Ways to cut protein percentage down in feed for ducklings -

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Wynette said:
Oregon, I still have mine in a brooder and DH and I have been discussing a way to get them outdoors - their pen is not quite ready for them. I was planning on moving them to their new pen this weekend, but if we cannot get that done, is a few hours per day sufficient? I work during the day, so definitely don't want them ranging when I'm not home to watch over them.
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Wynette, my little guys are only outside for 15-30 minutes, depending upon the air temperature. I just put them in my fenced front yard. They eat some dandelions, swim in the dog's water dish, and toddle around.

I clean their brooder and if it is warm enough, they can stay out until they go to sleep, which doesn't take long.

Since they are just perfect snack size, I wouldn't leave them out very long without a very secure pen, and mine are supervised while they are outside. I take their brooder out with them and I clean it out there where I can watch over them.

Mine follow me, so I can make sure they get a lot of exercise just by moving from one side of the yard to the other. They will waddle after me. The swim is good, because they will flap their wings, and it is the wings that need exercise the most. The dog dish is short enough that they can get in and out by themselves and they consider it a really great toy.
 
The only problem with too low on the protein percentage is that they'll likely eat more of the feed to get the protein they need (at least that's what happens in my experience with rabbits), which means they'll be fatter, which could be a problem come breeding time, but if you're raising them for the table, shouldn't be an issue. Of course, I've read that some feed them the higher protein stuff to get fattier dressed ducklings (any excess nutrient is going to get turned into fat, eventually). I'm going to try to stick close to the Metzer recommended protein percentages (mixing Agway soy free layer 18%, Poulin Grain layer 15%, and rolled oats to get them used to the taste, they seem to hate the alfalfa pellets I tried on them)
 
So I got the oats the other day to go with my new bag of Flock Raiser. The only problem is that they did not have rolled only crimped.

I figure it should be fine. They love it, they gobble it up like little monsters. And yes 10 Ducks and 4 Geese at 3 weeks old do eat allot. I am still free feeding them. They are using big boy feeders. No waste just a lot of consumption.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, Oregon! What a sweet picture you paint of yours toddling around outside!! My brooder is a galvanized stock tank, so I can't lug it to the yard to clean it, but when we've been puttting them out, DH is back there watching them the entire time. Only bad part about that scenario is that he gets to watch them while I'm in the garage cleaning out their brooder.
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By the time I get done, they look like they're getting chilly & want to go back to their nice, warm brooder. Sigh.

I've got their new coop all done, and will get some pics (promise, Miss Lydia!) BEFORE I put them in so y'all don't have to look at it after they poop in it - HA!
 
The Mezner's website nutritional requirements for geese and ducklings is super high. I think that they are referring to me birds only. Because she'll birds you want to feed around 18-20%. 18% if you want the pet bird to grow at the slowest rate. You don't need peppers to grow so fast they will live longer if they grow at a slow pace when they're young. And their adult size might be a little smaller than it would be if you made them have growth spurt's when they were young
 
Hi everyone I moved to the Philippines and its not easy to use some of the ideas that are on this thread can I use rice in place of oats to lower the protein levels or will that add other problems or anything other then oats that can be used to cut back on protein levels would be nice to know thanks
 

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