Advice needed on Duckings Feed

[AlmaB]

Hi, I am looking for advice on ducklings feed... My ducklings were born on May 6 and I've been giving them duckings starter feed until now... well, I went to the feed store to buy growers feed for duckings and I was given pallets, then I read the label ( once I got home) and it's says it is layers pallets!!!!

I had already open the back to mix some pallets with the mash starter I had been feeding them. I called the feed store and was told that's what they feed their ducks once they are out of the starter food! I am so confuse and unsure if that is even safe for my babies!

Can someone pleased guide me as to what to do next!! I also bought a big bag of grit but I noticed it also has shells on it! So so completely lost here!

 

[vtfarmer]

We use gamebird starter, it is higher in protien. Ask your store most carry it.

 

[Amiga]

Hoo boy. One of those days. Then there was the day I looked and saw that the feed I had bought as organic was not. But it was too late. I had not even checked that tag. sigh.

Layer pellet food is not a good thing long term for young ducklings. The store may indeed feed that, but it's not the best option.

A grower pellet is what I used. Do they even have grower pellets? Might there be another feed store, or could you get them to order grower/maintenance pellets?

For now, stick with the crumbles. Perhaps you know someone with chickens who would like the layer pellets.

You may be able to return the "grit." Does the label say grit or oyster shell?

 

[AlmaB]

Thank you Amiga, I offered the layer pellets to a friend of mine. The grit is Pigeon grit. I'm going nuts looking for a place to find the right feed for my babies.

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[AlmaB]

. These are my babies, 2 runners, 2 khaki Campbell's, 2 golden stars, one buff And one Cayuga. I'm worry about my Cayuga as she seems to spend too much time off her feet. I'm currently adding brewers yeast to their feed

 

[Going Quackers]

Oh my! well yes, that is wrong, would overdose(toxic) them on calcium, why someone would make such a suggestion, you got me there.

You can certainly move to a grower, i am just starting to with the call babies who are basically 4wks old.. i want the protein down, if their for pets, exhibition or breeding, you don't want to keep pushing that growth which what higher protein does. They are currently on an 18% and i am mixing a 15% grower...

I'd start making some phone calls, asking for a grower suitable for ducks, mine is by Purina but there are other brands out there too. Possible, even a house mix by a mill. Ask to see the info on the feed, if that isn't available then ask to go read it your itself(that is what i did recently for my layer feed lol, they had no info at the desk but said go on back and read the tag )

Do you have Storey's guide ducks? great info in there on feeding, this is what i am using as my current guideline for my flock.

For grit, i am using chick grit because mine are calls(teeny) they cannot go to the larger grower size.

 

[AlmaB]

I finally found a feed store that carries Mazuri waterfowl maintenance feed, here is the list of ingredients ;
Ground corn, wheat middlings, ground oats, dehulled soybean meal, calcium carbonate, fish meal (menhaden), soybean oil, glyceryl monosterate, salt, dicalcium phosphate, locust bean gum, brewers dried yeast, mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (vitamin K), vitamin A acetate, magnesium oxide, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (natural source of vitamin E), choline chloride, zinc oxide, calcium pantothenate, niacin, copper sulfate, marigold extract, vitamin B12 supplement, dl-methionine, l-lysine, calcium iodate, riboflavin, folic acid, sodium selenite, biotin.
I'm assuming this is the right food, right??!!

 

[Going Quackers]

Mauzri is a good feed, just pricey lol I really cannot get it here ... but others have good things to say about it, i'd do a search!