Help!

[tkathleen]

OK so I have read 1,000 times to get the ducklings UNMEDICATED starter crumbles and then there I was in the feed store with 4 boys under the age of 13 getting the ducklings and trying to buy electric fencing for my dog as well and I realize I didn't even ask the guy to make sure it was unmedicated. It's Nutrena Chick Starter. Do I need to go replace it tomorrow? I know I can get unmedicated game bird starter crumbles locally. I would rather have had game bird starter anyway, although I hate to waste the money....Also, I put the smallest waterer I could find(the usual kind with the red tray) and placed it inside a cake pan to keep their straw dry and now they are trying to swim in the water collecting in the cake pan, which worries me. What should I do????

 

[journey11]

The bag should have a square of paper attached at one end (sewn in at the closure). You can tell by reading the ingredients if it's been medicated, they must list it. If you are still in doubt, it will also have a phone number for the company that makes it and you can call and ask them. I had to do that once and was suprised how quickly they took my call (this was for Dumor chick feed). I guess not too many people call them that often.

 

[tnchickenut]

well, you do need the unmedicated feed. game bird wouldn't be horrible. The unmedicated chick is a better choice... also, you NEED to swing by the wal-mart or walgreens and get niacin tablet and suppliment their water with one a day. they need niacin or they will get a defincency and have leg troubles.

about the waterer.... welcome to the world of ducks! if there is a puddle they will swim! Your solution while they are babies.... take a bottle (like a milk jug or something big and roundish) and cut a hole halfway up the side that is big enough for their heads... fill the water up to the hole... you will have to replace the water alot but that is something you are going to have to get used to with ducks. the water bottle trick keeps them from being able to swim while they are too young to get their "oil" over their feathers.


Hope this helps!

 

[artsyrobin]

i feed my ducklings game bird starter- and buy it in small bags for $4, that lasts my two about a week. As far as a waterer, i read somewhere here to get an old milk jug and cut a hole out of the side, they can dip their heads in and swish it, but not make a big mess- i'll have to get a picture if you need one- also i use old towels for bedding, making sure there are no strings they can get to- and was told they love nibbling on cabbage- keeps them entertained...

 

[vlapinta]

Nutrena chick starter is unmedicated. I just bought some for my chicks. The nutrina game bird is better for ducks because it has niacin in it. As a few have mentioned you can get niacin, or brewers yeast, and put it in their feed.

Vicki

 

[tkathleen]

Thanks! I set them up with a milk bottle etc., although I worried a bit about getting the hole the right size for their heads but not big enough they can climb in! Hopefully, I got it right.

And the food does have amprolium-DRAT!!! Double DRAT!!! You'd think that if everyone knows they shouldn't have it, people at feed stores would give you the right thing. So I will have to replace it tomorrow.

With the Niacin, what exactly am I looking for in the store? Will it be marketed for people or pets? Is it liquid or what? Thanks again! Funny, I thought I was ready and had done all my research....Grrrr...

With regard to the cabbage bit, it reminds me-when DO I start offering vegetable scraps and not just crumbles, in general?

I got my other 2 ducks all grown up, haven't been through this phase before.

Tara

 

[tkathleen]

Thanks, Vicki. Maybe if I get the game bird crumbles tomorrow, that wil handle the niacin?

 

[jsvand5]

Medicated feed is fine as well.

 

[tnchickenut]

the niacin tablets are with the vitamins.... A, B, C... E... Ginsing, Fish Oil, Niacin. lol. It is less popular. lol

It is needed. I always broke up one tablet a day (they are small) into their first water supply for the day... I had to crush the tablet with a pair of pliers. It worked and my ducks never had a problem. Now, grown, they are on flock raiser/rooster booster 50/50 combo. "rooster booster" is a local feed store's mix of corn, wheat, sunflower seeds, and a bunch of other stuff... not crushed or processed at all. I'm sure you could find something like it locally. Who knows what they call it there, though.

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Amprolium is safe for ducklings! We have had this discussion many times on this thread before. There used to be some medications used in chick starter that were dangerous for ducklings but no one has listed any that they have found. It seems that at some point the types of medications that were causing problems stopped being used. I believe Amprolium is more of a type of vaccination than a medication.