I have questions, New to ducks too!

[bmanty]

Hi Everyone, I am new to ducks too. I got 2 Rouens this year with some more baby chicks.
I am currently feeding them a duck and gosling brand starter feed. I do have some questions.

Can they go to chick feed (unmedicated) later on and when they are bigger, say 12 to 16 weeks would they be ok eating the layer feed I give my full grown chickens?
I have read things on grit, should they start having a little of that at a young age? Is this something they will absolutely need.
Don't get me wrong, I have done some research but I keep seeing all these different opinion articles, products, etc pop up that make me question things. I have raised baby chicks and full grown ones for 5 years now so I am doing some things right.

Thanks for the help and any advice!

 

[Isaac 0]

Hi Everyone, I am new to ducks too. I got 2 Rouens this year with some more baby chicks.
I am currently feeding them a duck and gosling brand starter feed. I do have some questions.

Can they go to chick feed (unmedicated) later on and when they are bigger, say 12 to 16 weeks would they be ok eating the layer feed I give my full grown chickens?
I have read things on grit, should they start having a little of that at a young age? Is this something they will absolutely need.
Don't get me wrong, I have done some research but I keep seeing all these different opinion articles, products, etc pop up that make me question things. I have raised baby chicks and full grown ones for 5 years now so I am doing some things right.

Thanks for the help and any advice!

When young ducklings should have either Duckling feed, Purina/Raiser or an All flock feed, since it has more Niacin content then normal chick feed, which is important because ducklings often suffer from B3 deficiency. You can buy a Chick starter feed, but its important to add a supplemental source of niacin to it, that could be in the form of brewers yeast, nutritional yeast, B complex or a poultry vitamin. It's preferred when they are older that they still be fed a either a All Flock or Duck feed, both of which are completely fine for your chickens, oyster shells should be provided on the side once they are of laying age too.

You can start providing grit once you start feeding them treats or when they go outside and start eating grass/dirt/bugs, to help prevent crop/intestinal blockages. Just set a small dish on the side for them.