Can Ducklings eat whole oats at 5 weeks?

[wordgirl]

I've got 3 five-week-old Ancona ducklings and I'd like to add some oats to their Starter (they're on Starter and oatmeal right now, but the oatmeal's too pricey and its protein's higher than I'd like). Our local feed store is out of rolled oats, but I could get a bag of whole oats.

I've heard that rolled oats are recommended for ducklings, but has anyone used whole oats for young ducklings, about 5 weeks? Or should I just feed the oatmeal until they get the rolled oats back in stock this Friday or next and pay the extra $5?

Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've got 3 five-week-old Ancona ducklings and I'd like to add some oats to their Starter (they're on Starter and oatmeal right now, but the oatmeal's too pricey and its protein's higher than I'd like). Our local feed store is out of rolled oats, but I could get a bag of whole oats.

I've heard that rolled oats are recommended for ducklings, but has anyone used whole oats for young ducklings, about 5 weeks? Or should I just feed the oatmeal until they get the rolled oats back in stock this Friday or next and pay the extra $5?

Thanks!

Mine were eating whole oats at 4 weeks.

 

[wordgirl]

Great, thanks! Did they have any problems getting used to eating it?

 

[estaswick]

For better or worse my muscovys have been eating it since hatch, supplemented with a crumble for the first week, but they have been in the adults feed bowls constantly since they were 3 days old.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Great, thanks! Did they have any problems getting used to eating it?

I started them out on about 10% added to their reg feed then increased it weekly since I make fermented feed it is mixed really well but they seem to like it too.

 

[wordgirl]

Thank you both! I just picked up a bag of whole oats on our way home this afternoon. I'll probably mix in some with their evening feeding. I'll try to let you know how it goes. They really like their oatmeal by now - hopefully they'll adjust to the whole oats without much difficulty.

Miss Lydia - Out of curiosity, what's fermented feed?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you both! I just picked up a bag of whole oats on our way home this afternoon. I'll probably mix in some with their evening feeding. I'll try to let you know how it goes. They really like their oatmeal by now - hopefully they'll adjust to the whole oats without much difficulty.

Miss Lydia - Out of curiosity, what's fermented feed?

I am so not good at explaining this so I will give you the link and you can get all kinds of info. I found the site Fermenting feed for meat birds last year here on BYC and although it started out with those with meat birds it has grown to other types of poultry too. It's been almost a yr {Oct} since I have been making it for my flock and I really can't see ever going back to dry feed again. https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=Fermented+feed hope you enjoy the info. Don't get discouraged if they don't eat it right off the oats anything new takes time.

 

[wordgirl]

Wow, that's interesting! Thanks for the link.

Thank you for all your help - I'll let you know what they think of the new weird stuff in their feed bowl this evening.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wow, that's interesting! Thanks for the link.

Thank you for all your help - I'll let you know what they think of the new weird stuff in their feed bowl this evening.

 

[wordgirl]

So I mixed in some of the whole oats with their starter and some oatmeal for their dinner. I just eyeballed with my scoop, but it was about 4 parts starter, 1 part oats (about 15%), and 1 part oatmeal. (Ultimately I'm aiming for 3 parts starter to 1 part oats (75/25 percent).)

When they started eating, they didn't seem to notice they had anything new in their bowl and ate as usual. I just went to check and see if they'd left anything, and there's still some whole oats but about as much starter left in the bowl, so I think so far so good! And I was so worried....

Thanks for your help!