Duck food Confusion!!

[OneToManyChickens]

I have two three week old ducks and the internet is just full of things telling me what to feed them. They are hatchery ducks not wild and I have been feeding them un-medicated starter with brewers yeast. They are doing great and growing very fast. However, I have seen so many people saying that this will be too much protein as they grow and I need to supplement feed with other things such as oats. Is this true? AND if so what do I need to feed my ducks. (3 weeks)

 

[Isaac 0]

Can you give us the protein content of the feed you are using?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have seen so many people saying that this will be too much protein as they grow and I need to supplement feed with other things such as oats. Is this true? AND if so what do I need to feed my ducks. (3 weeks)

Too many folks blame angel wing on excess protein when in fact it is likely genetic and can be caused by excess energy from any source. Most chick starters are 22% protein and below... that will not cause a problem.

My preferred feed is Purina Flock raiser (20% protein),.. with NO supplement needed unless raising Jumbo Pekin... as it contains 55mg/kg niacin.. per customer service.

I feed this to ALL my birds including chicken layers and chicks, roosters, ducks, etc... and provide oyster shell on the side free choice for active layers.

Great resource to get all your duck questions answered accurately including nutrition...
https://www.metzerfarms.com/NutritionalRequirements.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=25358728

Hope this helps some!

 

[Isaac 0]

Metzer Farms is a great source, I'm not disagreeing with anyone, but I did happen to see this the other day.


Because of the discussions I have heard over the years on the cause of angel wing, I did a search for all research on the subject. The best article was one written by Janet Kear, who is the Senior Scientific Officer of The Wildlife Trust in Great Britain. Some of the researchers feel the condition is genetic, but others have proven it is not. Because she works with waterfowl from many parts of the world, Ms. Kear has come to the conclusion that it is a nutritional problem due to excess feed.

She has found that waterfowl that normally mature in the Arctic environment do not show any angel wing because of their naturally fast growth. It does appear, however, in those species that come from a more temperate environment where they grow slower under natural feeding conditions. But by feeding them unlimited, high protein, high energy feed, they grow unnaturally fast and their wing weight seems to outgrow the strength of the wing to support it, which causes the twisting and resulting angel wing. Further proof of this is from another article that said "If their wings start drooping they are put on a diet of alfalfa pellets (instead of Chick Growena) until the condition clears up."

The only wild waterfowl populations known to be affected are those fed by man. In Sweden, ten different park populations of Canada geese produced angel wing. The following year one flock was not fed any artificial feed and there were no angel wing goslings produced.

Ms. Kear's suggestions are to not feed high protein, high energy feed (such as turkey feed), provide plenty of room for exercise, keep in small groups, provide plenty of grass or green feed and keep the pen dark at night if possible so less eating occurs. If you do notice a twisted wing, however, you can form a sling to hold the wing in place to allow proper development.

https://www.metzerfarms.com/AngelWing.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=25232373

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Too many folks blame angel wing on excess protein when in fact it is likely genetic and can be caused by excess energy from any source. Most chick starters are 22% protein and below... that will not cause a problem.

My preferred feed is Purina Flock raiser (20% protein),.. with NO supplement needed unless raising Jumbo Pekin... as it contains 55mg/kg niacin.. per customer service.

I feed this to ALL my birds including chicken layers and chicks, roosters, ducks, etc... and provide oyster shell on the side free choice for active layers.

Great resource to get all your duck questions answered accurately including nutrition...
https://www.metzerfarms.com/NutritionalRequirements.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=25358728

Hope this helps some!

 

[OneToManyChickens]

I don't have the bag anymore, but I believe that it has 18% crude protein according to the website. I am using Purina Non-Medicated Start and Grow Feed Crumbles.

 

[Isaac 0]

anymore, but I believe that it has 18% crude protein according to the website. I am using Purina Non-Medicated Start and Grow Feed Crumbles.

That would be fine, but since you are using a feed intended for chicks you will need to add a supplemental source of niacin to the feed, like B complex, brewer's yeast, nutritional yeast, or a poultry vitamin, or of course you could just switch to a feed formulated for ducks.

 

[OneToManyChickens]

I have brewers yeast in the feed but I was worried about the angel wing issue people are talking about.

 

[Isaac 0]

I have brewers yeast in the feed but I was worried about the angel wing issue people are talking about.

Highly unlikely that 18% protein would cause angel wing. I feed my ducklings 20% from hatch to first egg with no problems.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Metzer Farms is a great source, I'm not disagreeing with anyone, but I did happen to see this the other day.


Because of the discussions I have heard over the years on the cause of angel wing, I did a search for all research on the subject. The best article was one written by Janet Kear, who is the Senior Scientific Officer of The Wildlife Trust in Great Britain. Some of the researchers feel the condition is genetic, but others have proven it is not. Because she works with waterfowl from many parts of the world, Ms. Kear has come to the conclusion that it is a nutritional problem due to excess feed.

She has found that waterfowl that normally mature in the Arctic environment do not show any angel wing because of their naturally fast growth. It does appear, however, in those species that come from a more temperate environment where they grow slower under natural feeding conditions. But by feeding them unlimited, high protein, high energy feed, they grow unnaturally fast and their wing weight seems to outgrow the strength of the wing to support it, which causes the twisting and resulting angel wing. Further proof of this is from another article that said "If their wings start drooping they are put on a diet of alfalfa pellets (instead of Chick Growena) until the condition clears up."

The only wild waterfowl populations known to be affected are those fed by man. In Sweden, ten different park populations of Canada geese produced angel wing. The following year one flock was not fed any artificial feed and there were no angel wing goslings produced.

Ms. Kear's suggestions are to not feed high protein, high energy feed (such as turkey feed), provide plenty of room for exercise, keep in small groups, provide plenty of grass or green feed and keep the pen dark at night if possible so less eating occurs. If you do notice a twisted wing, however, you can form a sling to hold the wing in place to allow proper development.

https://www.metzerfarms.com/AngelWing.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=25232373

Of course my only experience with Angel wing was with a goose that ate mainly grass and very little feed