Ducklings arriving soon! Help!!

We have wanted to get chickens for many years now but always put it off for the next summer, but earlier this year we found out about the possibility of keeping back yard ducks instead. I was hooked! We did months of research and finally placed an order w/ meter farms for 4 Welsh Harlequin ducklings. I couldn't be more excited. However, there are a few questions we have before they arrive.

1. What brand of chick starter/ grower feed should I use? Honestly the hardest thing you could possibly try to find is a bag of duckling food. We went to our local tractor supply co. And found only chick starter/ grower. I have scoured the interweb but still can't find a brand I'm sold on yet.

2. I know it's good to add niacin but we plan on fermenting their feed. If we do should I still add the Brewers yeast/ niacin tablets?

3. At what point do I provide them chick grit?

4. What is the best bulb for ducklings? Many people say red light stresses them out more than white light. What's the difference between these and ceramic heat emitter bulbs? Should they stay on 24/7 or be turned off at night?

Thank You so much!!

I ordered organic duckling starter from
McGeary Organics. Ducklings love it and are growing like weeds.
https://www.mcgearyorganics.com/product/organic-duckling-starter/

Thanks So much! I really like the brand. How long did it take to ship?

Using medicated chick starter works great.

Hrairoo said:

Using medicated chick starter works great.

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I thought using medicated chick starter was a no no for ducklings.

jconnon said:

I thought using medicated chick starter was a no no for ducklings.

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It used to be, a long time ago. Decades ago. The medicated part was bad for the ducklings, but now the medicated part is amprolium and its not bad for them. You also dont NEED to give them niacin, but probably should just in case, or have some on hand.I have 3 ducklings in with 43 chicks and have all just had chick starter and some yoghurt as a treat. Ill only give the niacin if the ducklings are showing signs that they need it, and after over a month, they are 100% fine without it!

Hrairoo said:

It used to be, a long time ago. Decades ago. The medicated part was bad for the ducklings, but now the medicated part is amprolium and its not bad for them. You also dont NEED to give them niacin, but probably should just in case, or have some on hand.I have 3 ducklings in with 43 chicks and have all just had chick starter and some yoghurt as a treat. Ill only give the niacin if the ducklings are showing signs that they need it, and after over a month, they are 100% fine without it!

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Thank you for the explanation.

Hi! Sorry....just read your reply... shipping is by Priority, so pretty fast!

Thanks i will probably end up using this feed

I am lucky as I have a grain store 10 minutes from our house so I bought a 50 bag from them yesterday. But if that was not available I was probably headed to Tractor Supply and either going with the chick starter or Purina Flock Raiser. I was still looking into that until I called my local grain store, Ventura Grain.