Feeding boy and girl ducks

[lomine]

Here is the breakdown for Storey's suggestions on protein levels:
0-2 weeks 18-20%
2-7 weeks 16-18%
7-20 weeks 15-16%
Holding period when birds are not producing 12-14%
3 weeks prior to and during Laying 16%

It also states that if you want to feed waterfowl starter that has more than 16% protein you just gradually add oats till you reach the right protein levels.

So yes, you can feed the whole flock a flock raiser or starter feed. If they require different protein levels try to find a good medium. Metzer Farms has a calculator on their website that can help you figure out the ratios.

(Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks is a great book full of lots of information. I highly recommend it.)

 

[CyndiD]

Here is the breakdown for Storey's suggestions on protein levels:
0-2 weeks 18-20%
2-7 weeks 16-18%
7-20 weeks 15-16%
Holding period when birds are not producing 12-14%
3 weeks prior to and during Laying 16%

It also states that if you want to feed waterfowl starter that has more than 16% protein you just gradually add oats till you reach the right protein levels.

So yes, you can feed the whole flock a flock raiser or starter feed. If they require different protein levels try to find a good medium. Metzer Farms has a calculator on their website that can help you figure out the ratios.

(Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks is a great book full of lots of information. I highly recommend it.)

thank you lomine for your reply, i appreciate your detailed answers. i will look for "Storey's Guide"
When you and others talk about "oats" are they rolled oats, cripled oats, or whole oats? does it matter? you are not talking about the oats we buy at the market to make oatmeal cereal, are you? sorry, if i sound so dumb/ignorant. thank you

 

[Amiga]

Amiga; sorry if i wasnt clear. you mentioned in your post about feeding a "starter" crumble mixed w/oats. my Q is, can older ducks (any age) eat a "starter" feed? i thought a starter feed was only for the first few months of life?
then you replied to my post about using "flock raiser", i was using flock raiser for all my ducks when they were 2months and older, then people were saying that flock raiser was too high in protein for young ducks. so i switched to "grower finisher", and then wahen (some of) my ducks/hens started laying that is when i added the layer pellets to the grower finisher feed.
you mentioned wetting the feed, i will try this and see if they eat more of the feed, rather than it ending up in the bottom of the water dish.
thank you for your reply and for your encouragement. i appreciate you. Can you tell me what you feed your ducks?

Hi, CyndiD, my understanding is that starter crumble is for the first 2 to 3 weeks. At your ducks' ages, I don't think it's the best thing for them.

It can be tough to get input from others because there are so many ways people feed. My overall aim is to provide the best combination of a wide variety of nutrients to the ducks and that changes based on their age, whether they are laying or molting or recovering from an injury, if it's hot or cold outside.

I fee my flock (9 nearly 6 year old Runner Females, 3 Buff females about the same age, a Buff drake same age, and a one year old Black East Indie) primarily Countryside Organic layer. Yes, someone's going to say not to feed that to a drake, and I would have a few years ago agreed, but I have talked to a vet and other experienced duck people and I don't think the risk is very high for him. We also sometimes have Mazuri Breeder. I give a tiny bit of dry cat kibble - Eagle Pak, good quality - especially in winter, when molting. I provide free choice oyster shell on the side for the Buffs, as the Runners don't seem to eat it. Go figure.

In winter, I provide sprouted wheat seeds as a treat, and regularly I give thawed frozen peas for treats.

I have used oats to reduce protein when the Runners were little.

 

[Amiga]

I used rolled oats - whole oats or crinkled oats should be fine. Just don't use the instant oats that have all kinds of sugar and things in them.

 

[CyndiD]

Amiga: thanks for sharing your feeding routine. I think I am doing good with my way of feeding. I did wet their crumble & layer feed today and amazingly there was no food at the bottom of their water dish!!! YA!!! thanks for the tip. I saw your pics a few months ago and asked you about the wheat grass that you were growing, I bought some (bulk) and let it sprout and gave it to the ducks, they liked it. I will also give them some this winter for a treat. I grew lettuce in my garden this yr and still have some in the garden; I gave the ducks and chickens some today. They love lettuce. I also fed them my squash and tomatoes and peas and pickles from my garden. I still have some tomatoes left to give them. I gave them apples and peaches from our trees also this summer, i made sure there were no apple seeds. I had so many apples, that i made/canned applesauce for me and my husband and i made several jars for the ducks (no sugar of course), that i will give them this winter as a treat. I give my 2 f/w runners (my first ducks that are 1.5 yo) peas every night when they go to bed, just a small handfull each. I also cook/scramble chicken eggs and give the ducks and chickens this about 1-2 times a month. I always have oyster shell out for ducks and chickens and i too do not see the drakes eat it and only a few of the laying ducks eat it. I gave them some COB today with their crumble and layer pellets, they ate it all.
7 of my ducks have bumble foot which i have been treating for the past week. only 3 of them are still needing some TLC and they will be over it. My Q is, once they get bumblefoot, are they suscepable to always getting it again? This is one of the reasons why i was so overwhelmed, because we had snow and rain and then all the mud, and then carrying the ducks into the house, one or two at a time to soak in the tub with epson salt and medicating and bandaging and seperating the ducks to a confined space, i was overwhelmed. But all my efforts have payed off and my ducks are healing well.
I better quit yapping and let you get back to your ducks and life. Thanks for reading and being such an awesome concerned, and kind person; you are a blessing.

 

[Amiga]

Whew! Great report!

During our first year or so with the Runners, we had several cases of bumblefoot. I think Zehn got it twice, and at least half the others had it. Mostly it was in the year or so after first going outside. It can feel overwhelming to treat multiple cases, indeed.

I don't think there was one duck prone to foot problems in our flock.

Thanks for bearing with me - I have had to spend loads of time in the garden (latest I have ever planted garlic, but it's been such a mild autumn I think I will get away with it), so this is my opportunity to respond. Keep sending us those posts - sounds like things are, overall, pretty good there.

 

[CyndiD]

Amiga, i have spent way too much time trying to rply to you and trying to post some pics of my ducks that i took yesterday, but i cant seem to link my pics to this site, i see my pics in my photo album i made but i cant access them to post here, uuuggghhh.
Anyway, i too planted garlic a few weeks ago & wanted to plant more. We had snow last night, only an inch. Have u had snow yet? We r only at 3000 ft elevation but surrounded by hills mountain range so the storms hang out around the mountains and shower us.
Yes, things r settling down & bumblefoot is healing quick in most and ihavea cleaning routine down for my convenience & healthy for the quackers.
Take care, and it is àlways nice to communicate w/you!!! Maybe i willtry to send pics later.

 

[Amiga]

Amiga, i have spent way too much time trying to rply to you and trying to post some pics of my ducks that i took yesterday, but i cant seem to link my pics to this site, i see my pics in my photo album i made but i cant access them to post here, uuuggghhh.
Anyway, i too planted garlic a few weeks ago & wanted to plant more. We had snow last night, only an inch. Have u had snow yet? We r only at 3000 ft elevation but surrounded by hills mountain range so the storms hang out around the mountains and shower us.
Yes, things r settling down & bumblefoot is healing quick in most and ihavea cleaning routine down for my convenience & healthy for the quackers.
Take care, and it is àlways nice to communicate w/you!!! Maybe i willtry to send pics later.

No snow yet, we had a frost about a month ago, then it warmed up a bit. Frost again last night. Hope the technical stuff gets worked out.