A balanced ration with free choice oyster shell (or other calcium source) on the side should be good. I toss in a little dry cat kibble.
I keep hearing about people providing cat kibble to their ducks. Anything in particular you should look for in the kibble?
Quote:Rosecomb-Ryan who shows his Muscovies, told me to buy Purina puppy chow, because it was good protien and since mine are starting into molt, I have been feeding it to them just sprinkled onto of their feed. I understand it's the protien content that you want to look for. [don't quote me though]
I use a brand recommended as very good quality by my vet, and when I looked at the ingredients, I saw it has three sources of vitamin D, which is good for helping calcium absorption. Aside from that, I'm following Storey's Guide's recommendation that cat kibble can be a good supplement.
For my breeders I add a little fish-meal. Adding just one pound of fish-meal per 50 pound bag of feed will increase protein percent from 16.2% to 17% (assuming 60% protein in the fish-meal) Also, it adds another source of vitamins, minerals, and micro-nutrients. Be carefull though, I've heard that adding too much can make the eggs taste "fishy". Also, always keep a source of calcium handy. Free-ranging is wonderful too, if you have the room for it. They will pick up a lot of extras, especially protein and calcium from bugs and snails.
Mine like our expensive dog food made with fish meal. I also like to buy big bags of floating catfish pellets for them. I toss a small handful in their pools. It doesn't disintegrate like the duck food when wet and they like to eat it out of the water. It has fish meal and porcine products and is 32% protein.
