Feeding Drakes/Drakelets

[Beah10]

Okay, thank you! I will stick with my plan then.

 

[Quatie]

You have gotten a lot of great advice. I want to add about oyster shells that you may need to train your ducks to eat them. If they are not use to them at first, they don't always realize they can eat them. Some people add treats to the oyster shells once, or others add it the feed for a few days to get them use to it. I do have one duck who won't eat her oyster shells, but all my other girls are really good about it.

 

[Beah10]

You have gotten a lot of great advice. I want to add about oyster shells that you may need to train your ducks to eat them. If they are not use to them at first, they don't always realize they can eat them. Some people add treats to the oyster shells once, or others add it the feed for a few days to get them use to it. I do have one duck who won't eat her oyster shells, but all my other girls are really good about it.

Thank you! I will keep an eye on them. If I see they are trying it, is it safe to assume they know they can eat it and will also take how much they need?

 

[Quatie]

Thank you! I will keep an eye on them. If I see they are trying it, is it safe to assume they know they can eat it and will also take how much they need?

Yup, they will know how much to eat. They are good at regulating themselves.

 

[Beah10]

Thank you very much!

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

While you are all here .

I got some layer duck feed thinking I had 2 girls and one of them turned out to be a boy. (they are 8 weeks now so not ready for it). When the time comes can I just mix it into their food and give calcium on the side or is it too much for the boy even in small doses ?

 

[Weeg]

While you are all here .

I got some layer duck feed thinking I had 2 girls and one of them turned out to be a boy. (they are 8 weeks now so not ready for it). When the time comes can I just mix it into their food and give calcium on the side or is it too much for the boy even in small doses ?

Short term it will be perfectly fine. It only causes issues used long term, by that I mean years. You can feed them the bag if later until it’s gone without a problem.

 

[ruthhope]

Short term it will be perfectly fine. It only causes issues used long term, by that I mean years. You can feed them the bag if later until it’s gone without a problem.

@Weeg This is an issue my son needs help with. He needs organic food suitable for his laying females and his drake. He hasn't found organic flock raiser or all flock. He has only found organic layer feed that he supplements with oyster shell on the side and brewer's yeast mixed in. But he cant stop his drake eating the food without separating him from the girls. Others must have this situation. What is your advice, please?

 

[Weeg]

@Weeg This is an issue my son needs help with. He needs organic food suitable for his laying females and his drake. He hasn't found organic flock raiser or all flock. He has only found organic layer feed that he supplements with oyster shell on the side and brewer's yeast mixed in. But he cant stop his drake eating the food without separating him from the girls. Others must have this situation. What is your advice, please?

I had the same issue. I use S&P when available, and they don’t have an all flock. I just feed the starter. Starter or grower is almost the same as All Flock. I vote use a starter, and supplement with nutritional yeast and os on the side.

 

[Weeg]

I had the same issue. I use S&P when available, and they don’t have an all flock. I just feed the starter. Starter or grower is almost the same as All Flock. I vote use a starter, and supplement with nutritional yeast and os on the side.

Note, I’ve fed my whole flock starter, ducks, drakes, Roos, hens, etc. of all ages since I joined BYC. Works great and no issues.