Coccidiostats and Ducklings

[Vyne]

I recently brought some chicken starter from my local feed place, I just found out my baby ducks (under 24 hours old) have been eating the medicated version of this feed. I can not get any more feed until tomorrow morning, and from what I can see they do not provide a non medicated chick crumble. I have looked in a lot of places and everything seems to be medicated, so i have a couple of questions as there seems to be a mixed bag when searching for if medicated feed actually harms/kills ducklings. I am worried as they have been snacking on it regularly for a few hours.

1. Will my ducklings die from eating what they did?
2. Can i continue to feed my ducklings this crumble?
3. What substitute food can I feed overnight?

Edit**Rumensin... ??? I think this is the added medication?

 

[Pyxis]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...dicated-feed-the-myths-and-the-truth.1247838/

Depending on what medication they're using, it's probably fine. As long as it's not one of the ones that's arsenic-based. Can you post a picture of the tag from the feed?

I think monensin is the generic name for Rumensin. It can be fed to most poultry, including ducks, but IS toxic in too high doses.

http://www.nelsonroadvet.com/articles/livestock/fowl/general-care-of-the-duck/

 

[Vyne]

This is the one. Also I think you are right...sodium monensin I think it is called. So if I did find some unmedicated feed such as mash or other crumbles I could mix the two together to dilute it? Or safer just to use an adult mash and add something like dried mealworms to up the protein?

 

[Mosey2003]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't high protein for waterfowl chicks discouraged because it causes angel wing?

Funny, I never see feed with monensin here, just amprolium.

 

[Pyxis]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't high protein for waterfowl chicks discouraged because it causes angel wing?

I feed mine a feed with 22% protein with no problems. Really high protein stuff like turkey feed might be a problem. Angel wing seems to be caused by growing too fast. Breeds that are supposed to grow slowly are more prone to the condition.

http://www.metzerfarms.com/AngelWing.cfm

Funny, I never see feed with monensin here, just amprolium.

The OP is in New Zealand, so that's probably why

This is the one. Also I think you are right...sodium monensin I think it is called. So if I did find some unmedicated feed such as mash or other crumbles I could mix the two together to dilute it? Or safer just to use an adult mash and add something like dried mealworms to up the protein?

Did you have any luck finding a non-medicated feed? If not, as long as the monensin was mixed in at the proper levels, it shouldn't hurt the ducklings.

 

[Mosey2003]

Ah, gotcha

 

[Vyne]

Too high protein Yes, but as far as I know ducks need more than chicks. So 20-25% for ducks up to 4 weeks then drop down to around 16%. I think the problem is if you keep feeding high % when they are older.

Sadly no such luck in finding non medicated feed, I think I can buy online though, it will just take a few days to get to me.

My heat lamp died last night, luckily caught it before I went to bed, but had no replacement and nothing was open. Had a microwavable heat pad (That last a 8 hours) and heated the room up as much as I could. Checled on them every hour, they seem to be pk. It is 7am now, pacing until 8am when the store opens.

 

[Mosey2003]

Ugh, been there, done that. I always buy heat bulbs four at a time now, they're so unreliable. I also pry the little metal piece inside the fixture out a bit, that seems to be much of the problem, at least over here.

 

[Vyne]

Ugh, been there, done that. I always buy heat bulbs four at a time now, they're so unreliable. I also pry the little metal piece inside the fixture out a bit, that seems to be much of the problem, at least over here.

Thanks, I will keep that in mind. Also yes, I'm certainly going to buy a few of them (bulbs) today. Just hoping they have the ones I need or the boss is going to get a "I'm coming in late" call as I run about the place looking for one. I feel I am just going to be paranoid from now on that the lamp is going to stop working and they will freeze to death... it is early spring, but where I live we get four seasons in a day (sometimes an hour)