I guess I said this already. But from my earlier comment, after I fixed the feed with my own supplements I stopped losing ducklings. It was amazing the difference. Egg production went way up also.
One complaint I do have... I wish cities wouldn't be so idiotic about banning backyard activities...
Thank you for speaking up. Your comments helped a bit.
And I really love the farming lifestyle. The idea of working for yourself and having your work be determined by merits instead of paper and who is good with the boss. And what you said makes sense about the mills (and the big Ag companies...
One thing you can do...
When you have large amounts of chicks not make it, its a good sign the nutrition ratios in the feed aren't good. That's what I learned when I had a couple batches of ducklings not make it. (Its similar even if not the same animal.)
How I adapted... the feed from mills...