Duck brooding

[dirtgirl01]

Once the chickens are 5 weeks old they will be leaving their brooder and I will get 4 ducks. I will give it a good cleaning before the ducks arrive. Was planning on using essential the same set up for the ducks as I did the chicks. Standard chick feeder and waterer with wood shavings for the bottom and a heat lamp. What food to ducklings start on? Chick Starter?

 

[DuckiesAndBees]

I just got my duckies and from what the guy at the store told me and what I've read here, they need different food than the chicks. I got waterfowl/gamebird starter. I think they might be okay on unmedicated chick starter, but you'd have to double-check that to be sure.

 

[daidyducks]

Quote:
I wouldnt suggest feeding them chick food, they have their own waterfowl starter. make sure its 20% protein, and yes wood shavings and heat lamp is good. make sure you switch them to lower protein as they get older or your ducks will get angel wing.
hope I helped

by the way congrats on your new ducks!

 

[davekrista]

Quote:
I wouldnt suggest feeding them chick food, they have their own waterfowl starter. make sure its 20% protein, and yes wood shavings and heat lamp is good. make sure you switch them to lower protein as they get older or your ducks will get angel wing.
hope I helped

by the way congrats on your new ducks!

I have seen some posts about angel wing, but I don't know what it is. What is angel wing?

 

[daidyducks]

Quote:
I wouldnt suggest feeding them chick food, they have their own waterfowl starter. make sure its 20% protein, and yes wood shavings and heat lamp is good. make sure you switch them to lower protein as they get older or your ducks will get angel wing.
hope I helped

by the way congrats on your new ducks!

I have seen some posts about angel wing, but I don't know what it is. What is angel wing?

too much protein will make the last joint of the wing twist with the wing feathers causing them to point out laterally, instead of laying against the body.
you can research but you wont have much trouble with that unless you dont follow their protein diet

 

[davekrista]

Quote:
I have seen some posts about angel wing, but I don't know what it is. What is angel wing?

too much protein will make the last joint of the wing twist with the wing feathers causing them to point out laterally, instead of laying against the body.
you can research but you wont have much trouble with that unless you dont follow their protein diet

Thanks for telling me. Thank god mine are ok.