Ducklings from Tractor Supply

[DUCKOBSESSED]

Also make sure it is Unmediated feed. Cute ducks!

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Yes, it is unmedicated feed. And thank you also to the person who recommended the brewer's yeast. I'll be picking up somoe of that tomorrow.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Supplement their feed with brewer's yeast (about 1 tablespoon per cup of food). Chick starter does NOT have enough niacin in it, and can cripple a duck if you don't add the niacin. Cute little ones!

I got the brewer's yeast on Monday and they've had it added to their food in the amounts you suggested forthe past two days. Is this something I need to continue adding forever or is it only during the first weeks...or maybe something in between? At what point do I switch them from a starter feed to a grower feed?

BTW, the ducklings all seem active and healthy but you folks who warned that they would be messy were spot on!

 

[KuroKitsune]

keep with the brewers yeast till 10 week of age


and you dont have to put them on a grower feed unless you want to and i guess you could do that at 10 weeks when you can stop the yeast

 

[needlessjunk]

I got the brewer's yeast on Monday and they've had it added to their food in the amounts you suggested forthe past two days.  Is this something I need to continue adding forever or is it only during the first weeks...or maybe something in between?  At what point do I switch them from a starter feed to a grower feed?

BTW, the ducklings all seem active and healthy but you folks who warned that they would be messy were spot on!  

mine went on grower around 6 weeks since it is lower in protein. Brewers yeast should be used till 10 weeks.

 

[Kaessa]

I switched mine to the Flock Raiser at 3 weeks, still using the brewers yeast, though.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

mine went on grower around 6 weeks since it is lower in protein. Brewers yeast should be used till 10 weeks.

So an update, I'm pretty darn sure these are Pekins or perhaps Jumbo Pekins because at almost 4 weeks they are huge! They are slowly losing their yellow baby down and turning white, although still soft and fluffy to the touch. I'm doing the math on how much it costs to raise them and a major contributor to the cost is that darn brewer's yeast. I think I have spent as much on brewer's yeast as I have on feed to this date...kinda annoying. Are there other options to getting them the proper naicin levels?

 

[needlessjunk]

So an update, I'm pretty darn sure these are Pekins or perhaps Jumbo Pekins because at almost 4 weeks they are huge!   They are slowly losing their yellow baby down and turning white, although still soft and fluffy to the touch.  I'm doing the math on how much it costs to raise them and a major contributor to the cost is that darn brewer's yeast.  I think I have spent as much on brewer's yeast as I have on feed to this date...kinda annoying.  Are there other options to getting them the proper naicin levels?

How much are you giving them? I give 1 tbsp per cup of feed and even then I just eyeball it. You could do plain, no flush, niacin tablets. It should be around 100mg per gallon of water, I believe. You dissolve it in their water.

 

[agreenaway]

Hi I get my ducks from tractor supply. They do not know anything about what they have and what they are getting. I got a pamphlet from there and the only ducks they get are khaki campbells, Mallards, Rouen, Swedish, and white pekins.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

How much are you giving them? I give 1 tbsp per cup of feed and even then I just eyeball it. You could do plain, no flush, niacin tablets. It should be around 100mg per gallon of water, I believe. You dissolve it in their water.

I started with 1 tbsp per cup of feed and then dropped it down to 6 tbsp per 8 cups of feed. If I ever raise ducklings again I found a place on the internet where I can get the brewer's yeast for something like $8 per container (I'm paying $15-$19 retail) but the shipping is around $14 or $15 so I could estimate how much I needed and buy in bulk. Don't think I'd put anything in their water since they seem to spill and waste more than they actually drink. Live and learn.