Medicated Feed and Ducklings.

[chickens really]

 

The real publication came out in the 70s I believe...Duck care has drastically changed since then...No revised version that I know of in recent years...?...


Cheers!

There has actually been a revised version of this book...I have it and it states the same as casportpony linked above. It was revised by Dave Holderread in 2001 and again in 2011, the latter being the version I have.

Thank you!

Revised or republished..?.....

 

[casportpony]

Still looking *one* credible source that explains which medications are toxic to waterfowl and why.

 

[nobueno]

I don't think it's that old. Here's the issue I have, you, and many others, keep perpetuating the myth that medicated starters are bad for waterfowl, yet not one of you can say what medications are bad, or why they are bad, nor can anyone find a properly published study that asks up your claim. People need to stop spreading misinformation.

It's not just people on this forum, Holderread says in that book, "I still recommend using nonmedicated feed when possible." However, he also understands not everyone can find nonmedicated feed in their area. So please don't make try to make it sound as if he is pro-medicated feed. He says it likely won't have negative side effects "if fed at the proper doses" and later goes on to talk about cutting store bought feed with oats because of the high amounts of protein among other things.

Will medicated feed harm your ducks? Most likely not. Is it the best thing for them? No.

 

[nobueno]

Does it really matter? Please do me a favor, try to find *one* credible source that explains which medications are toxic to waterfowl and why.

Virginia Tech extension agent and poultry specialist: "DO NOT feed medicated chicken or other poultry feeds to young waterfowl to avoid possible adverse reaction to some poultry medications." Source: https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/48441/2902-1084_pdf.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

University of Kentucky stating not to feed waterfowl medicated feed because they eat more than other poultry and could get too much medication: http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1148&context=anr_reports

 

[casportpony]

I don't think it's that old. Here's the issue I have, you, and many others, keep perpetuating the myth that medicated starters are bad for waterfowl, yet not one of you can say what medications are bad, or why they are bad, nor can anyone find a properly published study that asks up your claim. People need to stop spreading misinformation.

It's not just people on this forum, Holderread says in that book, "I still recommend using nonmedicated feed when possible." However, he also understands not everyone can find nonmedicated feed in their area. So please don't make try to make it sound as if he is pro-medicated feed. He says it likely won't have negative side effects "if fed at the proper doses" and later goes on to talk about cutting store bought feed with oats because of the high amounts of protein among other things. 

Will medicated feed harm your ducks? Most likely not. Is it the best thing for them? No.

It is many people on this and other forums, and most of them are just repeated what another personosted. I never implied that he was pro-medication, and I posted exactly what is written in his book, right? I am just tired of fear mongering and misinformation about medicated feed and waterfowl. It is not toxic, it won't kill waterfowl, and it's not gonna damage their organs. People need to stop just repeating stuff they read on forums and do some research.

I have read a few veterinary text books, and not one of them mentions any of the medications listed above as toxic to waterfowl. Additionally, in the last 10 years I have raised many hundreds of ducklings on medicated started and never had one get sick.

 

[casportpony]

Nutrient Requirements of Ducks
https://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/7

Nutrient Requirements of Geese
https://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/6

 

[buggymuffin]

Why give them medication if they don't need it? I prefer to medicate when my ducks are sick, and that is very rarely. I have found that they bounce back from illness fairly quickly 99% of the time with no medication. The only time I proactively medicate is in cases of injury.

 

[casportpony]

Why give them medication if they don't need it? I prefer to medicate when my ducks are sick, and that is very rarely. I have found that they bounce back from illness fairly quickly 99% of the time with no medication. The only time I proactively medicate is in cases of injury.

I started this thread because people keep saying medicated feed is toxic to ducklings and ducks, and that's not true.

Many stores don't sell ducking starter, they sell medicated chick starter. This thread is just to let people know that it's okay to feed medicated chick starter to ducklings. If one does choose to feed chick starter they will need to give a niacin supplement because chick starter does not have enough niacin for ducks.

Edited to fix major error.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Why give them medication if they don't need it? I prefer to medicate when my ducks are sick, and that is very rarely. I have found that they bounce back from illness fairly quickly 99% of the time with no medication. The only time I proactively medicate is in cases of injury.

I agree, no need to give medication if it isn't needed, but many countries don't even have a an option for ducks, we see this quite often in fact... so if there isn't a choice, there is no harm in feeding a medicated chick feed to ducklings... it is better than feeding them scraps which we have seen and has caused extreme nutritional deficiencies...

 

[casportpony]

And Niacin...

OMG, I can't believe I messed that up! Niacin is what I meant! I'll go correct that right now!