Zoo database

Mandarin duck

Aix galericulata

Natural diet Mandarin duck

Grain / seeds
Insects
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Leaves

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.

Feeding advice Mandarin duck

Feed quantity per day

6-10% of body weight

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 = 0.048 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 0.048 kg = 1.4 g insects and other invertebrates
0.6 x 0.048 kg = 28.8 g concentrates
0.27 x 0.048 kg = 13 g other vegetables
0.1 x 0.048 kg = 4.8 g other

Diet suggestions

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).

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

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Duck Grains

Duck and goose pellets basic

Mealworms

Wax moth larvae

Anseres 3 Maintenance pellet

Stomach gravel (for Poultry)

Shell grit (3)

Michiel Derks

Director Petfood & Zoos