drake takes off because the female pays more attention to her eggs than to him. She's capable of taking care of her own eggs. Not sure I'd feed her unless she appears to be in distress, but you do have other people feeding her stuff that isn't good for her.

 

[usd2bmd]

This happened once outside my in-laws. We put cracked corn near her...but left her alone other wise...She does leave to get food...maybe later at night or early in the morning but she does leave, trust me.

Chances are she is nesting there because of the pond being near by.

 

[sonnyjane]

Bread and crackers are not good for them. The duck would not have chosen that place to lay her eggs and make her nest if she were concerned that she couldn't find her own food supply. I would leave it alone.

Yes, PLEASE do not interfere, and please tell the folks feeding her bread that it's awful for them. I work with birds, both wild and domesticated, and we always, ALWAYS recommend that you leave them alone and not feed them. If there is an injury, you can contact your local wildlife rescue, but they if she is just sitting on the nest, leave her be.

Also bird seed is absolutely not the proper diet so if you choose to ignore the advice of myself and others, at least please don't get that.

 

[Poohforyou]

It's a shaded area with bushes and mulch, in the middle of a parking lot. Nobody ever reports the mother not being there, but nobody's watching 24/7 either. There's a pond behind the building, but no evidence she's going (or not going) to it.

She's likely going in the middle of the night to feed. Dad might be nearby and bringing her food. Really, the best thing you can do is leave her be. Fowl can get quite nasty if feeling threatened.

Oh, and if ducks eat tuna they'll eat tuna. I don't think they concern themselves with mercury levels in food.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, PLEASE do not interfere, and please tell the folks feeding her bread that it's awful for them.

Thanks. I have to go to the office tomorrow. I'll ask if they'll post a notice.

If I had some blank paper, I'd do it myself (and i forgot the grapes when I went out, so no danger from me). There were a few ducks flying around the nest area, so I'm sure you're all right and everything's fine.

And based on the rest of your post, and me seeing other ducks, I have NO intention of interfering except to try to get others to stop try to "help".

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks. I have to go to the office tomorrow. I'll ask if they'll post a notice.

If I had some blank paper, I'd do it myself (and i forgot the grapes when I went out, so no danger from me). There were a few ducks flying around the nest area, so I'm sure you're all right and everything's fine.

And based on the rest of your post, and me seeing other ducks, I have NO intention of interfering except to try to get others to stop try to "help".

Perfect, thank you!! You'll be helping both mom and babies!