This is a common question for backyard chicken keepers who may have both ducks and chickens. There are some important considerations when determining if you can feed your duck food to your chickens.
Can chickens eat duck food?
The short answer is yes, chickens can eat food formulated for ducks. However, there are a few key differences between chicken and duck nutritional needs that are important to keep in mind.
Ducks require higher levels of niacin and vitamin B12 in their diet compared to chickens. They also need more protein and fat than chickens require. Most duck feeds are about 2-3% higher in protein than standard layer chicken feed.
This higher protein and fat content helps meet the increased energy demands of ducks who are naturally more active foragers than chickens. Ducks also dabble and filter feed in water which requires more energy.
While chickens can technically consume duck feed, the higher protein and fat levels may be excessive for their needs. Chickens have different nutritional requirements than ducks.
Key nutritional differences between chickens and ducks
Here is a comparison of the typical nutritional profiles of chicken layer feed and duck feed:
| Nutrient | Chicken Feed | Duck Feed |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 16-18% | 18-20% |
| Fat | 3-5% | 5-8% |
| Fiber | 3.5-4.5% | 4-5% |
| Calcium | 3.5-4.5% | 1-1.5% |
| Phosphorus | 0.5-0.7% | 0.5-0.7% |
| Sodium | 0.18-0.25% | 0.18-0.25% |
As you can see, duck feed is higher in protein, fat, and fiber compared to standard chicken layer feed. The protein levels are about 2-4% higher in most duck feeds.
Excessive protein from duck feed can put unnecessary strain on a chicken’s kidneys and liver. The higher fat content can also lead to excess weight gain and obesity.
On the other hand, duck feed is slightly lower in calcium than layer feed formulated specifically for chickens. Laying hens have very high calcium needs to produce eggshells.
Insufficient calcium from long-term feeding of duck feed could lead to thin eggshells and increased risk of osteoporosis in your chickens.
Other considerations
Here are a few other things to keep in mind when deciding whether to feed duck food to chickens:
- Duck feed tends to be more expensive than standard chicken feed. Feeding duck feed to chickens may raise your feed costs.
- Duck feed comes in crumble and pellet forms. Chickens may have difficulty swallowing large duck pellets.
- Medicated duck feeds contain different medications at different dosages than medicated chicken feed. Only feed medicated feed formulated specifically for each species.
- Duckling starter feeds have very different nutritional profiles from chick starter feeds. Never feed duckling starter to chicks or vice versa.
Risks of long-term duck feed for chickens
While healthy chickens may be able to tolerate duck feed for short periods of time, there are some risks to be aware of if feeding duck feed long-term or exclusively:
- Excess protein – As mentioned, too much protein can tax the liver and kidneys over time and lead to gout.
- Obesity – The increased fat levels can lead to weight gain and obesity in chickens.
- Reduced egg production – Insufficient calcium and improper nutrient ratios for chickens could result in a drop in egg production.
- Thin shells – The lower calcium content could lead to thin or soft eggshells.
- Nutritional deficiencies – Duck feeds may not provide optimal levels of key nutrients chickens need, especially minerals like calcium.
For these reasons, it’s best to limit duck feed to occasional treats or supplemental feeding and not as a complete replacement for chicken feed.
Best practices
If you wish to feed duck food to your chickens occasionally, here are some best practices to follow:
- Limit duck feed to no more than 20-30% of the total diet.
- Crush or grind large duck pellets to an appropriate size for chickens.
- Ensure adequate calcium intake from other sources like oyster shell.
- Monitor chickens closely for signs of obesity, gout, or eggshell issues.
- Feed duck food as a supplemental treat no more than 2-3 times per week.
- Do not feed medicated duck feed intended for ducks only.
- Separate species when feeding medicated feeds to avoid cross-contamination.
Following these precautions will help minimize risks when occasionally feeding duck feed to chickens.
Alternatives to duck feed
If you want to add some diversity to your chicken’s diet, here are some alternatives to consider rather than feeding complete duck rations:
- Duck treat pellets – Some brands offer treats specifically formulated for chickens and ducks. These contain lower and safer protein levels.
- Scratch grains – Small amounts of scratch like cracked corn, wheat, milo or barley can add variety.
- Leafy greens – Fresh greens like kale, spinach, swiss chard are healthy treats.
- Cut fruit – Small pieces of apple, banana, melon, berries are enjoyed by chickens.
- Yogurt – Plain yogurt contains calcium, protein, and probiotics.
- Eggshells – Washed, crushed eggshells provide much needed calcium.
- Insects – Worms, mealworms, crickets are natural, protein-rich treats.
These alternatives provide added nutrition and treat variety without the risks of excessive duck feed. They can be fed in 10% or lower quantities along with complete chicken ration.
The bottom line
Chickens can occasionally consume small amounts of duck feed as part of a varied diet. However, long-term feeding of duck feed instead of properly formulated chicken feed carries nutritional risks and should be avoided.
Make sure your chickens always have access to a complete chicken layer feed that meets their nutritional requirements. Limit duck feed to occasional supplemental feeding only or explore healthier treat alternatives.
Monitoring your chickens and ensuring proper nutrition tailored to their needs is key to keeping your flock healthy and productive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed chickens and ducks together?
It’s generally not recommended to feed ducks and chickens together free-choice. Ducks are much messier eaters with higher nutritional needs. Chickens tend to get pushed away from feed when competing with ducks.
It’s best to separate ducks and chickens at feeding time. This will allow you to feed species-appropriate ration and make sure each gets their required intake.
What happens if I only feed duck food to chickens?
Feeding only duck ration long-term can lead to nutritional deficiencies and imbalances in chickens. Likely issues include thin eggshells, reduced egg production, obesity, kidney/liver issues, and gout.
For optimal health, egg-laying ability, and lifespan, chickens should be fed a complete feed specifically formulated to meet their nutritional requirements.
Can I feed chick starter feed to baby ducks?
No, you should never feed chick starter to ducklings. The protein, vitamin, and medication levels are dangerously inappropriate for baby ducks. Ducklings require special duckling starter feed for proper growth and development.
Likewise, duckling feed should never be fed to chicks due to improper nutrient levels.
Is it OK to feed whole duck eggs to chickens?
It’s fine to feed small amounts of crushed duck eggshells as a calcium supplement. However whole, raw duck eggs can pose a risk of transferring pathogens like duck viral enteritis (DVE) to chickens.
To be safe, cook duck eggs fully before feeding to chickens. Or just feed crushed shells free of egg contents.
