duck food questions

[mara DuckMom]

Hi all,

I have been perusing the depths of BYC, combing through posts upon posts to answer my questions about good duck feeds, and I still have questions...so please bear with me as I'm sure this will be a long post, and these questions have probably been asked before.

I have a 2 year old mallard drake that eats Mazuri maintenance feed (14% protein) and has been doing great on that, I have no complaints. I also have an almost 3 week old Cayuga duckling that is eating non medicated starter feed (18% protein)..I'm more or less going off of Holderread's recommendations of lowering protein levels as ducklings grow, until she starts laying eggs and then of course protein and calcium levels will be bumped up. I want to switch my Cayuga duckling to a lower protein level grower feed within the next week or so and I have been searching everywhere for one that I like, preferably that doesn't come in a 50 lb bag. I haven't found any that I'm a big fan of so far, so my question is:

Can I mix the Mazuri maintenance feed (crushed up) with the starter feed to make a good grower feed (16% protein) for her? I found the metzer farms feed mix calculator page where it tells you how much of two different protein level feeds to mix in order to make a different protein level. I'm thinking this will be my plan, unless there's something I'm overlooking or not realizing that would make this a bad idea?

I'm planning on keeping her on grower feed until she's about 9 weeks old and then switching her over to straight Mazuri maintenance feed until she starts laying, and I'm sure there will be another loooong winded question post from me then, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Thanks in advance for any advice and thanks for taking the time to read this!

 

[TheDrake]

@casportpony might be able to give you some good advice. Or maybe @Miss Lydia or @caesargirl ... I hope they are directed to this by my mentioning them

 

[TheDrake]

Okay maybe only the first one will be directed to it? Feel free to message any of those 3, they are super helpful. Good luck

 

[Amiga]

@mara DuckMom good questions! I would follow your plan. In fact, some feeds that I have come across are grower-maintenance … same thing. I added vitamins-electrolytes-probiotics to their water once every two weeks their first three months, just to be sure. I reduced the percentage of protein in their starter with oats, like Holderread does. But then I was concerned about reducing other nutrients - and added in vitamins.

 

[mara DuckMom]

@mara DuckMom
  good questions!  I would follow your plan.  In fact, some feeds that I have come across are grower-maintenance … same thing.  I added vitamins-electrolytes-probiotics to their water once every two weeks their first three months, just to be sure.  I reduced the percentage of protein in their starter with oats, like Holderread does.  But then I was concerned about reducing other nutrients - and added in vitamins.

thanks so much! I've seen the sav-a-chick packets of vitamins, electrolytes and probiotics so I'll have to pick up some of those when I'm at the feed store next. As far as when she starts laying, would offering her a separate dish of crushed oyster grit be sufficient if both ducks are on 14% protein maintenance feed? or will I need to raise her protein level as well?

 

[Amiga]

I would raise her protein level - good quality cat kibble works for some of us. Most likely, free choice oyster shell on the side will work out. Now, ideally, she will get that oyster shell about 4 weeks before she lays her first egg.

When I first read that bit, I rolled my eyes and asked aloud to no one, "and just HOW do I know when it's four weeks BEFORE she lays?????"

And then I saw it - hop on top. About four weeks before the first egg laid by my flock, they were hopping on top of each other, acting out mating. Ah ha.

Speaking of mating - please be very careful and protect your little girl. Your drake may be a perfectly lovely drake. Or, he may be brutal. We do not know until the time comes. If there is any sign she is getting roughed up, please know her life depends on your intervention.

 

[mara DuckMom]

I would raise her protein level - good quality cat kibble works for some of us.  Most likely, free choice oyster shell on the side will work out.  Now, ideally, she will get that oyster shell about 4 weeks before she lays her first egg.

When I first read that bit, I rolled my eyes and asked aloud to no one, "and just HOW do I know when it's four weeks BEFORE she lays?????"

And then I saw it - hop on top.  About four weeks before the first egg laid by my flock, they were hopping on top of each other, acting out mating.  Ah ha.

Speaking of mating - please be very careful and protect your little girl.  Your drake may be a perfectly lovely drake.  Or, he may be brutal.  We do not know until the time comes.  If there is any sign she is getting roughed up, please know her life depends on your intervention.

thank you SO much. I have been researching and stressing about the food situation for quite some time, as well as the calcium and protein supplements that I'll need when she's laying. I'll keep an eye out for the hop on top routine, as well..haha! I believe most things I've read have said laying begins at roughly 20 weeks so I'll definitely keep a close eye on them a month or so before that & see if I notice anything.

I'll definitely keep a very close eye on the mating situation, I know drakes can be extremely rough and I won't hesitate to intervene if I need to. Their health and well being is one of my very top priorities. Thank you again for all of your help & your wealth of knowledge! I appreciate it so much!