We feed the ducklings on a mix of oats and chick crumbs and occasional chopped boiled egg, with various greens thrown in throughout the day: lettuce, chopped green leaves from the veg. garden, chickweed, white clover flowers and dandelion. They also have a turf dug up and placed in the pen for them to forage in.
They chirp for food throughout the day, but no matter what they're fed, nothing satisfies them - and shuts them up - like mealworms. Mealworms are quite expensive, at £4 for 500ml, but we're anxious for the ducks to grow strong to have the best chance of survival when they're set free.
Ah, mealworms!
We have now learnt, though, that too much protein in their diet can cause a problem - 'angel wing', where the wing feathers grow out from the body instead of folding flat. So, like it or not, they're going to have less protein in their diet; which, basically, means a whole lot more chirping.
There's more about 'angel wing' and how to correct it, here.
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