Gamebird grower feed for ducks?

[zooweemama]

I have my ducks on Flock Raiser which is 20% protein. They forage all day. I do offer a little food around late afternoon for a lunch and then supper shortly before bed. At their age they are supposed to be on a grower- something with 16-18% protein if I recall. The only feeds I have access to without special ordering and paying a lot of money for is- chicken starter OR laying feed (good grief there are like 6 diff kinds of laying feed to choose from at Tractor Supply but NO feed for fowl that is not laying but lower in protein that isn't just scratch grains.

A local feed store can get a gamebird grower feed that is 17% protein. Or just keep up with the Flock Raiser can cut with oats? My ducks should start laying early September and I want their protein amounts to be adequate. I have drakes in my flock so I will be offering oyster shell for extra calcium at laying time.

I just don't know much about game bird feed. My ducks are 8 and 11 weeks old.

 

[mnferalkitty]

My ducks are on layer chicken feed 16%

 

[zooweemama]

My ducks are on layer chicken feed 16%

I have drakes in my flock. They cannot eat layer feed- it's too high in calcium.

 

[mnferalkitty]

I have drakes too. lots of them, everyone eats the 16% layer I have done this for years

 

[msf]

I was told by my local feed store that you can use gamebird starter for ducklings. Is this true, they don't have duckling starter. I'm going to have some hatchlings in the next few days.
Michael

 

[mnferalkitty]

I was told by my local feed store that you can use gamebird starter for ducklings. Is this true, they don't have duckling starter. I'm going to have some hatchlings in the next few days.
Michael

Just get broiler chick starter 23% and use that. But yes you can use gamebird starter

 

[Diamond88]

I found a poultry grower by Dumor at TSC that I've been using. I add niacin to the water, since the food is meant for chickens. Will this be okay?

 

[mnferalkitty]

Whats the protien %? I don't give my ducks extra niacin, but if my ducks start getting leg problems due from lack of niacin then they would get niacin. Giving niacin when leg problems occur from lack of niacin will cure the leg problem. I don't see a need to give it to them if there is no problem. Read the ingredients of the chicken food bacause lots of chicken feed already has niacin init.

 

[Amiga]

zooweemama, I would stick with the flock raiser and cut the protein% with oats and give vitamins occasionally. Your plan sounds good to me.

 

[zooweemama]

Thanks Amiga! That makes the most sense to me. I'll just do that. I would think for the area I live in that there would be more of a feed selection. But I guess they assume chick starter and then right to layer feed- why would anyone else want anything else?