Crazy research lady here...

[~Taylor~]

Hey, I'm kinda new to the site (So please forgive me for awkwardness lol) and I am getting a handful of ducklings as soon as school lets out and I would like to be prepared for the blessing of a few pet ducks. I've already done a ton of research so I know the basics but I still have a few questions about food and stuff like that. I am planing on a flock of four, they will be outdoor ducks for the most part (I live in Minnesota so I might have to bring them in on super cold days) and they are used as pets and my family and I will eat their eggs (If we get any girls lol) if that helps with anything...

1.) What do you guys feed 3-first egg ducklings? I have found a good feed for hatch-2 weeks but can't find a good food for the Grower stage...
2.) What should I feed a full grown flock that probably will have drakes in it? (Hatcheries Choice Duckling that are strait-run)
3.) Any vitamins or supplements I have to get to keep them healthy?

-Thanks

 

[casportpony]

Hey, I'm kinda new to the site (So please forgive me for awkwardness lol) and I am getting a handful of ducklings as soon as school lets out and I would like to be prepared for the blessing of a few pet ducks. I've already done a ton of research so I know the basics but I still have a few questions about food and stuff like that. I am planing on a flock of four, they will be outdoor ducks for the most part (I live in Minnesota so I might have to bring them in on super cold days) and they are used as pets and my family and I will eat their eggs (If we get any girls lol) if that helps with anything...

1.) What do you guys feed 3-first egg ducklings? I have found a good feed for hatch-2 weeks but can't find a good food for the Grower stage...
2.) What should I feed a full grown flock that probably will have drakes in it? (Hatcheries Choice Duckling that are strait-run)
3.) Any vitamins or supplements I have to get to keep them healthy?

-Thanks

Welcome to BYC! Some folks feed an "all flock feed", some feed layer to adults, and some feed Mazuri. @Miss Lydia , @WVduckchick , @Pyxis , @Ravynscroft , what do you suggest?

 

[Larry55]

I would think chick starter or grower would he good

 

[Miss Lydia]

I rec Purina Flock Raiser to me unless you can buy water fowl feed is the best feed for all poultry including water fowl.

With All Flock feed [crumble for ducklings]you can feed it from hatch till end of life which is nice you don't have to change feeds.

 

[Larry55]

I would think chick starter or grower would he good

Be good

 

[Miss Lydia]

I would think chick starter or grower would he good

 

[~Taylor~]

Thanks for all the quick input guys, I was worried I would have to wait a long time to get a response, guess not lol

 

[Pyxis]

Welcome to BYC! Some folks feed an "all flock feed", some feed layer to adults, and some feed Mazuri. @Miss Lydia , @WVduckchick , @Pyxis , @Ravynscroft , what do you suggest?

I feed Flock Raiser to ducklings, since it has the higher niacin that they need, and you can actually feed it to them for their whole lives if you want to As adults you'd just want to offer oyster shell free choice on the side.

 

[biophiliac]

Thanks for all the quick input guys, I was worried I would have to wait a long time to get a response, guess not lol

A good title for your thread helps a lot. Who can resist checking out the 'crazy research lady'?

 

[Ravynscroft]

I rec Purina Flock Raiser to me unless you can buy water fowl feed is the best feed for all poultry including water fowl.

With All Flock feed [crumble for ducklings]you can feed it from hatch till end of life which is nice you don't have to change feeds.

I feed Flock Raiser to ducklings, since it has the higher niacin that they need, and you can actually feed it to them for their whole lives if you want to As adults you'd just want to offer oyster shell free choice on the side.

X2 both of these... Purina Flock Raiser can be given from hatch for life, as long as the girls still get calcium...

Also, I would recommend getting brewers yeast or nutritional yeast (*not* baking yeast) to have on hand just in case... the Purina Flock Raiser does contain sufficient Niacin for ducks, but there's ways exceptions to every "rule"...