Cracked corn forms a major part of the feed for the livestock.
You might be wondering if you can serve cracked corn to the ducks when you have them in abundance at home.
In this blog post, you are going to discover if it is good to serve cracked corn to the ducks as a treat.
Can ducks eat cracked corn? Ducks can eat cracked corn. You can serve cracked corn to the ducks as a treat. Cracked corn is best served for the ducks during the winter as it provides them with heat after digestion.
You can serve cracked corn together with other grains for the ducks. You just need to serve cracked corn to the ducks in moderation to prevent build up in their crops.
Table of Contents
Can ducks eat corn?
Ducks can eat corn both the fresh cracked corn as well as the dried ones. Corn is a good source of carbohydrates for ducks.
You should know that whatever grains you can eat ducks can also eat as well. You only need to serve the corn to the ducks once in a while.
However, you might have some of your ducks that will reject the corn you serve them.
About some time ago, I didn’t know that ducks can also eat corn. My perspective changed when I discovered that the ducks are also fighting chickens over corn in the yard.
Are cracked corn safe for ducks?
Cracked corns are safe for ducks. The only thing is that you need to serve the cracked corn for the ducks in moderation and once in a while.
You can reserve cracked corn till the winter for the ducks. The reason is that cracked corn provides heat for the ducks and other birds in the yard during the winter after they have digested it.
This is a kind of question that should always come to your mind first whenever you discover that ducks can eat a certain treat.
Just because you heard other people saying that a particular treat is good for the pet, this does not mean that you too should go ahead and start serving the same treat for your pets.
It is very important to do your own findings. Some people might be feeding their pets a certain treat out of ignorance.
I did a little research about feeding cracked corn to the ducks in order to be certain of what I am going to write on this page.
I learnt that other people are also feeding cracked corn to the ducks and chickens.
A member of the backyard forum said his ducks usually fight with chicken over cracked corn he serves them.
Some other members claim that Cracked corn is a good addition to the feed they are serving the ducks and the chickens.
How do I introduce cracked corn to the ducks?
Introducing cracked corn to the ducks should not be complicated. It’ll be pretty much easier if you served grains to the ducks in the past.
You only need to go slow whenever you want to introduce cracked corn to the ducks.
Remember the slogan which says slow and steady wins the race.
You start out by giving them a little amount of cracked corn in the feeder. The amount of the cracked corn you are going to put in the feeder must not satisfy them all.
The reason is that it will help to raise their appetite towards the cracked corn when they are unable to eat to satisfaction.
To make the introduction more easier, you can mix the Cracked corn together with other feed you serve the ducks.
How often do I feed my ducks with cracked corn?
Well, crack corn should be regarded as a treat. The reason is that it offers little nutritional value to the ducks.
This means you can only serve cracked corn to the ducks once in a while. You must not serve cracked corn to the ducks more than two times in a month.
I know it can be very tempting to always serve a certain treat to the ducks regularly if it happens that you have them in abundance at your disposal.
The case is quite different with cracked corn. The ducks are going to develop stif crops on their chest and this can pose a great problem for their digestive systems.
Can ducks survive on cracked corn?
I will not advise you to allow ducks to survive on cracked corn alone.
Cracked corn does not contain all the essential nutrients for the well-being of the ducks.
There are some situations whereby the main feed you serve your pet is exhausted.
You will be forced to look for something else to serve your pet pending the time you will get new feed for the dogs.
If you find yourself in this situation or something similar, serving cracked corn only to the duck is not a good approach.
You need to feed them with other treats that provide them with essential nutrients to keep them healthy for the meantime.
Can ducklings eat cracked corn?
You should never serve cracked corn for ducklings that are still less than 9 weeks old.
The reason is that their digestive system is not strong enough to break down the cracked corn.
You need to allow the ducklings to grow enough before you start serving them grains.
They need food that contains a high proportion of protein as this will enhance their growth.
Health benefits of cracked corn to the ducks
Cracked corn is a good source of carbohydrates for the ducks and ducklings. Cracked corn also provides heat for the ducks and other birds in the winter.
Other treats you can serve the ducks.
These are some of the other healthy treats you can serve the ducks.
Lettuce
Lettuce is one of the healthy vegetables for dogs. latest provide essential vitamins and minerals for the ducks.
Tomatoes
You can also serve tomatoes to the dogs as a treat. Ensure to peel off the grain parts of the tomato before you serve the ducks as they contain toxic substances.
Bananas
Banana is another treat you can serve the ducks if you have them within the surrounding area. You only need to peel off the outer part and serve the fruits for the ducks.
Pomegranate
You can also serve pomegranate to the ducks as a treat. You only need to slice the pomegranate into pieces and serve the duck. They are going to eat the inner fruit as well as the seeds.
Conclusion
Ducks can eat cracked corn. Cracked corn provides the ducks with carbohydrates and fiber. Cracked can be served with other grains for the ducks. Avoid serving cracked to the ducks regularly to prevent congestive crop in the ducks.
Reference
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feeding-ducks-cracked-corn.990984/
