feed and duckling questions

[kidsnchicks]

We just got a dozen chicks and 2 ducklings, can they both eat the same feed and be kept together or are we going to have to keep them seperate? Ive been told the ducklings will make a bigger mess,but needing more info! The ducklings have the feed that they were useing at the store, and the chicks have some that they were useing for them, I need to buy a bag and wanted to get better info. Thanks

 

[Scott]

Yes, they can eat the same starter feed and can be kept together. The ducklings will grow faster than the ducklings, but if raised together they should get along fine.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

They can both eat the chick starter but the ducks WILL make a huge mess of the brooder if they aren't seperated. They get water everywhere and require MUCH more cleanup. Rather than having to clean a big brooder more often I seperated mine into a smaller brooder away from the chicks.

 

[Yessur Ebob]

ducks and chicks can share a pen, but ducks are very sloppy with their water so you will have to change the litter quite regularly. They can eat the same feed as long as its not medicated.


DO NOT USE MEDICATED FEED FOR DUCKLINGS.

I don't know what it does to them but everyone i hear says the don't feed ducks medicated feed.

If I'm wrong someone please set me straight, but until someone who knows what they're talking about says differently, please don't feed your ducks feed with any medicine in it.

 

[kelseygirl707]

Quote:
I have always used medicated for my ducklings and Chicks, if the only active ingredient in it is Amprolium, it's fine. My feed store owner told me that medicated chick starter used to contain something that in large amounts is bad for ducklings, but it's no longer used.

 

[bigdawg]

as long as it has amprolium only you duckies will be fine. i have seven that are going on 3 months old abd i have fed them chicks starter from day one. i had my ducks and chicks together for 10 days then the ducks went to there own big pen, sink or swim. they make a HUGE mess. they like to be wet. chicks dont. at 3 weeks i turned the heat lamp off. they didnt sleep under it. good luck. they are messy.

 

[Amiga]

Sometimes ducklings can suffer niacin deficiency from eating only chick starter. That is a serious condition that can be avoided by using brewer's yeast or niacin tablets or making bugs available for them to eat.

 

[kidsnchicks]

Gee thanks,lol, I think I am glad we started with only 2 ducklings! I will read the feed sack to be sure, I think they were feeding the ducklings the same as the chicks at the store but I wanted to be sure before I did so. Everyone seems to be getting along fine so hopefully they continue to do so. We have a very shallow little pan at one end of their brooder area and the ducklings have been playing a bit lol.

There will be bugs galore soon! We have a little pen that we can put them in for short bits of time when it gets a little warmer, then they can play in the grass and find all the bugs they want. The coop and big pen will be finished shortly.