Duck feed advice

[Lordess]

Ive moved to a rural area. The feed options are limited from local feed stores. I'm not fond of the options. Chicken feeds with antibiotics and or similar game bird feeds. The brand available is Flint River Mills. The nearest tractor supply cannot keep the feeds stocked consistently to choose a better brand or order them for me reliably. It's frustrating. Given those options which would be better the chicken or game bird? There is a feed mill within an hour drive that I could acquire bulk grains and create my own mix. Does anyone have advice on creating their own feed mixes? I have 13 ducks presently and growing. So the requirements range from hatchings to mature breeders.

 

[Kiki to Nana]

Piggy backing off this thread. Also looking for new feed for my ducks. All 1 year of age, just looking to add something that contains all the nutritional things they need. I'm thinking Mazuri Waterfowl Maintenance, I know Nutrena and Purena have brands that are pretty much the same since it's the same company, also Manna. Just not sure which one. So any recommendations would be great! Our one girl is still on a liquid/mush diet. So the feed would need to be able to get mash or be very soft when mixed with water.

@Miss Lydia
@chickens really
@Amiga

 

[Ducklover3449]

Well, I feed my ducks a 50 lb bag of Purina Flock Raiser crumbles. It has everything your ducks need to start off. However, when they start laying, it would be good to give them oyster shells along with the feed to toughen up the eggs. Be sure not to give them too much treats, for the feed already has enough protein- it's 20% protein. Too high of protein can lead to angel wing. This feed has great nutritional balance. Hope you have fun raising your ducks!

Here's a description of the feed I found on their website for you:
"A 20%-protein nutrient-rich ration that provides starting, growing and finishing nutrition for broiler/meat bird or a mixed flock of chickens, ducks and geese from hatch until laying age (18-20 weeks chickens, 20-24 weeks ducks; geese start laying the spring after they were hatched) and for turkeys from 8-10 weeks until laying age of 30-32 weeks.Optimum nutrition for healthy meat birds and mixed poultry flocks. Formulated with prebiotics, probiotics and yeast to support optimum digestive health and immune function."

 

[Lordess]

Well, Purina Flock Raiser crumbles.

Here's a description of the feed I found on their website for you:
"A 20%-protein nutrient-rich ration that provides starting, growing and finishing nutrition for broiler/meat bird or a mixed flock of chickens, ducks and geese from hatch until laying age (18-20 weeks chickens, 20-24 weeks ducks; geese start laying the spring after they were hatched) and for turkeys from 8-10 weeks until laying age of 30-32 weeks.Optimum nutrition for healthy meat birds and mixed poultry flocks. Formulated with prebiotics, probiotics and yeast to support optimum digestive health and immune function."

Thank you for the suggestion. Does it require any brewer's yeast/niacin supplementation?

 

[Ducklover3449]

Thank you for the suggestion. Does it require any brewer's yeast/niacin supplementation?

No. This feed has everything your duck needs to live a healthy life. This feed is high in protein, so egg production will be high, along with size. However, adding oats to this will slow down growth, which will allow a longer lifespan for your duck. You may add the yeast, but it is not necessary, for it is already in the feed.

 

[lomine]

There is niacin in the Flock Raiser but you may have ducks that need more. You'll want to keep an eye on ducklings for any sign of deficiency.

As far as picking between the chicken or game feed, you'll want to look at the protein levels. Some game feeds can have 24-30% protein. That would be too much for ducks. You could cut the protein my adding oats or grains. The best thing would be to look at the labels and see which one fits the ducks' needs best. Metzer's website has information on their nutritional requirements. I believe they also have some recipes if you want to got the route of mixing your own.

 

[chickens really]

Here in Alberta, Canada this is what lots of people feed Ducks...I mix my feed....Adult Duck recipe.....
Duck finisher or you can use Turkey finisher also
Oat and barley crumble
Scratch grain that has less corn
Plus veggies and free range grass and bugs...
During molt I toss out a couple of handfuls of dry cat food a couple times a week....Help with feather growth...

 

[Amiga]

Piggy backing off this thread. Also looking for new feed for my ducks. All 1 year of age, just looking to add something that contains all the nutritional things they need. I'm thinking Mazuri Waterfowl Maintenance, I know Nutrena and Purena have brands that are pretty much the same since it's the same company, also Manna. Just not sure which one. So any recommendations would be great! Our one girl is still on a liquid/mush diet. So the feed would need to be able to get mash or be very soft when mixed with water.

@Miss Lydia
@chickens really
@Amiga

I use waterfowl breeder from Mazuri for my Buffs and Black East Indies. I use New Country Organic no-corn, no-soy feed for the Runners, and I add 80 to 100 mg extra calcium a few times a week to that, as a number of the Runners seem to need extra to avoid soft shells and binding.