Ducks’diets

[Jrbd82]

Hello all! We had already Marvin and his harem of 5 hens. 8 weeks ago we hatched out $ ducklings. They are all together now in the pen and I’m having a feeding issue. The babies are helping themselves to the later pellets and when I try to feed separately the older ducks want the crumbles and the babies are eating the layers. I do t want my babies to be I healthy! Y’all know how stubborn the ducks can be- what do I do?
*they all free range throughout the day

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I just feed an all flock. Provide oyster shell/calcium for layers. Sprinkle nutritional yeast on feed it won't hurt any of the birds.

 

[Cheese_Quackers]

They should be fine, just make sure that they sometimes also eat the crumbles. Try mixing the crumbles with a crushed hard-boiled egg. Hope this helps.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

When my ducklings are 3-4 weeks I start reducing their protein by slowly mixing in 16% flock maintenance feed and by 7-8 weeks they are completely switched over to a maintenance feed that has the proper nutrients for ducks. Since switching to this this method I have had no angel wing, leg, or any health issues in my ducklings. I know the feed bags usually direct to continue use of a starter/grower feed up until maturity, but those high protein levels are often geared towards fast growth which is only what you want if you are raising for meat, but not what you want if you are raising for healthy thriving birds.

 

[fatty and friends]

just feed duck pellets to all the ducks and then put oyster shells on the side

 

[Jrbd82]

When my ducklings are 3-4 weeks I start reducing their protein by slowly mixing in 16% flock maintenance feed and by 7-8 weeks they are completely switched over to a maintenance feed that has the proper nutrients for ducks. Since switching to this this method I have had no angel wing, leg, or any health issues in my ducklings. I know the feed bags usually direct to continue use of a starter/grower feed up until maturity, but those high protein levels are often geared towards fast growth which is only what you want if you are raising for meat, but not what you want if you are raising for healthy thriving birds.

Very helpful! Ty!!

 

[Jrbd82]

just feed duck pellets to all the ducks and then put oyster shells on the side

I have chickens also and they share space