HI all!

[m496]

Ok, now I am a bit confused:/ I've been reading Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks. It said that you can feed anywhere from 16-20% protien during laying season (that I know and completely understand). Then, I looked at the maintenance/non-laying period of tme, and it said to feed anywhere from 12-14% protein. So, how come everyone is so successful with feeding feeds from 16-18% protein during the non-laying season? Wouldn't it cause physical damage to the ducks?

Amiga, your idea is great! I may try that....this may sound ridiculous, but where would one find just plain oats like the ones you are talking about?

Thanks all!

 

[GrannyCarol]

I don't know, I just haven't really worried about feeding the higher protein when they aren't laying. As far as I know it hasn't been a big problem for me.

I do have a bag of whole oats that I sometimes stretch their feed with. I got it at a feed store/co-op, it was cheap. They will eat the whole oats, but they aren't that excited about them. When I'm really ambitious I sprout the oats in the winter and they love that.

 

[m496]

I think that my main worry would be the calcium amount. In Country feeds all flock, the calcium is 1.4%-1.9%, which according to Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, is kinda in the "danger zone" for measures. He sais that calcium should not be above 1% during non-laying season(maintenance). My question is, would mixing the oats with the All Flock not only bring down protien levels but also calcium levels? If so, I would take the All Flock for my flock.

Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

In our flock, since I give them oyster shell free choice, I haven't been too concerned about the calcium level.

 

[GrannyCarol]

You'd want to check, but I don't think oats are high in calcium. I think the grains are listed in "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks".

 

[m496]

I'm not worried about low calcium. I plan on feeding free choice egg shells for calcium during laying season. I am worried about too much calcium, and thats why I was wondering if mixing 1/3 oats into the all flock during maintenance season, if that would bring both protein and calcium levels down (which is what I want). Also, I understand how nutrition/feed is different depending on season (laying season, non-laying season, etc.) and I also understand how changing feed can cause stress, egg loss, etc. So how are you supposed to change their feed from season to season without creating a negative time for the ducks? If I had just all flock and egg shells one day, and the next no egg shells and 2/3 all flock and 1/3 oats, would that be too drastic a change??

Thank you!

 

[m496]

Or maybe I I'll do 25% oats and 75% all flock during maintenance season. How does that sound compared to 1/3 oats?
Also, how do u switch feeds without stressing the ducks? (inbetween seasons)

 

[Miss Lydia]

I feed my ducks Purina Flock Raiser all year round, I start them out as duckling on chick starter/grower, with added Brewers yeast. then when they are around 4 weeks switch to PFR, pellets, with Brewers yeast added until about 3 months. I have never had a problem feeding my ducks or chickens FR all year round. In the summer months I do add some oats to their FR, about 10% to a 50lb. bag. I think we try to complicate things when it's pretty simple actually.

 

[m496]

Thank you Miss Lydia!!!

...for those of you who use oats, are rolled or crimped better? Or, something else?

Thanks!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I buy quaker oats from sams club.