Angel Wing...

[Wynette]

I'm super curious about this - is the brewer's yeast (I admit it - I'm not much of a baker) the stuff that comes in little packets in the grocery store, 3 packets to a strip? If so, would you just mix a packet in with maybe 1# of feed, or just sprinkle it over the feed?

 

[pips&peeps]

I would suggest to use a starter feed that does not have corn as the first ingredient.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm super curious about this - is the brewer's yeast (I admit it - I'm not much of a baker) the stuff that comes in little packets in the grocery store, 3 packets to a strip? If so, would you just mix a packet in with maybe 1# of feed, or just sprinkle it over the feed?

That is baking yeast completely diff. than brewers yeast. The only place i have found Brewers yeast is at the natural food store. If you live in a larger town or city tyou may find it some place else, but we are limited unless we go 50 miles one way. but it will last a long time and can freeze what left for next ducklings

always thinking ahead.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I drop protein levels down to 16% as soon as I see any wing feathers coming in. The lower protein slows the growth of the feathers and gives the wings more time to adjust to the weight.

You don't have to change feeds. You can reduce protein content by mixing in rolled oats. Metzer has a feed calculator on his web site that will tell you how much feed to mix together to get the correct protein.

The wings need exercise, so make sure the ducklings have room to flap their wings while the feathers are growing. I get mine outside into the sunshine for exercise and vitamin D. Depending upon the weather, it is anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour that they go outside into a large (large for them) safe fenced area every day, where they also get to nibble on fresh grass.

 

[Wynette]

That is baking yeast completely diff. than brewers yeast. The only place i have found Brewers yeast is at the natural food store. If you live in a larger town or city tyou may find it some place else, but we are limited unless we go 50 miles one way. but it will last a long time and can freeze what left for next ducklings

always thinking ahead.

Yeah, don't tell that to my DH, K?

It it granulated? In a jar? I have a natural food store not far from me.

 

[Wynette]

I drop protein levels down to 16% as soon as I see any wing feathers coming in. The lower protein slows the growth of the feathers and gives the wings more time to adjust to the weight.

You don't have to change feeds. You can reduce protein content by mixing in rolled oats. Metzer has a feed calculator on his web site that will tell you how much feed to mix together to get the correct protein.

The wings need exercise, so make sure the ducklings have room to flap their wings while the feathers are growing. I get mine outside into the sunshine for exercise and vitamin D. Depending upon the weather, it is anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour that they go outside into a large (large for them) safe fenced area every day, where they also get to nibble on fresh grass.

AWESOME - excellent post, OB, thanks so much! Off to Metzer's website to find the calculator!

Okay, that calculator is GREAT! Thank you SO MUCH!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah, don't tell that to my DH, K?

It it granulated? In a jar? I have a natural food store not far from me.

Comes in a can simular to a 1lb. coffee can but ask and they will take you right to it. it's powder. I mixed rolled oats into Opies feed last year, i was a nervous wreck having my first duckling without a mama. He did fine.

 

[jamband]

I drop protein levels down to 16% as soon as I see any wing feathers coming in. The lower protein slows the growth of the feathers and gives the wings more time to adjust to the weight.

You don't have to change feeds. You can reduce protein content by mixing in rolled oats. Metzer has a feed calculator on his web site that will tell you how much feed to mix together to get the correct protein.

The wings need exercise, so make sure the ducklings have room to flap their wings while the feathers are growing. I get mine outside into the sunshine for exercise and vitamin D. Depending upon the weather, it is anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour that they go outside into a large (large for them) safe fenced area every day, where they also get to nibble on fresh grass.

you need to add 40 lbs of oats to 50 lb of feed to drop 20% to 16% isn't a diet of nearly 50 % oats going to throw off alot more than just protein??

 

[wildpeas]

I drop protein levels down to 16% as soon as I see any wing feathers coming in. The lower protein slows the growth of the feathers and gives the wings more time to adjust to the weight.

You don't have to change feeds. You can reduce protein content by mixing in rolled oats. Metzer has a feed calculator on his web site that will tell you how much feed to mix together to get the correct protein.

The wings need exercise, so make sure the ducklings have room to flap their wings while the feathers are growing. I get mine outside into the sunshine for exercise and vitamin D. Depending upon the weather, it is anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour that they go outside into a large (large for them) safe fenced area every day, where they also get to nibble on fresh grass.

Rolled oats like I would feed to my horses? Do I need to grind them up or something? Sorry for the dumb question of the day but what do the wing feathers look like when they are coming in?

 

[Oregon Blues]

I feed rolled oats from the feed store. Yes, the same as sold to feed to horses. I just figure the rolled oats are easier to digest than the whole oats because the shell is already cracked.

I always have enough birds that I can buy a bag of the lower protein poultry feed and then they can finish up the bag of extra high protein stuff after their wings strengthen up. But someone with 2-3 ducklings can't really do that. Although it might be worth checking to see if the feed store sells 5 or 10 pound bags of the 16% feed to feed for a couple of weeks while the ducklings get adjusted to the weight on their wings.

The wing feathers look like little soda straws on the edge of the wing when they first come in. Then the end opens up and gets fluffy. It's seems that only the large flight feathers cause a weight problem, not any fluff on the wing and not the feathers that cover the wing. By the time the flights start to come in, the duckling is big enough to eat oats. Be sure to provide grit a couple of days before starting solid food.

Mine are on grit by day 3, so they've had grit long before their wings start to feather. But if they have only had mash and no grit, they need grit before they get oats.

Personal opinion, no proof, but I think that niacin also helps with the strength of the wings, not just the legs.