I was told...

[chickenrunnin]

Good Morning Everyone

I recently recieved my new duck friends. They will be a year old in Novemeber and are laying consistently. I was told that I could not feed them the chickens Layer Crumble and that they needed an all purpose poultry food. I was told that the Layer crumble could not be given to the ducks or turkeys? Could anyone tell me why?
Thanks

The ducks are with my chickens in a large area, so they can forage as well. Kinda hard to seperate when it comes to feeding time.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I know many of us feed our ducks laying pellets. Laying crumble, is just another form of the same food. As long as the laying ration is not medicated, it should be fine.

 

[chickenrunnin]

Thanks for your reply. Now I did read that they cant have medicated, but actually that was a turkey that couldnt have medicated for the Cocci. But I dont feed medicated anyway so that is not a problem. Do you know why medicated is harmful to them?

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Ducks, and I think waterfowl in general, are very sensitive to certain medications. Not all medicated food, is toxic to them, you can research which ones aren't, but for me, I just stay shy of all of them. I don't feed medicated food, so I have nothing to worry about. It is also said that waterfowl are more prone to getting ill from mold in their feed, which I think is ironic since they love getting their food wet.

Feeds with certain medications are actually toxic to the ducks and act almost as a poison. Ducklings fed medicated chick starter can actually have symptoms such as trembling, shaking, nerve damage type symptoms.

Someone more educated than I in the subject will probably come along and give you the nitty gritty detail of which medications are toxic and why.

I feed all my large adult birds(ducks/chickens/geese) laying pellets and my babies(ducklings/chicks/etc) and quail chick starter.

 

[chickenrunnin]

Thanks I appreciate the info you did share with me.

 

[nettie]

pellets are better for ducks than crumbles because it's easier for them to swallow.
i've heard they can choke on crumbles easier. I switched my ducks from crumbles to pellets when they were about 5 months old and they prefer the pellets.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:

 

[chickenrunnin]

She doesnt remember, that is why I have this great group of brains to ask.

 

[KellyandKatie]

You might have to check the bag to see what % protein the chicken food is - but what jumped to my mind was angel wing
it is a condition that ducks can get with high protein high energy food
their wings twist out from the body- I have also heard about the medications, but this is the main reason my ducks do not get what the chickens get

 

[ScoobyRoo]

I know what you mean about trying to seperate for feeding. I have ducks, laying hens, geese and turkeys. I simplified by getting the Flock Raiser from Purina. I just had a thought???? Do ducks need oyester shells too? I do know that my duck eggs are HARD to crack!