Feeding new ducklings

[CountryFried]

Have 5 Khaki Campbell on order, should arrive next Friday or Saturday. Haven't raised ducks before and am a bit confused by all the info.

1. Seems Purina Flock Raiser is the most recommended food from a couple forum searches, do I need to add niacin? I've ordered a pound of brewer's yeast, but I read on Modern Farmer just now to add 5-7lbs of it to 100lbs of chick starter? Can someone please guide me about the proper amount and whether I need to add it to the Flock Raiser?

2. About how much do KCs eat per day? I'm planning to feed fermented with Sally Sunshine's method from the start, so I'll need to start it early in the week.

3. How long until I can start taking the babies outside? And when can they move to the coop? I'm thinking about moving them to the greenhouse once they outgrow the small brooder, is there any reason I shouldn't do that? (It isn't heated, just whatever the sun provides, as I don't have electricity to it.)

4. We have a big hawk problem so I'm planning to make a PVC run for them to move around the yard in with hardware cloth on the sides and bird netting on the top. How tall should it be so they have enough room to stretch and whatnot?

5. Does anyone have friendly KCs? Eventually I'm hoping to free range, depending on the hawks and the neighbor's dog, hawks being the bigger concern, as I can put them in a fence or electronet to avoid the dog issue. Anyway, once they are free ranging, I want to be able to call them in, and I'm hoping to not have to move their coop around, I just want to move ducks around to the pen or fence. (The coop is in the backyard, I'd mostly like the ducks hanging out in the front yard during the day.)

Thanks for any advice, really hoping and praying our duck adventures go better than our chickens did :-(

 

[DuckyDonna]

The only thing I can reply to because I know nothing about kc's is about the netting. Good idea! I would probably make it tall enough for you to walk or comfortably crouch down in. One of my runs is tall as me and the other isn't. Guess which one I prefer?

 

[CayugaJana]

Have 5 Khaki Campbell on order, should arrive next Friday or Saturday. Haven't raised ducks before and am a bit confused by all the info.

1. Seems Purina Flock Raiser is the most recommended food from a couple forum searches, do I need to add niacin? I've ordered a pound of brewer's yeast, but I read on Modern Farmer just now to add 5-7lbs of it to 100lbs of chick starter? Can someone please guide me about the proper amount and whether I need to add it to the Flock Raiser?

2. About how much do KCs eat per day? I'm planning to feed fermented with Sally Sunshine's method from the start, so I'll need to start it early in the week.

3. How long until I can start taking the babies outside? And when can they move to the coop? I'm thinking about moving them to the greenhouse once they outgrow the small brooder, is there any reason I shouldn't do that? (It isn't heated, just whatever the sun provides, as I don't have electricity to it.)

4. We have a big hawk problem so I'm planning to make a PVC run for them to move around the yard in with hardware cloth on the sides and bird netting on the top. How tall should it be so they have enough room to stretch and whatnot?

5. Does anyone have friendly KCs? Eventually I'm hoping to free range, depending on the hawks and the neighbor's dog, hawks being the bigger concern, as I can put them in a fence or electronet to avoid the dog issue. Anyway, once they are free ranging, I want to be able to call them in, and I'm hoping to not have to move their coop around, I just want to move ducks around to the pen or fence. (The coop is in the backyard, I'd mostly like the ducks hanging out in the front yard during the day.)

Thanks for any advice, really hoping and praying our duck adventures go better than our chickens did :-(

1) I would not go the route of adding Brewers yeast to feed. Most brewers yeast products have so little of the vitamins ducks need you are throwing money down the toilet. KCs are pretty light weight so I would buy the flock raiser and not worry about adding niacin.

2)This will really depend on how old they are and how much they free range to eat bugs in the yard. You might also get BYCers on here that are wildly against fermented feed so just take what advice you need and leave the rest. If you have a true understanding of fermented feed, you will be fine.

3)Most people advise to keep their brooder at 90F the first week and decrease it 5 degrees per week until they are room temperature. I personally find ducks are fine with less heat after the first week. I’ve put mine outside at 60F when they were about 3-4 weeks and they did fine. They need straw and a coop to huddle to keep each other warm if it gets cool. What are your temps like?

4)It’s going to have to be either pretty big for 5 ducks or move it daily for most yards not to be complete mud. But if you have a huge yard, it will help. My 5 ducks have a pen that’s about 25ft by 25ft and it’s complete mud.

5)Spend lots and lots and lots of time with them and handling them. They should be friendly enough to eat out of your hand but probably won’t let you pet them as adults.

 

[bluemerle]

Yes, ducks need added niacin. I'll let others chime in with correct dosages (I did the capsule + water method for my ducklings) but I think a tablespoon mixed in with their daily ration of feed should work. If you're seeing weakness issues or leg problems in general, up the dose.

(I have no personal experience with fermented feed, sorry!)

How soon you can take them outside depends on the weather. I assume Alabama is a typically warm state? If it's sunshine-y and warm outside, there's no problem taking them out to your greenhouse to let them run around. Just watch to make sure they're not panting (too hot) or shivering (too cold). I would not advise leaving them out overnight, however, until they're fully feathered.

 

[CountryFried]

Flock Raiser sounds great if I don’t have to add niacin! I think I have a pretty good understanding of fermenting, I do some for humans and I’ve been reading about it for poultry for several months. Today I did find a thread about botulism, that’s the first I’ve seen it mentioned, so I will do some more reading on that. The run I want to make I’m planning to make the top removable and will use clips or something to hold it down so we can step over into it to visit the ducks. We have six acres, about 3 of it is lawn, the rest woods. There’s almost always someone home so the run can be moved frequently during the day.

Our temps are mostly 70s during the day with 50s at night. We got into the 80s last week but we have some 50s coming and below freezing at night. Within a month it will likely be mostly 80s. I figured they would definitely be inside for the first four weeks for sure.

Just got The Resilient Gardener tonight so I’m reading the chapter about ducks now so I can plant their garden. I plan to grow stuff for them in addition to the semi-free ranging in the run. (These hawks circle my 46lb German Shepherd puppy regularly. Haven’t seen them around my shin-poo yet, so I’m hoping eventually the KCs will be safe to free range without cover but I’ll be keeping them under cover until they are full grown for sure.

 

[CayugaJana]

Yes your KCs should be ok with the flock raiser. If you notice their legs getting weak and shaky while they are growing then you can add a b complex for a couple weeks until they are full grown. But I honestly doubt you will have leg trouble with KCs.

If it’s in the 80’s take them outside in the sun after their first week. Then bring them back in at night. It will really cut down on the smell in your house.

 

[LilyLoo]

I have 2 khaki Campbell hens. And I would not think they would be safe free range unprotected at any age. I've been battling hawks off all winter. And the only safe way is in their pen-run area. I do stand with them for several hours on days off do duck games and yard clean up while they free range under foot helping me and that hawk circles us low and sits in the neighbors tree. Their pen is 10×10 with chicken wire 6 inches under soil. Wired up the sides and heavy duty screen across the top. Their run has heavy netting over the top. They are very spoiled and demanding while following me everywhere but not friendly as far has snuggles go. They do eat out of my hand and steal the zip lock bags with peas out of my pockets. They want me close but I am not allowed to touch them. Their rule not mine lol. I love them anyway

 

[Timothy Menezes]

This chart may help. Metzers website is a gold mine of information for all waterfowl. Also their vitamin supplement pack is only $5 and cheap insurance against niacin deficiency. Flock raiser generally has enough but why risk it. I mixed Purina Gambird / Turkey starter with chick starter for mine. Gamebird chow has a ton of Niacin but the protein was high. Nutrena meatbird also has the needed Niacin and it's 22%

http://www.metzerfarms.com/NutritionalRequirements.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=23543895

 

[CountryFried]

I have 2 khaki Campbell hens. And I would not think they would be safe free range unprotected at any age. I've been battling hawks off all winter. And the only safe way is in their pen-run area. I do stand with them for several hours on days off do duck games and yard clean up while they free range under foot helping me and that hawk circles us low and sits in the neighbors tree. Their pen is 10×10 with chicken wire 6 inches under soil. Wired up the sides and heavy duty screen across the top. Their run has heavy netting over the top. They are very spoiled and demanding while following me everywhere but not friendly as far has snuggles go. They do eat out of my hand and steal the zip lock bags with peas out of my pockets. They want me close but I am not allowed to touch them. Their rule not mine lol. I love them anyway

Thank you, that is very good to know. They will stay under cover, then! I haven't decided for certain on their coop for night, but I'm seriously thinking about putting it on a concrete pad in my yard. Planning just a simple PVC hoop coop, but with a 2x6 wood base to weight it down on the concrete so a raccoon or coyote can't lift it. (Probably 4x8 for the coop, I'm still in the deciding phase on the actual coop, don't think I want a whole tractor this go round.) Sounds like the KCs will learn to follow me to the run, then? I don't want a duck tractor/coop in my front yard for many reasons, but I do want the ducks to graze out there. I don't care if they snuggle LOL, that's what my shih poo is for! Just don't want them freaking out every time a person comes near them.

This chart may help. Metzers website is a gold mine of information for all waterfowl. Also their vitamin supplement pack is only $5 and cheap insurance against niacin deficiency. Flock raiser generally has enough but why risk it. I mixed Purina Gambird / Turkey starter with chick starter for mine. Gamebird chow has a ton of Niacin but the protein was high. Nutrena meatbird also has the needed Niacin and it's 22%

http://www.metzerfarms.com/NutritionalRequirements.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=23543895

Looks like Jeffers and TSC have something similar to the Metzer vitamins, so I'll pick some up when I pick up the food. Thanks for that chart! I've been studying over their duck breed comparison chart for weeks trying to decide and finally this afternoon I just decided I was DONE looking at breeds and to order the best layers for now. I intended to start with 15 ducks in April, but then I saw a post where someone said their 4 SAs eat 80lbs a month and I think that was the catalyst for me to just say to heck with it and order a few KCs to see how it goes! I was planning to order 5 SAs, and 10 WH or Rouen until I read that haha.

 

[CayugaJana]

Thank you, that is very good to know. They will stay under cover, then! I haven't decided for certain on their coop for night, but I'm seriously thinking about putting it on a concrete pad in my yard. Planning just a simple PVC hoop coop, but with a 2x6 wood base to weight it down on the concrete so a raccoon or coyote can't lift it. (Probably 4x8 for the coop, I'm still in the deciding phase on the actual coop, don't think I want a whole tractor this go round.) Sounds like the KCs will learn to follow me to the run, then? I don't want a duck tractor/coop in my front yard for many reasons, but I do want the ducks to graze out there. I don't care if they snuggle LOL, that's what my shih poo is for! Just don't want them freaking out every time a person comes near them.



Looks like Jeffers and TSC have something similar to the Metzer vitamins, so I'll pick some up when I pick up the food. Thanks for that chart! I've been studying over their duck breed comparison chart for weeks trying to decide and finally this afternoon I just decided I was DONE looking at breeds and to order the best layers for now. I intended to start with 15 ducks in April, but then I saw a post where someone said their 4 SAs eat 80lbs a month and I think that was the catalyst for me to just say to heck with it and order a few KCs to see how it goes! I was planning to order 5 SAs, and 10 WH or Rouen until I read that haha.

Yes that is a great choice based on your needs and interests! I think you will be happy with your choice. I absolutely love KCs as ducklings. The fluffy cocoa brown is adorable.