Can we talk protien %

[jonhpdx]

I'm reading Storiey's guide now and the chart is from the book with the exception of 8-20 weeks the book recommends 7-20 weeks. I did read that 20% feed for breeding seasons if you are going to get the strongest ducklings. If my memory from my reading last evening serves me correct, David said to feed gamebird starter if you cannot find a duck feed.

I couldn't find duck feed specifically and use gamebird starter instead. The bag does say it's good to use for ducklings, so I figure it's ok. What had me a little worried at first was that this particular feed is 28% protein. My ducklings are now 5+ weeks old and I've continued to use this feed (I'm not going to waste a 50 lb. bag of feed that had only been 1/2 eaten after 2 weeks), supplementing their diet with peas, corn and lettuce and also letting them forage in the yard for at least an hour after I get home and before it gets dark. I've had no problems, so I'm not worried, but I am a little curious as to what the possible negative effects of too much protein is. The ducklings seem absolutely fine otherwise (knock on wood).

 

[Going Quackers]

28% is definitely high, I would almost start cutting that whether it be with a complete feed lower protein or grains. I'm not sure what the exact effects would be at one time angel wing would be a possible but there is much debate on that now being caused by other factors.

Does it give an age range for use?

 

[jonhpdx]

28% is definitely high, I would almost start cutting that whether it be with a complete feed lower protein or grains. I'm not sure what the exact effects would be at one time angel wing would be a possible but there is much debate on that now being caused by other factors.

Does it give an age range for use?

Yeah, age range for use is 1-6 weeks. Ducklings will be 6 weeks old on Monday/Tuesday.

As far as angel wing, I thought I started to see it on my Pekin girl, but then I cut back on their feed after about 4 weeks and started supplementing their diet more heavily with greens and it seems to have taken care of itself. Or, I was paranoid about seeing angel wing and did all of those things for nothing. IDK. Either way it seems she seems fine now. They're all fine, so I'm not too worried about the high protein % as I'll be switching to a feed with probably about 10% lower protein over the weekend.

 

[r4eboxer]

Does anyone feed potatoes, there is a chapter in Stories guide about how amazing potatoes are to feed to ducks, cooked of course and not green. I hate planting potatoes but if it cuts the feed bill that much I may have to grin and bear it.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I think the ducks probly would like potatos, but i dont think they'd provide much protein, making that a poor choice for young ducklings.

I think 28% is way to high. Rather than waste it, Estimate the # remaining, head over to the mix your own feed page on Metzer's site http://www.metzerfarms.com/FeedConversion.cfm (who btw says 21% for 0-2weeks) type in your target % and the calculator does the work for you. There is a chart there that tells the general nutrition content of various feeds as well. So let's go with Corn. Chart says corn is 7.5% protein. So over to the calculator page, we type in 50# of 28% protein for Feed A, Feed B will be corn, so type in 7.5, hit calculate, and the magic happens and the site tells us
"You will need to mix 26 pounds of 7.5% feed with your 50 pounds of 28% feed to get 21% Feed."

 

[Going Quackers]

Yeah, age range for use is 1-6 weeks. Ducklings will be 6 weeks old on Monday/Tuesday.

As far as angel wing, I thought I started to see it on my Pekin girl, but then I cut back on their feed after about 4 weeks and started supplementing their diet more heavily with greens and it seems to have taken care of itself. Or, I was paranoid about seeing angel wing and did all of those things for nothing. IDK. Either way it seems she seems fine now. They're all fine, so I'm not too worried about the high protein % as I'll be switching to a feed with probably about 10% lower protein over the weekend.

Sounds good. I think it should be on the reduction by now.

 

[Going Quackers]

Does anyone feed potatoes, there is a chapter in Stories guide about how amazing potatoes are to feed to ducks, cooked of course and not green. I hate planting potatoes but if it cuts the feed bill that much I may have to grin and bear it.

No, i'll be honest i don't give my ducks much in way of extra, i use my flock raiser and whole grains, i do add BOSS .. then they can go find the rest. There main purpose here is for pests, which their darn good at getting gone, so I ensure they have a good base and leave the extras for them to handle.

I have had good luck with potato growing in the past but it's a fair bit of work getting it all started.