Balanced Diet VS Commercial Feeds and or Supplements ?

[416bigbore]

I am not trying to turn this Post Topic into an ugly debate, I am interested in knowing how people are doing with their poultry and or waterfowl on one diet or the other ? Its my understanding that a balanced organic diet shouldn't need any other supplements. If the commercial feed that we buy should have all the nutrition value as a balanced diet, then why all the issues and problems related with a Niacin defiance in young ducklings popping up, with Angle Wing / Slip Wing included ? IMO a balanced diet is just that and commercial feeds and supplements are not much more then a waste of money. Not ?

 

[Ratchnick]

Many stores dont sell waterfowl starter so they use chick starter which is niacin deficient. If you use high quality duck starter you dont need to supplement niacin. Angle wing has a genetic component and pushing growth rate can also be a factor. I dont think its solely tied to the nutrition of the feed like niacin deficiency.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Many stores dont sell waterfowl starter so they use chick starter which is niacin deficient. If you use high quality duck starter you dont need to supplement niacin. Angle wing has a genetic component and pushing growth rate can also be a factor. I dont think its solely tied to the nutrition of the feed like niacin deficiency.

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Unless you are raising Pekins that have a different growth rate and often need more niacin. It also depends on the duck. If you are feeding duck or waterfowl food, you should be fine. Many on here feed all flock which is not designed just for waterfowl.

 

[Folly's place]

I also think that niacin is a vitamin that isn't stable over time, and paying attention to the mill date on each bag of feed before buying it matters. Fresh is best!
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

A commercial diet labeled for ducklings that's fresh should be good.
One a side note; Years ago I had one chick out of about fifty, all fed the same diet, who developed neurological issues, and had a necropsy done because I was worried about possible Marek's disease. She had lesions in her brain secondary to a vitamin deficiency (vit A as I recall), not fixable, and the only bird in the group with a problem. Genetic need for more of that vitamin than normal, probably.
I also had a wild Canada goose out here one year with angel wing. One, out of maybe fifteen or twenty born on our property. Again, maybe an individual genetic issue for that bird.
Mary

 

[416bigbore]

Growth rate is why I ask this question. Natural bird foods over man made starter feeds and or supplements.

 

[loofa]

I'm new to ducks and would love to hear more about what you mean when you say "natural bird foods" - since we are talking about raising ducks, I assume you don't mean just what they get foraging. Are you talking about making your own food? If so, details?

 

[Ratchnick]

This is also hotly debated but i feel that ducklings past 2 weeks should not be fed free choice. Its not natural and can cause longevity issues.

 

[416bigbore]

Hello loofa thank you for your reply to my post. Natural bird foods would be anything outside of a feed store and or additives. I am referring to all nature and or home grown grains etc. The stuff we grow ( gardens ) on and around our places naturally.

 

[416bigbore]

This is also hotly debated but i feel that ducklings past 2 weeks should not be fed free choice. Its not natural and can cause longevity issues.

Wild and or Domestic fowl they need to eat. How many fowl have you seen in the wild with AW and or any Niacin deficiency? So why are we as duck owners/raisers seeing issues in the development of the Fowl? Nature obviously has it figure out and we don't . NOT ?