Duck Feed Dilemma

[rjohns39]

We're typing over each other. Message #8.

 

[gal5150]

My girls have been on Dumor since they were hatchlings, they do great on it

 

[gingerviolinist]

Any experience with Scratch and Peck Feeds?

 

[rjohns39]

Any experience with Scratch and Peck Feeds?

Treat them like a "treat" Treats should not be more than 10% of total diet.

 

[gingerviolinist]

Sorry, @rjohns39 , I should've been more specific. The brand "Scratch and Peck Feeds" https://www.scratchandpeck.com/shop/naturally-free-grower/. Other than it being pricey, any drawbacks or experience?

 

[rjohns39]

Sorry, @rjohns39 , I should've been more specific. The brand "Scratch and Peck Feeds" https://www.scratchandpeck.com/shop/naturally-free-grower/. Other than it being pricey, any drawbacks or experience?

I don't have any experience with them. I have my feed custom blended. In a pinch I use the organic at TSC. But I'm also a lunatic. My two week old ducks ran out of feed and the Co-op is waiting for critical ingredients. So I bought the Organic Chick Starter at TSC, Organic Alfalfa pellets for goats, grabbed a couple pounds of unsalted peanuts from the grocery store. Ground 6lbs of the alfalfa, ground 2 lbs of flax seed, 2 lbs of peanuts, and added 1.5 lbs of fish meal and added it to the 40lbs bag of starter to give me a 23% feed acceptable for ducks.

 

[rjohns39]

As for the brand, looking at the web-site they hit all my check boxes.

 

[gingerviolinist]

Wow - that sounds fantastic! Do you make a custom blend for your adults as well?

 

[rjohns39]

Yes. I'm working toward being able to feed my birds based upon the Sustainable Poultry Network's feed regimen--but its challenging. Minimum order from the co-op is a ton and I can't use a ton of anything but layer in a reasonable amount of time. So I'm working with a nutritionist and figuring out how to get a "base" feed that I can adapt to each of the various growth stages. I still have a ton of learning to do...

 

[Catnip5]

I too feed Mazuri waterfowl and my TSC stocks it. It's a special order but they keep 4 bags in stock at all times now so I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one feeding it. They don't carry the grower but they do carry the maintenance and it's $39.99 / #50. Scratch & Peck is great but impossibly expensive since no one in Maine stocks it. New Country Organic is on par but my ducks were ho-hum about it and since that's a special order from W Virginia I went back to Mazuri for local ease. The girls love it, the seagulls steal it and the wild mallards descend here twice a day for leftovers.