Can 8 week old ducklings eat 16% layer crumble.

[Anna307]

Hi all,

I am getting 6 ducklings at the end of this month. They will eventually join in my backyard flock of 9 adult layer chickens.

I live in NW Wyoming at 6,200 ft elevation so my ducklings will probably stay in the warehouse until they are 8 weeks old and the temperature is warm enough outside for them to join the chicken coop.

My research is showing me that ducklings should be on a grower feed until from 3 weeks to 18 weeks old. My question is- when I integrate my 8 week old duckling in with my adult layer chickens, how do I keep their food separate? Is it okay for 8 week old ducks to eat 16% layer crumble?

Thanks

 

[Isaac 0]

If you buy all flock feed or raiser feed, all ages can eat it with no problems. Around 15$ for a 40lb bag.

 

[casportpony]

Is it okay for 8 week old ducks to eat 16% layer crumble?

No, layer crumble has too much calcium and not enough niacin for ducklings.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is it okay for 8 week old ducks to eat 16% layer crumble?

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Ducks need more niacin and that would be too much calcium which could definitely cause issues long term.

Consider using something like Purina Flock Raiser.. and even switching your layer flock to it with oyster shell on the side for active layers. Since doing this my birds (chickens) are in better condition and they enter molt less harshly, returning to lay sooner. I never switch, now that I learned the difference.

Niacin content is not required to be listed on the label... but feed are required to list the species and age the feed is appropriate for that it meets the nutritional minimums set by law. I contacted Purina and the flock raiser has 55mg/kg of niacin.

Hope you enjoy your new babies, they grow so fast!

 

[Isaac 0]

You might also find this link helpful regarding duck nutrition requirements-

https://www.metzerfarms.com/NutritionalRequirements.cfm