Difficulty eating

[Ash0587]

I have 3 ducklings that are a week old today. 1 of the 3 was very noticably a runt from the first day, but she isn't growing much at all like her siblings. Today while watching her est I noticed she looses the food shes trying to eat. I know she gets some food becuase she poops, but im sure shes not getting enough. I wonder if its okay to mix water with their chick crumbles to make them a mash to eat, to make it easier for her to get more food. Pic of them for size difference reference.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

A crumble soup would not hurt.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

What exactly is this starter your feeding them? Plain starter generally doesn't have the additional vitamins / ducks need, especially niacin. A duck starter works much better. Gamebird, or Turkey starter will have the additional things they need, but can be high in protein. Broiler starter works as well. If chick starter is all you have then you can supplement Niacin or a vitamin /mineral pack that has Niacin.

 

[chickens really]

Yes I feed my Ducklings wet soupy feed with dry feed in a separate bowl. I continue till they no longer want the wet feed.

 

[Ash0587]

What exactly is this starter your feeding them? Plain starter generally doesn't have the additional vitamins / ducks need, especially niacin. A duck starter works much better. Gamebird, or Turkey starter will have the additional things they need, but can be high in protein. Broiler starter works as well. If chick starter is all you have then you can supplement Niacin or a vitamin /mineral pack that has Niacin.

I'm feeding chick starter with added brewers yeast sprinkled on top. our local tsc doesn't have any duck or game bird starter, which is disappointing since they sell ducklings.

 

[MerryMeridional]

I found duck grower on Amazon. Didn't see anything like this in any of the Tractor Supplies.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0793FBDVJ/?tag=backy-20

It was a little pricey (~$16/8lbs) but since I do not need to supplement anything, this is a good solution for us. I have also been doing fermented feed with it, where you let it soak in warm water with a little apple cider vinegar (with the mother) covered in cheesecloth for 3 days before serving. Supposedly fermented feed makes the nutrients more bioavailable to the animal so they consume less vs the same thing in dry form. Fermented food is good for your (and your ducks') digestive tract. My ducklings (and the warmer chicks, while I had them) LOVED the fermented feed and gobble it up.

Not sure if they love the FF because of the taste or because of the softer texture, but in any case... adding water to the food to soften is ok. And if you are OK with doing this in bigger batches, you might be happy with fermented feeding.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

To the OP, your TSC should have their Dumer 24% starter. Its their gamebird/turkey/broiler/duckling starter. TSC often has Nutrena Meatbird, and Purina Flock Raiser, which are both good options.

Yeast is not my favorite since there is several different strengths of it, with the weaker ones having very little Niacin at all.

Liquid, powdered, or pill form Niacin is listed at specific strengths so that takes all the guesswork out. 100 to 150 mg in a gallon of their water will be plenty.

https://www.qcsupply.com/549992-bvs-starter-pak.html

https://purebulk.com/products/niacin-vitamin-b3-immediate-release?variant=14279475101745

 

[casportpony]

I wonder if its okay to mix water with their chick crumbles to make them a mash to eat, to make it easier for her to get more food

Yes, it's okay to make a mash, just keep an eye on it because it goes rancid very quickly, especially in a brooder.