Feeding Ducklings???

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tia

tia

Crowing
14 Years
Apr 19, 2009
1,716
86
316
Valdez, Alaska
My ducklings are eating a duck and goose starter mix. They hatched the 29th of July. I've been grinding up the pellets in a coffee grinder. When can they start eating the pellets whole? How long do you keep them on the starter mix? Do I start feeding greens right away? Lettuce Peas... what else? After they go off the starter mix... what kind of mix is best for them. I eventually hope they will lay some eggs. Do you keep food available at all times... when they are little? What about when they are older? I have all kinds of questions. Thanks I appreciate any information you can share.

Tia
 
Grinding up pellets sounds like a lot of work. Mine eat starter crumbles and I start letting them out to graze at around two weeks. They forage for their greens.
 
Quote:
Tia you are making no sense who would make a starter in pellet form to be too big for them to eat. If it is pellets it isn't STARTER, If it is starter the pellets must be small enough for them to eat. funny how people can type but they can't read labels. ;>((
 
I agree, starter should already be small enough for the ducklings to eat, should not be a pellet. Also, you can leave food out for them 24/7 as long as they have a water source available. Never give food without water. If they make too much of a mess at night with the water, you can take away both. We had a duckling die overnight because she got too wet overnight even though there was a heat lamp available. We learned to take food/water away at night.
 
My kids were hatched in June and I have them on 18% poultry grower mash. Medicated chick starter isn't available here except for special orders so that's no problem.
I want to get a bit more calcium into my one girl but I don't think I have to worry since she probably won't start laying in the winter. Anyway, once I've used up the mash I'll put them onto my regular layer pellets.
 
Thanks for all of your information...

Goosedragon... I'm laughing at myself.... Yes if it comes in pellet form and it is called Duck and Goose starter mix it must be okay just like that. Well duh!!! I was really thinking now wasn't I.

The first time I bought Duck starter food it was like powder, so I guess I assumed it always had to be to begin with. I will quit grinding it up immediately.

It is 50 to 60 outside here (I'm in Alaska) so it is a little cold for them to go out and forge for themselves yet... would be nice if we had some warmer weather. If it was a bit warmer I bet they would like some of those juicy mosquitoes they'd find outside too.

Hope your weather is much nicer!!!
 
Oh, I'm in Texas.
big_smile.png
Hence the fact that mine can forage year round. It's lovely today. Barely hit 90, but we just finished a 2 week run where it was over 100 every day. Blech!
 
Quote:
Just to let you know we got our girls that are laying now last August, and they started laying in January. So, they will lay in the winter.
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I'm new to this to! Ive been going around reading every ones posts trying to figure out what is best for my little babies! I have two mallards that were born March 27th. So far ive been feeding them Dumor chick starter/grower, But i'm thinking i'm going to switch to purina flock raiser... Suggestions??
 

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