Feed nd Niacin

[NoahDJB]

Hey all!

I got ducks on Thursday..two months old. I got them some Natures Best Organic egg layer crumble...16% protein. But I am seeing that they need more Niacin. I am unsure what to feed then for Niacin or where to buy it. Also, is mixing raw quacker oats with their food good for them? Im not sure that that does.

 

[Krazyquilts]

You should not feed them Layer feed so early - it has too much calcium in it for that age. An unmedicated starter/grower would be better until they are around 16 weeks old.

As for niacin, many people use brewers yeast, not the slow-release kind. I used AniMed Brewers Yeast. I think the powdered kind is easier than the capsule form.

I get local feed and the duckling feed was a little higher in protein than what Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks (highly recommended reading and also available on Amazon) suggests so I mixed in old fashioned raw oatmeal to lower the protein content. The ducklings loved it. If the protein level of whatever feed you are giving them isn't too high, then I wouldn't bother adding oatmeal.

 

[Krazyquilts]

Also,

 

[NoahDJB]

Ive already bought the bag of natures best organic layer crumble...can I finish that bag out..or should I save it for later and go ahead and get the starter/ grower?

 

[Krazyquilts]

Do not finish off the bag of Layer - you need to switch them over to the starter/grower now. After they are 4 months old or so you can go back to the bag of Layer.