Look for high protein feed especially in the winter. Treats..peas...worms..meal worms..but they get expensive..mine love vegetables...the inside of squash, they love seeds.like sunflower seeds...pumpkin...banana. peels...strawberries...grapes...cantaloupe...corn cob...
I always like to be careful what I recommend as folks tend to grab what they want and run with it.
Just a general statement, not pointing any fingers.
But just informational stuff here... "higher protein"... than what exactly?? It is a common misconception that "high" protein can cause Angel Wing... in fact according to the research I have done thus far... all indicators are that excess calories from ANY source... (fat, protein, or carbs) can add to the condition of Angel Wing... and is most often due to genetic predisposition somehow. Keeping things balanced regardless of season... is always a good choice. It's true that during molt slightly more protein can be beneficial as feathers are made from 90% protein and importantly its amino acids... some only found in animal products and not plants like peas. But most natural birds I have seen as well as many breeders actually reduce protein during the "off" season. And when laying or baby season starts back up... even the nectar sucking humming birds become serious fly hunters... just food for thought.
And for what it's worth... almost ALL seed are fairly high in fat content. So are meal worms...
http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm#freeze
Eggs, widely touted as a good protein source are a great source of nutrients but should be fed also as a treat or supplement as their energy (aka calories) come from 34% protein and 64% fat. All treats should be kept to a 10% maximum of daily intake in order to keep other minerals, vitamins, and nutrients at the proper level.
TSC does also offer another product with enough niacin for ducklings.. When in doubt check the label on the back and they usually give a species and age that the feed is appropriate for. Regardless of what they call it... "layer, starter, grower, flock raiser, all flock, etc.", the
main differences in any of the feeds available to us is protein and calcium content.. followed by amino acids. The companies make it confusing by giving us so many choices.
Please be aware that many of their products look the same but have very different nutrient content. This one is 24% protein and intended for game birds which have higher amino acid needs than chicken chicks. Most standard chick starter will range around 35mg/kg of niacin. This one is reported to be 55mg/kg.
Yes, I am also guilty of feeding my chickens (not ducks) game bird feed or starter sometimes... ranging between 24-30% protein... especially during molt or hatching.. but have seen recent reports of reduced fertility (or hatch rates) in chickens with "higher" protein diets... As an avid hatcher... I will be experimenting more on this subject this year.
While I think there are better game bird products than the Dumor feed (still made by Purina for
TSC), I'm glad they have at least started offering a product that will come closer to meeting the needs when they are selling turkey poults as opposed to earlier this year!
Still hopeful for pics!
ETA: my favorite bedding for ducklings was rice hulls... used by one of my LFS. And using a baking dish with a (cookie) cooling rack to set your water on top of allows for much drier bedding. Pellets are also not a bad choice though kind of costly and heavy for me. I see ya got lot's of great info and help here!
I miss the little babies...now I just have to enjoy everyone else's! I wouldn't mind hatching some, but getting any of my girls to hatch eggs is impossible...everyone in my yard is too busy for that!
