Pekin ducks thrive on a diet built around commercial waterfowl feed, supplemented with fresh vegetables, access to clean water, and a few key nutrients that set them apart from chickens. An adult Pekin eats roughly 225 grams (about half a pound) of feed per day, but the type of feed and the extras you offer change significantly depending on whether you’re raising ducklings, growing juveniles, or maintaining adult layers.
Feed Types by Age
Ducklings need a starter feed from hatch through 2 weeks of age, with a protein content around 20%. After 2 weeks, you switch to a grower feed at about 18% protein, which they eat until roughly 6 weeks old. From there, most keepers transition to a maintenance or layer feed depending on whether the ducks will be producing eggs.
One critical rule: do not feed ducklings chick starter. Chicken feeds are formulated with higher protein levels and lack nutrients ducks specifically need, like adequate niacin. Protein levels above 20% during growth can contribute to angel wing, a deformity where the wing feathers twist outward instead of lying flat against the body. If angel wing is caught early, dietary changes (dropping protein to 16% or below) combined with wing wrapping can sometimes correct it. Prevention is easier than treatment, so stick to waterfowl-specific feed whenever possible.
Why Niacin Matters So Much
Pekin ducks need significantly more niacin (vitamin B3) than chickens. Without enough, ducklings develop leg problems, including bowed legs and difficulty walking, sometimes within the first few weeks of life. Commercial waterfowl feeds are formulated with adequate niacin (around 90 mg per kilogram of feed), but if you’re using a general poultry feed, you’ll likely need to supplement.
Brewer’s yeast is the most common supplement. Human-grade brewer’s yeast contains about 5 mg of niacin per tablespoon, while livestock-grade yeast has roughly 1.5 mg per tablespoon. A duck that gets no niacin from its base feed would need just under 2 tablespoons of human-grade yeast per day. In practice, most feeds already contain some niacin, so adding half that amount as a safety net is a reasonable approach. You can mix the yeast directly into feed or sprinkle it on top.
Calcium for Laying Ducks
If your Pekin hens are laying eggs, their calcium needs jump considerably. Laying ducks need a diet with roughly 2.8 to 3.6% calcium, depending on where they are in their laying cycle. During peak production, the higher end of that range supports both strong eggshells and healthy bones.
The best way to provide extra calcium is through crushed limestone or oyster shell offered in a separate dish, free-choice. Research on duck layers found that limestone with a larger particle size (roughly 1 to 2 mm) produced better eggshell quality and stronger bones compared to finely ground calcium sources. The larger particles break down more slowly in the digestive system, giving the duck a steadier supply of calcium over the hours it takes to form a shell. Keep a dish available at all times and let your ducks eat as much or as little as they want.
Safe Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh produce makes a great supplement to commercial feed and gives your ducks foraging enrichment. The key rule is to chop or slice everything into small pieces to prevent choking. Safe options include:
- Romaine lettuce: tear into small pieces; easy to digest and fun for ducks to chase in water
- Cucumber: high water content helps with hydration on hot days
- Broccoli: both stalks and florets are safe
- Courgette (zucchini): slice lengthways for easy eating
- Carrots: cook them lightly so they’re softer, and the leafy tops are safe too
- Watercress: a natural favorite for waterfowl
- Spring greens: chop finely before offering
A few vegetables are okay in small amounts but shouldn’t be staples. Kale can bind calcium, spinach is high in oxalates that also interfere with calcium absorption, and peas and sweetcorn are starchy enough to cause weight gain if overfed. Treat these as occasional extras, not daily offerings.
Foods That Are Toxic or Harmful
Several common foods are genuinely dangerous for Pekin ducks. Avocados contain persin, which is toxic to most birds. Onions and garlic both contain a compound called thiosulfate that destroys red blood cells and leads to anemia. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which can cause seizures, heart failure, and death even in small amounts. Coffee, tea, and anything else with caffeine carries the same risk.
Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit) interfere with calcium absorption, which weakens bones and produces thin, fragile eggshells in laying hens. Spinach does the same thing through a different mechanism, which is why it belongs in the “moderation only” category rather than the daily rotation.
Nightshade plants are another group to avoid entirely. Green (unripe) tomatoes, raw potatoes, eggplant, and rhubarb all contain compounds toxic to ducks. Rhubarb leaves are especially dangerous due to high levels of oxalic acid. Even the stems, leaves, and stalks of these plants pose a risk, not just the fruit.
Bread, crackers, chips, and other salty or sugary junk food cause rapid weight gain that puts dangerous strain on a duck’s legs. Pekins are already a heavy breed prone to leg issues, so extra weight compounds the problem quickly. Ducks can also die from salt overdose, so salty snacks are never worth the risk. Dairy products are equally problematic. Ducks are lactose intolerant and lack the enzymes to break down milk, cheese, or yogurt, leading to painful digestive problems.
Water and Grit
Ducks need water available every time they eat. They use water to wash down their food and clear their nostrils, so a water source deep enough for them to submerge their bills is essential during feeding. Without it, ducks can choke on dry pellets or develop compacted crops.
Grit is the other easily overlooked necessity. Ducks don’t have teeth. Instead, they use their gizzard, a muscular organ that grinds food against small stones the duck has swallowed. Without a supply of grit (sold commercially as granite grit for poultry), the gizzard can’t break down feed efficiently, and your ducks won’t extract the full nutritional value from what they eat. Ducks with access to soil and gravel outdoors may pick up enough natural grit on their own, but if your flock spends most of its time on grass, a dedicated dish of granite grit ensures they can always top up.
Putting It All Together
A practical Pekin duck feeding setup looks like this: a base of age-appropriate commercial waterfowl pellets (starter, grower, or layer), a dish of granite grit, a dish of oyster shell or crushed limestone for laying hens, and fresh water deep enough for bill dipping at every meal. Supplement with chopped vegetables and the occasional treat like watermelon or mealworms to keep things interesting. If your feed isn’t waterfowl-specific, add brewer’s yeast to cover the niacin gap. Keep portions reasonable since Pekins are enthusiastic eaters and gain weight easily, which stresses their joints and shortens their lifespan.