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feeding ducks/swans

  • 10-09-2009 2:55pm
    #1
    ntlbell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭


    Wasn't sure where to put this.

    I was wondering does anyone know what's good for feeding ducks and swans?

    I know people usually give them white bread but i was looking to give them somethin that might be actually good for them?


Comments

  • #2
    HitmanSB07
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8 ✭HitmanSB07


    i always give the ducks and swans out my back fish fingers and chips they seem to really love these


  • #3
    00112984
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭00112984


    Do you know anyone with a horse or have one yourself, OP? Ducks and swans love rolled oats and they're very good for them


  • #4
    star-pants
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,429 ✭✭✭✭star-pants


    Don't know that fish fingers and chips are really the best food for ducks/swans.
    00112984 - I didn't actually know what was best, rolled oats you say? Interesting to know thanks :)


  • #5
    ntlbell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    00112984 wrote: »
    Do you know anyone with a horse or have one yourself, OP? Ducks and swans love rolled oats and they're very good for them

    I don't, Do you know where I could buy some large bags?


  • #6
    00112984
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭00112984


    ntlbell wrote: »
    I don't, Do you know where I could buy some large bags?

    If you have any farm store/co-op type thing near you that does cattle feed, they'll do big bags of rolled oats too. Have no idea how much it costs.

    My parents have pet ducks on their farm and they get the oats in the local mills.


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  • #7
    FAYESY
    Closed Accounts Posts: 274 ✭✭FAYESY


    You could try oatibix or similar cerals - mixed grains - corn etc. Even really good multi grain breads etc.


  • #8
    00112984
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭00112984


    Ntlbell, I was in a big petshop yesterday (was on my way up North and went to the Pet Warehouse near Sprucefield) and they had 7.5kg bags of food for ducks, swans and other waterfowl. If you have a big pet shop near you, might be worth looking in there.

    Had a very quick glance at the ingredients and seemed mainly to be made of different cereals and grains with some oils and fats so sounds like Fayesy's suggestion of cereals would work.


  • #9
    Sigma Force
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭Sigma Force


    Saw small bags of duck and swan food although wasn't cheap many people keep ducks as pets so I'd imagine a good quality duck feed would be fine.

    I think cooked peas are ok (double check though) we usually feed bread but not fond of it because everyone gives them bread not sure if there's much in it for them really.
    Some of the larger farm shops prob. sell duck food.

    Here's a site that says more about pet ducks to give you an idea of foods

    Quote from site http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-and-animals/a3728-how-to-raise-a-duck-as-a-pet.html

    "Mix the feed with cracked corn when the ducks are adults, especially in the winter. Cracked corn is easier for ducks to digest than whole corn.
    Bread, popcorn, and chips are not healthy for ducks. Consider them "junk food" for ducks.
    Ducks can also be fed chopped hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, bugs, garden snails, worms, night crawlers, mealworms, bloodworms, and floating coy food."


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