Important Duck Questions

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Welshies

Welshies

Crowing
May 8, 2016
3,250
2,535
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Alberta, Canada
my ducks are going to start laying soon, but I also have a drake. Can they all eat the same food? Can I provide free choice oyster shell or will that be an issue? Can the laying ducks have maintenance ration at 16% with calcium and free range as well? Do they need laying food? what about grower- can the layers use 18% grower with oyster shell free choice?
Also I have ducklings soon, can they have grower once a day and free choice maintenance ration all night? Will they be harmed if oyster shell is allowed free choice? Also is 1.8% calcium in their food too much?
My drake also has a few plucked feathers on his belly/breast, why?

Will this feeding plan work?
 
you could feed the drake layer ration but it's better to feed something else and provide free choice oyster shell, the ducklings won't eat the oyster shell. if a bird that doesn't lay has too much calcium it damages their kidneys
 
No,they do not need laying feed and can not have it if a male will be in the pen,and young.

They do not need oyster shells,They can free range.

Also,giving them crushed up yeast or Niacin pills,is what they need,about once a month.

If I were you,I would get all flock.This provides food for everybody,16% grower even....
 
TheTwoRoos said:
No,they do not need laying feed and can not have it if a  male will be in the pen,and young.

They do not need oyster shells,They can free range.

Also,giving them crushed up yeast or Niacin pills,is what they need,about once a  month.

If I were you,I would get all flock.This provides food for everybody,16% grower even....
Click to expand...

We don't have that. I live in very remote Alberta, and all the feeds are mixed by my hometown. I can possibly order some.
 
TheTwoRoos said:
Do your ducks fight,howlong have you had them,did you get the from somebody?
Click to expand...

The grower is mixed by the feed store in my hometown, so it says everything on the label. protein, selenium (in the maintenence) calcium (1.8%), crude fat, crude fibre.
I used to have three drakes but culled two of the bullies, I'm culling my only drake and getting another. None of them fight, they free range. Yes I got them from a local lady.
I'm mainly just wondering if I can feed maintenence ration to all and give free choice calcium, plus grower for the ducklings when they come in at night, since they all free range
 
Last edited:
It wouldn't hurt the adults to have that,but once the ducklings are old enough,you will need a feed other then layer ration,ordering is probably your best choice for your ducks health.

I'm not saying you can't use layer ration for all,but all flock provides everyones needs....
 
TheTwoRoos said:
It wouldn't hurt the adults to have that,but  once the ducklings are old enough,you will need a feed other then layer ration,ordering is probably your best choice for your ducks health.

I'm not saying you can't use layer ration for all,but all flock provides everyones needs....
Click to expand...

Not layer ration. Maintenence ration. The two are completely different. I wouldn't use layer for all.
I was going to use free choice 16% maintenence ration for all (at night) plus free ranging in the day, with 24/7 access to calcium and grit. Then the ducklings can have 18% grower once a day, in the evening, and if the duck hens need those extra vitamins, they can maybe have some grower too?
 

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