"Farm and Feed" stores

[Baralak]

You know, I walked into my locally owned farm and feed store today to get a bag of starter.. I noticed they had some brooders setup, and I said to my self Great.. more ducks and chicks. So I went over to look and of course they had 1 tub full of Welsh Harlequins and Rouens. (of course they thought they were mallards. I had to get the owner to look at his ideal order then they found out what they really had, they tought the WH were Pekins) Their brooder was pine shavings watterloged... Food was mush, and had that wonderful duckie poo mixed with water, and pine shaving, and chick starter smell... mmmm... I had to practice self control not to rescue any of them, being that I have a bator FULL of duck eggs right now.

I get my ticket and head to the loading dock, and they pick up a bag of Medicated Start and Grow. I put the breaks on that and tell them I must have gotten the wrong thing so I go back to the counter and tell them that I need non medicated starter, or game bird mix. They don't have either. I then asked for just some grower, never heard of it. I asked them what they are feeding their ducklings, and of course... medicated chick starter. Sigh.. I just got my money back and left. Poor little duckies.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Purina medicated start & grow is fine for your ducklings.....it's what I raise my call ducklings on.

 

[Wifezilla]

The OLD formula of medicated chick starter was deadly for ducklings. The NEW formula will not kill your ducks. If the medication is Ampro-something or other they will be fine.

 

[Back on the Farm]

That's sad, because my local farm and feed store is wonderful. You can customize your duck/chick food and order by the pound. You can even pre-order your chicks, they have detailed (very detailed) information, including pictures about each breed of chick that they sell. Their brooders are clean and dry - even the ducks. I think they clean them all the time. When you buy they will go over the information with you - even if you've bought from them before. If you get ducks - they say multiple times - no medicated chick starter. The staff is knowledgeable about the chicks and ducks. Makes you feel good when you buy from them.

 

[Frizzy Chicks]

My store is great as well. Very helpful, and they "know their stuff". However, we also have one of those stores not far awayl. Just walking in you can tell you dont want to go back. The staff is just standing around gossiping between themselves and nothing getting done. The store looks dirty and not really stocked, etc. Its always a shame to see the animals have to suffer from a persons mistakes.

 

[Kerath]

Just this morning I called my local feed store to see if they are going to get in any duckings this year....

Me: Hi, do you gave have any ducklings right now.
Feed store clerk: Yeah, we got some in there.
Me: What kind are they?
FSC: I donno....they kinda look like mallards.
Me: Are they sexed?
FSC: Uhhh, I don't think so. I got them in there with a bunch of other ducks.

OK.....

Here's hoping the batch I have in the brooder comes thru with some decent numbers. NOT going to be buying from those guys.

 

[bettynoodlees]

I went to pick up some starter for my chicks and ducks yesterday, went to the local co-op and asked for non-medicated feed...The woman actually rolled her eyes at me. Regardless of its safety for the ducks, I just feel better with a more natural alternative... so we drove about 30 miles out of our way to go to Rural King.

also I read that if your chicks have been vaccinated the antibiotics counteract each other...or something like that... I will just stick to putting the least amount of crap possible in there

 

[Miss Lydia]

My ducks have been stealing the medicated starter grower out of the feeder that I have out for my chicks, I don't know how they manage to get their large bills into it but they do, so far they are fine. I also read that the meds they use now is not dangerous to ducks.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Depends what they were vaccinated for. If they were vaccinated for coccidiosis then yes I think they counteract each other, but if they were vaccinated for mareks the amprolium doesn't do any harm to them.