Vitamin questions for ducklings

I understand that giving new ducklings a vitamin mix in with their water the first 5-7 days is a good idea. All my feed store had was Durvet Vitamins and Electroliytes for Poultry, Swine, Ruminants, and Horses. The directions say For drinking water mix 1/2 pkg (4oz) with 55 gallons. Of course it doesn't give different amounts for different kinds of animals and I don't want to give the pour ducklings too much. Also I only have a one gallon water. Has anyone used this? Or have any suggestions of what to use for a vitamin mix? Thanks-

Ducklings may be here Tomorrow or Wednesday, and I want to be ready.

The mix I use is Vitamins and Electrolytes Plus, and they kindly placed a sticker on the packet that indicates how much to add to one gallon.

Can you just back-calculate from 55 gallons and four ounces?

Let's see. If four fluid ounces is 24 teaspoons. 24 teaspoons for 55 gallons, would be .43 teaspoons per gallon, or just under half a teaspoon per gallon, or about a rounded quarter teaspoon.

Does that check out??


That happens to be how I mix up mine.

Good to have vitamins ready. Can you get some gro-gel?

whats gro-gel? Can I buy it on line? Also I read Amiga, that you add oatmeal to your duck food. I picked up game bird starter today. It has Niacin. The protein in 27% which might be high? I read something someone wrote about treats, and oatmeal was listed, but not for ducklings? Is it OK to mix oatmeal in with the game bird starter? How much oats should zi mix in? Do I need to make the oatmeal smaller?

Vicki

I have used the Durvet product before. Basically, for one gallon, you only use a miniscule amount. I did the math on it last year and don't remember what the exact number was, but basically it was only a tiny fraction of the smallest measuring spoon I have (which is something like 1/8 of a teaspoon). It basically amounted to what seemed like almost nothing, just enough to slightly change the color of the water. I don't think a supplement is really necessary though and there are some vitamins that they can get too much of, so make sure you measure precisely. I just use the vitamin for when I receive shipped chicks (until they are about a week old) and then to supplement Niacin and B-Vitamins after that until they are grown (usually with Brewer's Yeast).

You can find gro-gel online, I bought mine from Meyer Hatchery to use when the ducklings arrived.

I added one part rolled oats to five parts 26% ration to bring it down closer to 20% protein, then similar with the first bag of grower I got, which was 21% when I wanted 18, and now I have them on a grower ration that is 16% protein duck ration.

At first I ground the oats, but within days the ducklings were big enough to eat them. I have written this before, that whenever I make a change, I make it when I have at least 20 minutes (or more, depending) to watch what happens.

Thanks again Amiga. I will be more accurate and mix 5 to 1. I was just eyeballing the food in the dish, and mixing the oats in.

Vicki

My daughter just got a duck yesterday and I was told it is 3 weeks old. The feed store where we got it said it could just eat chick starter for now? Is this ok or are you saying it needs lower protein and to mix it with oats? If so what oats exactly? I can get the oatmeal we buy at the store for people? At the feed store I can get whole, rolled, or crimped oats.

Is there anything else it can eat or need to eat at this age?

Thank you for you help!

arabianequine, two of the first things I look at with feed are protein and niacin.

Ducklings need three times the niacin that chicks do, so if you use chick feed, you are very likely to have insufficient niacin, which leads to serious neurological problems (Holderread). It is easy to take care of - add niacin to their water (be careful, too much of a good thing is bad, too).

I cannot remember the numbers off the top of my head, but do a search on BYC for my post about how much to put in their water. Some people sprinkle brewer's yeast but again, I don't know how much. A search will probably turn up that information, also.

Ducklings, according to Holderread in Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, do well with 20% protein the first two weeks, 18% the next two, then about 16% until they start laying, when it goes up (I think . . . ) to about 18%, then back down again when they are not laying.

The book is worth having - it describes much of the details of good nutrition and feeding.

By three weeks I am thinking you want to begin to switch to grower feed, though anything is better than nothing.

With my small flock, I just bought rolled oats (not instant, not steel cut) at the grocery store. At three weeks you can give it finely shredded greens (not so much spinach, which interferes with calcium absorption, I am told). I have given dandelion greens, cress, chard, baby green mix, and red lettuce.

I also give them just a few little fresh green peas (I thaw out the frozen kind). Canned peas are not a substitute - think fresh or at least fresh frozen and thawed. Watch to make sure they don't choke, and it is best for them to have a little sprinkle of grit on their ration, to get their digestive systems geared up.

Thank you for everyones replies. The info is much appreciated!

Quote:
So the 1 min instant oatmeal oats or the longer cooking stuff it is in the cereal section? Do I have to grind it up? What I have for food for poultry on hand is (all purpose poultry feed) which is 17% protein and comes in a 50 lb. bag....I feed my turkeys and chickens that are older....I also make sure the girls have oyster shell....and they have enclosed runs....so I am thinking their grit should be ok? But I think since the duck is inside I need some grit for it right? I also have either scratch or cracked corn for these guys that I will give as a treat sometimes I mix with there feed 50/50. I also give them alfalfa a lot the turkeys just love the alfalfa.

I have one chick that hatched last friday so far so I also have some chick starter on hand which is 20%. This is what I have been giving the duck.

Thank you!