Feeding new ducklings

[LilyLoo]

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.
When Lily and Loo were babies they loved peas, still do. I carry treats in my pocket. And every time I need their attention I just pull the bag out and shake it and they come running. They actually have a safe over night room in our storage room and every morning I used the peas to get them in a routine to run to their pen. And they do. So you can use meal worms or whatever treat to create your routine. They are creatures of habit. I don't know if you need a concrete floor but most definitely a strong dig proof one. It's not worth the risk. I actually wanted Cayuga's but when I walked into TSC and saw those tiny brown fuzziness well...lol


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.

 

[Gerty0630]

Speaking strictly in regard to the Niacin... I have one duck who needs added Niacin. I did not discover this until he started having lame legs and was laying down a lot. I added Brewers yeast to feed and he was better within the week. Just my personal experience with Brewers Yeast. Good luck with your new babies, ducklings are a hoot

 

[DuckyDonna]

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.

That is exactly what I thought and then I learned the horrible hard way! Full grown doesn't matter. They will swoop down, kill your duck and eat it right there iin front of your face if you don't have netting. It's not pretty!

You can buy Brewer's yeast online and add it to your chick starter. They only need it for 10 weeks.

 

[Gerty0630]

That is exactly what I thought and then I learned the horrible hard way! Full grown doesn't matter. They will swoop down, kill your duck and eat it right there iin front of your face if you don't have netting. It's not pretty!

You can buy Brewer's yeast online and add it to your chick starter. They only need it for 10 weeks.

My boy is 7 months old and still needs niacin! Has gotten lame legs without it. Most recently a couple weeks ago! Thoughts? Is this normal in your experience?

 

[CountryFried]

That is exactly what I thought and then I learned the horrible hard way! Full grown doesn't matter. They will swoop down, kill your duck and eat it right there iin front of your face if you don't have netting. It's not pretty!

You can buy Brewer's yeast online and add it to your chick starter. They only need it for 10 weeks.

You add the brewers yeast in addition to feeding Flock Raiser?

 

[CayugaJana]

My boy is 7 months old and still needs niacin! Has gotten lame legs without it. Most recently a couple weeks ago! Thoughts? Is this normal in your experience?

What breed of duck is he? Yes it can be “normal” for some breeds especially if they are heavy. If you know he has leg issues without it, I would continue to give it to him regularly. What kind of niacin and how much do you give?

 

[CayugaJana]

You add the brewers yeast in addition to feeding Flock Raiser?

If you would like to add a little extra, might I suggest nutritional yeast instead of Brewers yeast? It has a lot higher b vitamin content (niacin) than Brewers yeast. You can find it in the baking aisle at Walmart. I think @Miss Lydia and @onaharley put 1 tablespoon per cup of feed?

I keep liquid b complex (has lots of niacin) for my ducks because I have Pekins that are very prone to leg issues. I also had a cayuga that had a couple seizures and it helped with that as well.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just make sure what ever you decide to use to give the added niacin that it isn’t baking yeast.

 

[DuckyDonna]

You add the brewers yeast in addition to feeding Flock Raiser?

I added it to my chick starter when I hatched my ducklings last year. I only gave it to them until they were 10 weeks old because I read that's what you are supposed to do. From what I think I've learned while on this forum if there are leg issues B-Complex and calcium glutonate might be a good options too. Let's ask @Miss Lydia!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Usually start with the Liquid b complex that sometimes clears things up pretty good especially if the problem has already started. Sometimes calcium does need to be added if the b on its own doesn't work. You know it just is an individual thing with each duckling. Main thing is as soon as we notice weakness or shaky legs to treat ASAP not to wait.