Feeding Ducks

[Laurelm]

Right now I feed my ducks and chickens Purina Flock Riaser but my is it okay, will they get what they need, if I switch to a high quality lay mash?

Thanks.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

I'd like to know what Duck people think about the Purina Flock Riser for Ducks, too. I'm thinking of changing to it for convenience, rather than having 3 different Chicken Feeds plus Scratch mixes at all times. Got to be easier.

I have read on here various posts over the past 2 years that many people use it for their mixed flocks and like it. Our TSC just started carrying it, so now I have a chance to try it, I will. Bought my first bag and next week will start using it.

Right now I use Chick Grower 18% or Hen food 20% for the ducks, those are my choices up until now. I like their rate of growth and have never had health problems from the Lone Star brand (Texas brand). Wasn't happy with any other national brand I had access to, though.

Maybe I should leave well enough alone, but oh, for convenience 1 bag would be better than 3.

 

[Amiga]

Greetings!

From what I have read in Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, adult ducks do better with pellets and waste less than with crumbles or mash. Do you feed them together or just use the same feed for them?

Another caution was that there may be insufficient niacin in the chicken feed. You might want to look closely at that.

Providing them with a variety of fresh snacks - vegetables and some little bit of fruit, and allowing them to forage where they can safely eat up slugs and insects helps round out their diets.

I am sure there is much more information here on the duck forum! Many of my questions were addressed in this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=284962

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Flockraiser is a good all around poultry feed and I have used it for ducks and geese with good results. HOWEVER if I remember right even they recommend a starter feed to get babies off to a good start. If you can find a feed formulated for ducks I would use that but one is hard to find in many areas of the country. Just add a calcium supplement (oyster shell is traditional) for laying birds should be offered free choice