Zoo database

Mandarin duck

Aix galericulata

Natural diet Mandarin duck

Mandarin ducks have an omnivorous diet as it primarily consists of watery plants, snails, seeds, insects and occasionally small fish. Their diet is dependent on the seasonal availability. They may forage while swimming, at the water’s edge or at debris on banks.

Grain / seeds
Grain / seeds
Insects
Insects
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Leaves
Leaves

Feeding advice Mandarin duck

Feed quantity per day

6-10%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 0.6 kg and eats 8% of its body weight, it will get
 
0.6 x 0.08 = 0.05 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

3% Insects and other invertebrates
60% Concentrates
27% Other vegetables
10% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.03 x 0.05 kg = 1 g insects and other invertebrates
0.6 x 0.05 kg = 29 g concentrates
0.27 x 0.05 kg = 13 g other vegetables
0.1 x 0.05 kg = 5 g other

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of leafy vegetables
Variety of insects
Grain mix
Soluble grit

Not recommended

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

  • Angel Wing
  • Metabolic Bone Disease
  • Perosis
  • Bowed legs
  • Crop impaction

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
  • Supplement the diet with around 10% grain mixture.
  • Supplement the diet with ad libitum soluble grit as a source of calcium.
  • Insoluble grit is not required if they go outside, as they will ingest small stones (read more about grit).
  • Avoid feeding bread as the high starch content may cause gastro-intestinal disturbances.
  • Stimulate foraging behaviour by using feeding puzzles and scatter feeding (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).
Mandarin duck | Kiezebrink