What should I feed a wild duck nesting with eggs outside my home?

Cuteness overload! Ducklings should be given access to enough water that they ate not going to run out. I would go to somewhere like tractor supply and pick up a water dispenser. This will help keep things sanitary. Diet wise a good chick starter feed should be sufficient unless you can find a duckling specific food. High protein at first is best like 20 percent or more. Consider adding something like brewer's yeast as well to the diet to cover additional vitamin requirements. If you end up keeping them for longer, their nutritional requirements will change.

Hello. Looks like you have a pretty young mallard duck. You will need to purchase a bag of duck feed, or at least start the little guy on a chick starter ( hopefully you have some feed stores in your country ) & keep him on this until he looses all his down & is fully feathered. This will be around 7-9 weeks. He will not survive on granola or just bread. Keep him warm & protected & he should grow just fine. You might also see if there are any wildlife rehabilitators in your area who can do a much better job raising & releasing the duckling in a safe manner. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is quite common for a broody hen to not eat. You may need to physically lift her off the eggs and place her in or near water and near food. She will likely eat, drink and defecate then quickly return to the nest and eggs.

Feed a good quality pelleted diet (Harrison's, Roudybush, Lafeber, Pretty Bird or Exact) supplemented with a fortified seed mix and fresh greens and vegetables. Provide a cuttlebone or mineral block. Always have fresh water available. Provide an appropriately sized nesting box and suitable nesting material (straw, Aspen shaving, shredded newspaper, etc.).

Ducks should be fed more than just corn as feeding only one type of food can lead to nutritional imbalance and diseases with symptoms similar to what you are seeing. Ducks and chickens can be housed together, however they do have differing needs and males of one species may harm or harass the other which could lead to injury and illness. It would be best to have separate housing for each species as well as feed a balanced diet tailored to each as their nutritional needs can vary some. If you have a duck that is acting ill it is best to seek the care of a veterinarian near you as well as keep the duck away from the rest of your flock to avoid spread of illness as well as picking on the sick duck by any flock members.

If your hen is free ranging, ie, can walk and eat wherever she likes, then she will teach her chicks to eat insects and seeds and grit and you will not need to add anything. If your chicken is in a coop and cannot take her chicks out to forage, then you need to buy either commercial baby chick starter food or feed them insects and worms and chopped greens. You can also feed them chopped boiled eggs. You can also mix finely chopped hard-boiled eggs with oatmeal ground lentils, ground maize, flax, millet. You can add worms and other insects. They will always need fresh water available.

Losing weight can be caused by a number of things. Making sure Chelsea is regularly dewormed and treated for mites can help prevent the most common causes, as well as keeping her environment clean and providing fresh food and water. If she continues to lose weight, having a vet examine her to rule out illness or other issues is best. A regular flock diet such as Purina duck chow or layer pellets (if your ducks are laying eggs) can ensure they are getting the right supplementation. Adding in some treats such as fresh fruits and veggies or even sprouted grains can provide extra fun and well-rounded nutrition. If she is older and having some trouble getting around, making sure there are low platforms available so she can climb in and out of the coop, pens or swimming holes may make it easier for Chelsea.