Da' Cute and Cuddly Call Duck thread!

[SilkieSensation]

Can't get quote to work.
Re: Protein levels in feed
I raise chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese & quail. I have my feed specially mixed by my local mill. Layer feed ends up between 17-18% protein, grower feed is 20-21% protein. This is even with whole & cracked grains being 25-30% of the mix. I use distiller's grain (23-25% protein) to boost the protein levels in my feed. I also ferment which raises the level of usable protein vastly, helps prevent waste, boosts eggs production & helps make sure the birds get a balanced mix of all ingredients in the feed. Since much of my feed is powdered fermenting makes sure they eat the powdered portion without wasting it.

On the matter of angel wing: I have never had a duck with it. I did have 1 gosling develop it but she was already several weeks old when I got her. All birds that I have hatched or gotten at only a few days old have been fine on wing development & also leg development. No leg problems either.

I know my protein is higher than recommended for geese, but I make sure they get lots of grass clippings & weeds. All of my pens also get table scraps, including meat. Melon rinds are very popular with all of my birds as well.

 

[CherokeeFlats]

I went through the ducks I hatched this spring/summer. I have all hens!!!!!! I'm excited.

 

[Amykins]

All of my pens also get table scraps, including meat. Melon rinds are very popular with all of my birds as well.

You know, I'm curious about that. I know it's ok to feed parrots chicken and the like (although I'm sure it'd raise some eyebrows) but I didn't know if that was ok for ducks. For now I give her raw veggies, sometimes cooked because she's VERY good at begging. But the meat goes to the kitties.

I went through the ducks I hatched this spring/summer. I have all hens!!!!!! I'm excited.

Yay, that's awesome! You are literally a lucky duck

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

My ducks eat bugs, frogs, toads, minnows and mice. Pretty sure they are natural meat eaters.

 

[Amykins]

My ducks eat bugs, frogs, toads, minnows and mice. Pretty sure they are natural meat eaters.

Well, they're omnivores for sure. I just wasn't sure that people food was kosher. At least not beef, cuz it's so fatty.

 

[SilkieSensation]

All of my pens also get table scraps, including meat. Melon rinds are very popular with all of my birds as well.

You know, I'm curious about that. I know it's ok to feed parrots chicken and the like (although I'm sure it'd raise some eyebrows) but I didn't know if that was ok for ducks. For now I give her raw veggies, sometimes cooked because she's VERY good at begging. But the meat goes to the kitties. 

I went through the ducks I hatched this spring/summer. I have all hens!!!!!! I'm excited.

Yay, that's awesome! You are literally a lucky duck

My ducks eat bugs, frogs, toads, minnows and mice. Pretty sure they are natural meat eaters.

Well, they're omnivores for sure. I just wasn't sure that people food was kosher. At least not beef, cuz it's so fatty. 

My ducks have been known to fight the cats for meat scraps, especially hamburger & sausage.

As noted above, ducks will naturally eat bugs, frogs & small fish. Pretty sure they really don't care where the food comes from as long as they like the taste. My birds especially like spicy foods & stuff with lots of garlic.

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I used to have a hen named blue that would scour the yard every morning for any mice the cat had killed and brought up to the house. Then she'd swallow them whole. We sell minnows where I work, so I try to scoop all of the dead ones and bring them home to the ducks (and chickens). They love it. I can honestly say that I don't really give the ducks meat meant for human consumption. The chickens get all of that.

 

[Going Quackers]

Can't get quote to work.
Re: Protein levels in feed
I raise chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese & quail. I have my feed specially mixed by my local mill. Layer feed ends up between 17-18% protein, grower feed is 20-21% protein. This is even with whole & cracked grains being 25-30% of the mix. I use distiller's grain (23-25% protein) to boost the protein levels in my feed. I also ferment which raises the level of usable protein vastly, helps prevent waste, boosts eggs production & helps make sure the birds get a balanced mix of all ingredients in the feed. Since much of my feed is powdered fermenting makes sure they eat the powdered portion without wasting it.

On the matter of angel wing: I have never had a duck with it. I did have 1 gosling develop it but she was already several weeks old when I got her. All birds that I have hatched or gotten at only a few days old have been fine on wing development & also leg development. No leg problems either.

I know my protein is higher than recommended for geese, but I make sure they get lots of grass clippings & weeds. All of my pens also get table scraps, including meat. Melon rinds are very popular with all of my birds as well.

That is where the key of the whole problem is i really don't think it's a black and white thing, all my birds get access to the ground while the calls are penned they definitely get ahold of a variety of things vs birds in raised pens.

I generally don't either that said, you can never say never lol i don't have leg issues here either.. i did find my Pekin needed duck starter though.. whereas my Calls and Muscovy, buff do better on a lower protein all flock starter type.

Trouble is each area and situation is different, so you have to allow for that... your fortunate you can get custom feed.

 

[Going Quackers]

I went through the ducks I hatched this spring/summer. I have all hens!!!!!! I'm excited.

That is awesome!

 

[Going Quackers]

That's the thing, she's not on starter, she's on grower pellets. She's 5 weeks old. The lady I bought the feed from told me it was 15% protein, but then the guy I spoke to when I went to pick up more said she was wrong, he mixes it himself and it's anywhere between 18 and 20%. And now she has angel wing. My photos didn't really show the issue too well, and yeah, her wingtips did turn out more between then and now. So now she's all wrapped up with vet tape and a little sock!

As for the vet, yeah she specializes in wildlife but my point was she works with ducks every day, both wild and domestic. Which is awesome! I hope to follow in her footsteps someday, but for now I'm a lowly vet assistant struggling through school after swapping careers at the tender young age of...31. >.>;; But that just makes me feel worse as a caregiver, since she has so many problems and as good as I am with mammals and reptiles, I don't know thing one about birds.

My poor baby. Respiratory infection AND angel wing...I think I'm a bad duck mom, guys. ._.

so a custom mix? i have run an 18% here and that did not do a thing to my birds, they free range though... i would want exact info on levels for my feed frankly.

No, it's good she is familiar with birds, just saying domestic vs wild ... hopefully the wrap will help, good luck.