Duck feed questions [newbie alert!]

[danideer]

Hi all! I do not yet have ducklings but I should have four Pekins by the end of the week. This will be my first time raising little fluff butts and I'm a bit confused regarding their dietary needs. Despite my research I'm a bit baffled by all these different brands and products and vitamins and percentages! It's a bit daunting and I want to be certain I'm doing everything I can to properly meet my duckling's needs. Your help and knowledge is appreciated!

My first question regards starter feed. I bought a bag of DuMor Chick Starter/Grower as it was the only starter feed available at my feed store. Is this a good feed for baby ducks? Do I need to add niacin to their diet? I know niacin supplement is in the ingredient list. Is this enough?

If I need to supply extra niacin, how do I go about doing so? I know I read that niacin tablets can be ground up and added to their water, but what's the proper dosage on that?

Does the starter feed provide enough protein?

At what age do the ducklings need to be switched onto regular feed? I know my feed store sells the Layena brand, which is technically for chickens I think. Will I still need to provide niacin with that feed?

Also, grit and oyster shell. Do my ducks need to be provided with these? If so, how much of each and at what age do I begin offering them?

I read through the sticky regarding treats, so I'm all set in that department! I'm just a little intimidated by all the different feeds and nutritional needs of ducks. This is all foreign and new to me!

 

[ancona_crazy]

What are the percentages of niacin and protien?

Is it medicated? If it is medicated don't use it.

You don't need grit until two weeks.

After a few weeks switch them to grower feed. Although, i make my own food and don't switch back and forth and they do well without grower feed.

 

[danideer]

Here is a link to the product: http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/dumorreg;-chick-starter-grower-20%-feed-20-lb

The protein percentage is 20%. It doesn't say anything about the percentage of niacin, just it's just on the ingredient list as "niacin supplement". I'm near positive it's an unmedicated feed. It would say "medicated" on the packaging if it were correct?

Thank you for the grit information! Do I feed it separately or mix it into the food? How much should be offered and how often?

I'm a firm believer that making your own food for your pets is the way to go (and not a bad idea for yourself other)! Unfortunately I'm a teenager and my parents prefer store bought food so that's what I've got to work with. I'd love to hear about what you feed though!

 

[Amiga]

Well, I started an answer then lost it....

My first question regards starter feed. I bought a bag of DuMor Chick Starter/Grower as it was the only starter feed available at my feed store. Is this a good feed for baby ducks? Do I need to add niacin to their diet? I know niacin supplement is in the ingredient list. Is this enough?

If I need to supply extra niacin, how do I go about doing so? I know I read that niacin tablets can be ground up and added to their water, but what's the proper dosage on that?

Does the starter feed provide enough protein?

At two weeks, I began adding a little grower feed to the starter crumbles, increasing the proportion of grower feed till the starter crumbles were all used up.

Also, grit and oyster shell. Do my ducks need to be provided with these? If so, how much of each and at what age do I begin offering them?

Based on Storey's Guide, I added a light sprinkle of chick grit on their feed once a day on their second day. Crushed oyster shell is to be given four weeks before they start laying. What I discovered is that the ducks started playing hop on top about four weeks before the first egg was laid

I read through the sticky regarding treats, so I'm all set in that department! I'm just a little intimidated by all the different feeds and nutritional needs of ducks. This is all foreign and new to me!

 

[Going Quackers]

I didn't/don't add grit until their eating something other than the staple feed. As previous poster said make sure you don't get medicated starters, that is a definite avoid. Otherwise there are a few ways, some use chick starter then add niacin since chick starter is lacking for ducks in that regard, if your lucky you can get duck starter then by around 4wks or so grower or you can get all flock/flock raiser.

I find feed really depend on what you can get, some have access to stuff others don't. I for instance can get a flock raiser and i can get duck/starter/growers which are the routes i take with my duckies for feed.

 

[danideer]

So if I were to give treats (suitable for whatever age they are at the time of course) I would want to supply grit? I'm fairly certain that with this starter feed I need to supply niacin. Had mum pick some up when she was at the grocery store. 100 mg tablets for their water. Will this make the water taste strange or something? I don't want to have any issues with dehydration.

How will I know if I need to add more protein to their diet? Some have told me that the 20% in the DuMor starter/grower feed is fine. What are your takes on this?

Oyster shell should only be provided to laying females correct? I'm hoping for no more than one drake but these ducklings will be straight run so fingers crossed!

 

[Amiga]

I followed Storey's Guide and sprinkled grit on their food lightly, and waited several days before giving them peas and lettuce. It's so they can chew. Once they were outside, I stopped giving grit, since their dabbling enables them to ingest pebbles and sand.

 

[Sami's Mommy]

Make sure your niacin is not flush free or time release, just regular niacin!

 

[danideer]

That makes sense, Amiga. Thanks!

@Sami's Mommy: Yep, it's regular niacin! Thank you for checking!

 

[Shaunw8lftr]

Why not flush free? Think that is what I picked up?.........