FOUND BABY DUCK

[Duck Keeper]

Quote:
Or how about Ranger?

Angel wing is more an issue of a lack of greens and too many carbohydrates (in my opinion) than too much protein.

Think about it. What do young wild waterfowl eat? Bugs, weeds and fish. They do NOT eat corn wheat and soy. Their natural diet is high in protein with lots of greens and low in sugars. Angel wing is very prevalent in duck populations where people are feeding ducks in park ponds. People are not feeding these ducks protein. They are giving them bread, pretzels, crackers and other carby garbage.

I feed my ducks game bird feed and they also get greens in their water bowl every morning as well as forage time in the yard each day.

That makes sense, but until there's some scientific research (yeah right. Like that'll ever happen), I'll stick to my "high protein is bad" thing.

I think people say that because some ducks can't go out and forage and get greens, so the higher protein isn't good because it can't even out with their foliage intake. My ducks were free ranging (with my goose) and the goose still got a touch of angel wing. Switched to food with lower protein and within three days it was gone.

But like I said, your theory (and they're all theories until someone takes the initiative to do a study) does make sense.

I think they coincide with one another even.
Since with no greens and higher protein levels they're more likely to form angel wing (broad statement)...

Feels like I need to do a study now.

But I couldn't bear to do that to my duckies! Lol

Hmm, I wonder how anybody would go about doing a study like that.



Edit:
And even if the "wild" ducks are in plentiful vegetation, if they're being fed sugary bread and other things, they'll look for any excuse to NOT eat their vegetables! I'm thinking that's why even 'free-ranging' "wild" populations tend to get angel wing if humans feed them...

You know, we don't feed the bears because they'll get tamer and tamer and start rummaging through human food and garbage, but we can feed wild ducks with no laws against that?!
Sheesh. The numbers get so high that disease is prevalent, and the bread decomposes in their water and such. Makes a horrible environment. THEN the worst part is, when the people stop feeding them, they don't know what to do and they all die off.

If only people knew enough not to mess with nature, we could HAVE ducks on our public ponds! With no problems if they weren't fed.

I mean, if you have to feed them, feed them grass! They love eating grass thrown into the water.

 

[Badhbh]

Call him Moses

 

[Wifezilla]

Feels like I need to do a study now. sad
But I couldn't bear to do that to my duckies! Lol

Exactly! I would feel so bad intentionally trying to induce angel wing...even for science.

I mean, if you have to feed them, feed them grass! They love eating grass thrown into the water.

Or dandelions....or peas....my babies love peas

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Dunno but this is the care sheet that Holderread Farms attached to my shipping date email for my ducklings....


A Dozen Suggestions for Starting Your Ducklings and Goslings

l. Expect your hatchlings to arrive 12-36 hours after shipment. Notify your post office of the expected shipment of day-olds, and ask to be called upon their arrival. It's advisable to pick up your birds at the post office.

2. Upon the birds' arrival, be sure to keep them warm until they are placed in the brooding area. Open the shipping box only in a warm environment. Check the underside of the box lid for order content information.

3. As you take the birds from the box and place them in the pre-warmed brooding area, immediately dip each of their bills in the waterer to make sure that they drink promptly. Initially give lukewarm water with 1 tsp. honey or corn syrup per quart and chopped greens (described in #6). Do not give feed for as least an hour after giving birds water and greens. Thereafter, we recommend adding a water-soluble vitamin mix formulated for baby poultry to the water for the first 5 to 7 days. Because waterfowl drink more than twice as much water as chickens, use vitamin mixes at 1/2 the recommended rate for baby chicks. Never use REN-O SAL on ducks and geese.

4. ONLY use waterers that the birds can drink from easily BUT WHICH THEY CANNOT GET INTO AND GET SOAKED!

5. Supply the birds with fresh feed that has been formulated specifically for young poultry. In the order of preference, we recommend starting hatchlings on one of these feeds: duck starter or broiler starter (we highly recommend Purina's Flock Raiser ration when a duck/goose starter is unavailable). By themselves, chick starter is low in niacin, and turkey and gamebird starters are excessively high in protein (forcing young waterfowl to grow too fast). However, using a mix of 1 part chick starter and 1 part turkey of gamebird starter normally makes a good ration for baby waterfowl. Use only fresh feed and NEVER give laying rations to young waterfowl. In our experience, so-called "all purpose" or "triple duty" feeds normally are unsatisfactory if used as the sole ration for waterfowl during the first 8 weeks. We highly recommend the additional information on feeding and nutrition covered in Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, The Book of Geese and Wing Disorders in Waterfowl.


6. Green feed (lettuce, spinach, tender young grass, etc.) chopped to 1/4-inch lengths and sprinkled in the water and on the feed helps get goslings as well as ducklings to eat quickly, and off to a fast start.

7. The correct brooding temperature is 90-92o F the first 3 days and 85-90o F for days 4 to7. Thereafter, drop the brooding temperature approximately 5o F per week. Birds must always be able to get away from the heat source to avoid the damaging effects of overheating.

8. Allow a minimum of 1/2 square foot of floor space for each duckling the first week, 1 square foot the second week, and 2 square feet to 4 weeks of age. Double these figures for goslings.

9. Do not start waterfowl on smooth floors (such as newspaper) which can cause spraddled legs. Wire mesh floor is ideal. If bedding is used, cover it with burlap or coarse cloth for the first day to prevent the birds from eating the litter while they learn what feed is.

10. Make sure the brooding area is draft-free and provides protection from predators, including rats, cats and dogs.

11. After arriving at their new home, your baby waterfowl need warmth, drinking water, fresh food and rest. Check on them regularly to make sure they are comfortable, but avoid handling them the first several days.

12. And most of all, enjoy your new charges. Ducklings and goslings are exceptionally hardy and fast growing, and watching their adolescent antics is entertaining. Happy duck and goose raising!




So, that is what I am doing for mine. I figure I am getting the ducks from him, he raises them so I am following his instructions. As I do not know otherwise.

 

[horselover58]

Hey I like that name Ranger! I think I'll keep that.

 

[Wifezilla]

Way cool