Duckling protein requirement confusion...

[Niche Flock]

Hey everyone,
I am a little confused about the protein requirements for ducklings. My 5 Welsh Harlequins,6 Khaki Campbells, and 2 Cayugas will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. I read in my Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks that ducklings up to two weeks should be fed 20% protein, then after two weeks they should be fed a 16-18% protein content. I have been feeding them a 20% Dumor Chick starter (non-medicated) crumble/mash.
Recently, I went to the local feed store because I was running low on crumbles and was on the hunt for a lower protein as instructed. I spoke to the nice owner and he mentioned that ducklings can have the higher protein up to ten weeks...! I was very surprised by this but purchased the Home Fresh Blue Real Multi-Flock Chick N Game Starter/Grower Crumble that has a 22% protein.
My question is is this too much protein at three weeks old? Should I purchase a 16-18% protein crumble instead? I don't want my feather babies to end up with Angel wing or some other horrible deformity due to excessive protein or rapid development.
Any suggestions, advice, experience would be very much appreciated!

 

[Ducks4us]

Yes my duck book also suggest lower protein from 3 weeks on. 15-17% protein to avoid wing and leg deformities and kidney and liver damage.
My book suggest adding oats to lower protein if needed.
25% oats to 75% feed is what my book states

 

[Niche Flock]

@Ducks4us
Thank you very much! I think that I may just purchase another feed all together.

I wonder why the feed store manager told me that it was ok to feed them a higher protein...I specified their age and mentioned they were ducks, so I am not sure. Thank you again!

 

[Ducks4us]

I dont know , but at my feed store they dont know anything at all! So i let all advice they give me go in one ear and out the other.
I think smaller wild breeds like mallards and wood ducks prob can tolerate higher protein. But larger domestic breeds dont do well with it.

 

[Niche Flock]

@Ducks4us
Yes I agree, I will stick to looking for a lower protein. One of my ducklings is sitting more often than the others too. I give them all 100 mg of niacin in their gallon waterer every day, plus I started doing a 1 tbsp. of brewers yeast per cup of feed with mashed oats incorporated ( because of the higher protein). Tomorrow I will pick up new feed, but should I continue the brewers yeast if I am doing the 100mg of niacin in the gallon of water? Is that too much niacin?

 

[Ducks4us]

150 mg per gallon is whats recommended if doing the niacin in water . I dont think extra hurts.
I felt like with water they spit out and play with so much water i didnt feel like they got enough.
So now i only do the nutritional or brewers yeast. I add 1 tablespoon per cup. And i wet the food so that they actually have to eat the yeast.
I was finding the yeast at the bottom of the bowl when they finished feed.
So wetting it they eat it all.

 

[Niche Flock]

@Ducks4us
Great suggestion, I will add a bit of water to their feed to keep it clumpy so they eat it. Thank you!

 

[Ducks4us]

@Ducks4us
Great suggestion, I will add a bit of water to their feed to keep it clumpy so they eat it. Thank you!

Your welcome

 

[Niche Flock]

One of my khaki Campbells is developing angel wing in her left wing. All of the other ducklings seem to be fine. I was away yesterday a,d came back today and noticed it. I know angel wing can be genetic, and the other ducklings,aren't exhibiting symptoms, but I can't help but blame the fact that I fed them a 22% feed for about a week...

 

[junebuggena]

Or you can let them graze and forage in their run till they are ready to move out full time. Moved mine out at 3 weeks old, last week, and they don't show much interest in their feed anymore.