Over the years, the American Pekin has become one of the more popular pet duck breeds globally. Thankfully, they are not very complex animals to keep and raise.
But, this raises the question of what Pekin ducks eat.
First off, you should know that the specific feeding requirements depend on your ducks and your expectations for them. For instance, if you are rearing your duck for its egg-laying abilities, you’ll need to provide more specific feed than if you were keeping the duck as a pet.
Not to worry, we’ll share some pointers with you.
This article walks you through some salient points on Pekin duck feed and how you should feed your Pekin ducks.
Feeding Pekin Ducklings: What You Should Know
Like all birds, Pekin ducklings thrive best on a chicken starter feed. This is because this feed contains the requisite amount of protein (between 18 and 20%) and other essential nutrients that a growing duckling needs.
That said, it is usually best to lay off feeding your Pekin duckling medicated feed as this feed can weaken them. Chicken scratch also poses the same dangers.
However, as soon your duckling is about three weeks old, you can then transition to grower feed, which has lower protein levels (around 15%). Then, by week 20, you can place them on an adult diet and watch them develop all the way.
Pekin Duck Feed Considerations
If your Pekin ducks are already adults, they can typically feed on quality chicken feed without any issues. However, since Pekin ducks have rounded beaks, unlike the pointed beaks of chickens, they generally find it easier to eat feed in crumble and pellet form. But, make sure the protein percentage in the feed is adequate.
On the other hand, you can also leave your Pekin ducks to free range.
If your Pekin ducks roam freely, they’ll most likely feed on plants and animals. For instance, ducks enjoy eating tadpoles, tiny frogs, and smaller fish in the water. On land, they’ll look for worms and insects. They also eat plant and plant food such as algae, berries, and nuts.
In the winter, you may need to provide your Pekin ducks with protein-rich feed and possibly some corn, as food is not readily available during these times.
Pro tip? If you’re raising Pekin ducks for egg-laying purposes, it is usually best to stick to a layer-feed diet as it is richer in calcium and essential vitamins that aid egg production.
Pekin Duck Diet: Top Options for You
When it comes to ducks, wild and domesticated breeds will instinctively try to feed on the same things — if they are free-ranging. However, the chicken feed will usually do the trick if you don’t let your ducks free range.
Alfalfa Pellets
Alfalfa pellets are a great choice if you want a feed that’s high in protein. But, protein is not all this feed has. It is also rich in fiber and vitamins.
As a result, alfalfa pellets can boost your Pekin ducks’ energy and help them maintain healthy weights. Besides, Pekin ducks also enjoy alfalfa pellets for their great taste!
Vegetables
While the specific vegetable may vary, there is no doubt that Pekin ducks enjoy a healthy vegetable diet. Popular choices include spinach, lettuce, and cabbage.
Vegetables are an essential diet for Pekin ducks as they contain vitamins and minerals in loads that promote your ducks’ general health. So, you should try feeding your Pekin ducks vegetables ever so often. Don’t worry. They enjoy it!
Grains
Another feed choice that Pekin ducks thrive on is grains. Some of the more common grains are corn, wheat, and oat. Grains are also a great source of minerals and vitamins for Pekin ducks and should be part of their feed diet.
Fruit
Pekin ducks don’t only eat plants but also enjoy eating their fruits. So, apples, grapes, and bananas are highly recommended choices if you want to feed your Pekin duck some fruits. But, you can also experiment to see what else they like.
Fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals, which will be beneficial to the health of your Pekin ducks.
Duckweed
The name of this plant is likely a giveaway. But, Pekin ducks love to feed on some duckweed whenever they can.
Duckweed is a pond plant and an excellent source of essential nutrients that can help maintain Pekin duck health. However, Pekin ducks seem to be more about the taste of duckweed than any other thing.
Mealworms
Another popular staple when it comes to the Pekin duck diet is mealworm. Mealworms are very rich in protein and can be very beneficial to the health of your Pekin ducks. Besides, they are also great-tasting, and ducks never seem to be able to get enough.
How Often Do Pekin Ducks Need To Eat?
Pekin ducks are both popular for their egg-laying abilities and high meat yield. Of course, they are also very friendly and can be great pets. But, how often do they need to eat to thrive?
When Pekin ducks are young, we recommend feeding them three times a day as they are in a critical growing stage. However, you can reduce the feeding frequency to twice when they reach week six. Comparatively, adult Pekin ducks typically need only one feeding session per day.
That said, ensure that your ducks have an adequate fresh water supply at all times.
With Pekin ducks, there is usually no need to worry about overfeeding them. So, as long as they have plenty of food and water, they will typically stay healthy and happy.
How Much Do Pekin Ducks Eat?
There’s no right or wrong answer here.
The amount your Pekin duck will eat depends on several factors such as age, health status, activity level, weather conditions, and more.
However, the average adult Pekin duck typically eats between 1/2 and 3/4 a pound of food daily. On the other hand, growing Pekin ducks can easily eat twice this portion daily.
In addition, pregnant ducks will typically eat more as they require more nutrients to support the growth of their young ones. So, make sure they have extra food on hand during this time.
Pekin ducks may eat considerably more in the summer than in winter. This is primarily because of the changes in activity levels that occur during these seasons.
My Personal Opinion: Wrapping Up
Pekin duck can eat a wide variety of foods. So, it’s about deciding what to feed them based on preferences and nutritional requirements. But, remember, it is essential that your ducks eat a balanced diet. Or you may put their health at risk.
Do you have more questions? Please, let us know!1
