Duck experts...feed questions..

[Speceider]

1.heredity 2. too much protein ( they had I think 24 % and then 20% for a lot longer than these this year) and 3. Brooder too hot.


I place the first 2 in the same category. I know some, (Espcecially muscovy breeders) believe it's genetic. I personally believe it's a function of growth rate and protein. Genetically, you can select for slower growth rates that acconidate your management regime. I personally believe my problems with wild species results from heat (right now I'm worried about a swan goose gosling, here in Louisiana it's mid to upper 90's), and the birds are not as active. As a result, they don't exercise the wings as much. I always have more problems with later hatched birds.

The NRC suggests 16% protein for a 3000 kcal/kg diet for 2-7 week pekins. As I've said, just protein content is meaningless without knowing the ME of the diet, and specific amino acids. It's recommended that the methionine+cysteine be 0.55%, lysine be 0.65%, and leucine be 0.91%. Again, based upon a 3000 kcal/kg diet. Higher ME diet allows for lower protein content, lower ME diet requires higher protein content because ME controls the amount of food intake.

Niacin is a constant 55 mg for all ages of pekins.

Clint

 

[newfoundland]

I feed my Aylesbury ducks on Layers pellets. They do eat vegetation but i have never had a duck that would eat tomatoes, salad or fruit. I start them off on starter crumb for ducks (unmedicated) and move them onto growers pellets at about three weeks old. They are big ducks so they seem to thrive on this.

 

[NYRIR]

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Ok...so what you mean is..it goes hand in hand. It very well could be I had my brooder too hot as well because these were my first ducks.They definitely do not like the heat for as long or as hot as chicks! This is the only one of the initial 6 that has this issue.I now have 18 that are all or mostly feathered and they are ok.I did use less protein on the ducklings this year though.I used 20% for the first 3 weeks and then layer pellets (16 %).They all seem ok...except one Runner seems a bit smaller/weaker than the other.
I have also noticed with my goslings at 4 weeks old,they require no heat at all and have been successfully sleeping outside so I guess you learn as you go.The goslings eat a mixture of 24 % with cracked corn mixed in and they free range all day.I thought since they grow so big so fast they could use the extra protein.

 

[NYRIR]

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Wow....mine go nuts for tomatoes....if I throw strawberries in there...they pick em up...toss em out until they realize they are ALL strawberries and NOT tomatoes...then they eat em

 

[aineheartsyou]

I am NOT an expert but this is how I am raising my ducklings and goslings. I start them out on straight Purina Flock Raiser (20%) and mushy peas for treats. At 2 weeks old I cut the Flock Raiser with scratch grain to bring it down to 16% protein with them free ranging during the day and peas and salad at night. Once they are laying I will supply free choice oyster shells.

 

[NYRIR]

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And you have had no problems? Sounds like I gave too much protein for the first batch of ducks I got....

 

[aineheartsyou]

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And you have had no problems? Sounds like I gave too much protein for the first batch of ducks I got....

I did have the angel wing scare with Peepers but her wings are perfect, it just looked funny because her back was still baby fuzz so it make it look like they were sticking out. I dont feel the need to suppliment niacin because there is some in the Flock Raiser and they are getting some from their greens and the stuff they find while free ranging

 

[NYRIR]

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And you have had no problems? Sounds like I gave too much protein for the first batch of ducks I got....

I did have the angel wing scare with Peepers but her wings are perfect, it just looked funny because her back was still baby fuzz so it make it look like they were sticking out. I dont feel the need to suppliment niacin because there is some in the Flock Raiser and they are getting some from their greens and the stuff they find while free ranging

Yeah, mine do not free range because of limited space but I do try to give grasses every day.I just keep throwing some in there until they don't eat it anymore.

 

[ChristineR]

Does anyone feed Mazuri Waterfowl? I've been feeding that to my adult ducks for 2 years and they love it. I get the floating pellets.

 

[aineheartsyou]

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I have thought about it but it is not sold around here normally and I would have to special order it and I dont think that is something I wanna deal with