Good New and Bad News- Those poor ducklings :(

[Crazy4Fowl]

They don't need grit unless you are feeding them grains or some kind of treats.

They are being fed scratch and peck starter feed. I just went and bought this grit because people say I needed it or brewers yeast, now you tell me I don't need it

 

[needlessjunk]

They are being fed scratch and peck starter feed. I just went and bought this grit because people say I needed it or brewers yeast, now you tell me I don't need it 

If they are being fed just crumble/pellets they don't need grit. If they get scratch or other treats they need grit. Brewers/nutritional yeast is also needed for the niacin if using chick starter.

ETA: scratch is a treat and should be treated as such. Just for clarification.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are being fed scratch and peck starter feed. I just went and bought this grit because people say I needed it or brewers yeast, now you tell me I don't need it

You do need it, when just starting my ducklings out I sprinkle some grit on the bottom of the brooder if using towels if using shaving then you'd need to put it in a dish or the grit will get lost down into the shaving. Please don't feed your ducklings scratch they really need their peck starter it has all the nutrients they need right now, like needlessjunk said scratch is a treat. Brewers yeast is what you sprinkle over their feed to give them them the extra Niacin they need that's not in chick starter.

 

[Amykins]

They are being fed scratch and peck starter feed. I just went and bought this grit because people say I needed it or brewers yeast, now you tell me I don't need it

If they're being fed scratch then they do need it. But ducklings really shouldn't be fed scratch. What they need is niacin! Needless and Lydia are right, if it's chicken starter they need niacin or else they won't develop normally. But if it IS starter crumble designed for ducks, then you're good.

 

[ducksinarow]

Mail trucks are not heated or air conditioned. For safe live delivery it is best to order during mild climate months-not mid winter or in the heat of the summer. It is just too risky of stress death during those times. I hope the rest of the ducklings are doing well. I now buy local craigslist ducks and ducklings for that reason.

 

[jtn42248]

If this is your first time with ducks you might, on occasion, notice that they seem to develop a swelling in their chest area just below their neck. Don't be too concerned as this is normal. Ducks do not have a "true" crop but instead have an expandable esophagus in which they can store food to be softened before it passes on to their stomachs. Wild ducks actually use this ability to store food for eating later. Read this article, it explains this a lot better than I can...

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/understanding-waterfowl-duck-digestion

 

[madamiec]

You do need it, when just starting my ducklings out I sprinkle some grit on the bottom of the brooder if using towels if using shaving then you'd need to put it in a dish or the grit will get lost down into the shaving. Please don't feed your ducklings scratch they really need their peck starter it has all the nutrients they need right now, like needlessjunk said scratch is a treat. Brewers yeast is what you sprinkle over their feed to give them them the extra Niacin they need that's not in chick starter.

Ducks DO NOT need grit if they are on a commercial chick, duck, gamebird, or meatbird starter (crumble or pellet). Scratch isn't food for any poultry, just a treat, and brewers yeast is fine because you have no idea what kind of nutrition the parent stock had.

 

[Honey Maid]

Madamiec, what if they are also getting some greens, and other things, besides crumbles? TIA
Ha! Never mind, I read some of the other posts. I better get a little bit of grit, I plan in giving them greens, and other treats.

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

Thanks for all the replies, I am still going to sprinkle some on their food since I already bought it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for all the replies, I am still going to sprinkle some on their food since I already bought it.

To keep them from over eating the grit which they can do if it's in their feed just put a small bowl in their brooder with some grit in it. How are they doing today?