First Ducklings

[Jpat]

Hello everyone. Ive been using this site for a month now to gather information. And now finaly the ducks are home

Anyway i have four 16 day old Moulard males, i have them on crushed Purina Growena. Its instructions say to feed from day 15 till supper time

Do you think they are ready for the entire pellet or should i still crush them?

And ive been giving them tiny amounts of grit in there food but now iam wondering if i need too with commercial foods?

They are well taken care of but remember there live spans will be months, not years and years

Thanks everyone heres a video from a few days ago of them

 

[faylinnc]

I think that you should still stick to the crumble feed, considering they are still babies. And domestic ducks if not used for meat can actually live up to years, not only months. So yes, unless you plan on using them for meat sometime soon, they'll live for a while. I'm glad to hear they're well taken care of, and they're so adorable! Anyways, I would recommend sticking to crumble until they are about 4-6 weeks old. That's what I did for my babies. if you're confused on what to feed them, I would recommend looking up some healthy suggestions.

 

[Jpat]

Thanks for the reply, is that just for the protein? or the pellet size. And grit?

 

[faylinnc]

No problem. And I would strongly recommend sticking to the crumble just because the pellets might be too big for them, since they are still small babies. I don't think your ducks need grit, they'll be fine. Just sticking to the crumble they have now that's keeping them strong and healthy will be great for them.

 

[faylinnc]

Once they're bigger though you can switch to pellets, I switched to pellets once my ducks were about a month old.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Thanks for the reply, is that just for the protein? or the pellet size. And grit?

Grit isn't necessary with commercial feed due to how finely ground it is.

Ducklings should be getting at least 18% protein, and Metzer's (http://www.metzerfarms.com/NutritionalRequirements.cfm) recommends 22% for the first two weeks. Use the link; it's a handy chart.

EDT: And welcome to BYC!

EDT2: I recommend reading some posts/articles about plucking ducks before you begin processing. They aren't joking about the sheer number of feathers on a duck.

 

[Jpat]

Thanks so much everyone! Once i do switch to grower pellets do they need grit?

Without grit can they eat chopped vegitables? Iam highly focused on grit haha.

Thanks agakn everyone

 

[sylviethecochin]

Thanks so much everyone! Once i do switch to grower pellets do they need grit?

Without grit can they eat chopped vegitables? Iam highly focused on grit haha.

Thanks agakn everyone

Vegetables do require grit. Pellets don't. (They're processed commercial feed, just like crumble. Crumble is basically pellets that the company squished for you.)

 

[Jpat]

I

Grit isn't necessary with commercial feed due to how finely ground it is.

Ducklings should be getting at least 18% protein, and Metzer's (http://www.metzerfarms.com/NutritionalRequirements.cfm) recommends 22% for the first two weeks. Use the link; it's a handy chart.

EDT: And welcome to BYC!

EDT2: I recommend reading some posts/articles about plucking ducks before you begin processing. They aren't joking about the sheer number of feathers on a duck.

see your edits now, ive plucked wild ducks before, and pheasents, i usualy flash them in boiling water then go crazy

Sylvie thank you alot i couldnt unfocus from the grit worry i had.

Everyones so helpfull i can hardly keep up

 

[sylviethecochin]

I

see your edits now, ive plucked wild ducks before, and pheasents, i usualy flash them in boiling water then go crazy

Sorry 'bout that, then. I tend to assume new people on here are heading out to start little homesteads without too much previous experience.