Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[wannahomestead]

So i have 4 ducklings and 6 chickies I picked up on Saturday. I just realized the chick starter I have is the Dumor stuff deigned for turkey/quail/pheasant. I have like a 50lb bag that is already opened. Am I facing trouble going with this until it is used up? I'm trying to be very cautious since last time I had ducklings I ran into big time leg issues w/ 2 of them. I have 4 pekin this time around and started supplementing them w/ brewers yeast day one.

I've tried to be so careful up to this point, and just don't want a slip up of food to be the issue.

I have them on this chick starter, brewers yeast, and added electrolyte and probiotic to start (sav a chick).

Thx

 

[gladahmae]

We got the a-frame back from my MIL this weekend and I need to hose it out thoroughly and probably spray it with some bleach. I'm wondering if we should put a floor in it or if I should get a scrap piece of linoleum to just sit it on or if I can just go with a dirt floor. Not sure what would be easiest for cleaning. This weather definitely needs to warm up tho so I can evict these stinky ducks and chicks to the outdoors. Hahahahhaa.

 

[wannahomestead]

I wanted to add the nutritional specs for each

20% Chick starter
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.) 20.00%, Lysine (min.) 1.00%, Methionine (min.) .50%, Crude Fat (min.) 2.50%, Crude Fiber (max.) 4.50%, Calcium (Ca) (min.) .70%, Calcium (Ca) (max.) 1.20%, Phosphorus (P) (min.) .65%, Salt (NaCl) (min.) .25%, Salt (NaCl) (max.) .75%, Ruminant meat and bone meal free.

24% chick starter (what I have)
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.) 24.00%, Lysine (min.) 1.35%, Methionine (min.) .50%, Crude Fat (min.) 2.50%, Crude Fiber (max.) 4.50%, Calcium (Ca) (min.) 1.00%, Calcium (Ca) (max.) 1.50%, Phosphorus (P) (min.) .80%, Salt (NaCl) (min.) .25%, Salt (NaCl) (max.) .75%, Ruminant meat and bone meal free.

They seem very similar.

 

[RaZ]

I wanted to add the nutritional specs for each

20% Chick starter
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.) 20.00%, Lysine (min.) 1.00%, Methionine (min.) .50%, Crude Fat (min.) 2.50%, Crude Fiber (max.) 4.50%, Calcium (Ca) (min.) .70%, Calcium (Ca) (max.) 1.20%, Phosphorus (P) (min.) .65%, Salt (NaCl) (min.) .25%, Salt (NaCl) (max.) .75%, Ruminant meat and bone meal free.

24% chick starter (what I have)
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.) 24.00%, Lysine (min.) 1.35%, Methionine (min.) .50%, Crude Fat (min.) 2.50%, Crude Fiber (max.) 4.50%, Calcium (Ca) (min.) 1.00%, Calcium (Ca) (max.) 1.50%, Phosphorus (P) (min.) .80%, Salt (NaCl) (min.) .25%, Salt (NaCl) (max.) .75%, Ruminant meat and bone meal free.

They seem very similar.

I can't offer anything other than anecdotal experience.
I've raised baby ducks on the same chick starter (24%) from TSC They all did fine. But I also offered them (duckies and chickies) extra goodies like meal worms, cole slaw, peas, left-over noodles and worms from the garden. I did the same for a batch of Mallards that were orphaned. I also offer a couple of water founts; one with Sav-A-Chick solutions and another with just clear water.

I'm fairly certain that what I've done can not be scientifically verified, but I haven't lost a chick yet. All have thrived and matured.
All I can suggest is to give them the best feed that you can and offer a variety of "treats" if you can.

On a side note, the big hens outside have several fresh water founts and nearly all of them were seen drinking from a mud puddle today. I guess they know what they need or want better than I do.

 

[RaZ]

I've been saving feed bags to make into totes.




Apparently my hens have another idea for them.

 

[WalnutHill]

Do you have an example of the totes? I always need totes, and always have bags, and never put the two ideas together.

 

[Stacykins]

So i have 4 ducklings and 6 chickies I picked up on Saturday. I just realized the chick starter I have is the Dumor stuff deigned for turkey/quail/pheasant. I have like a 50lb bag that is already opened. Am I facing trouble going with this until it is used up? I'm trying to be very cautious since last time I had ducklings I ran into big time leg issues w/ 2 of them. I have 4 pekin this time around and started supplementing them w/ brewers yeast day one.

I've tried to be so careful up to this point, and just don't want a slip up of food to be the issue.

I have them on this chick starter, brewers yeast, and added electrolyte and probiotic to start (sav a chick).

Thx

I raise a lot of ducklings each year using the dumor 24% and then later 20% as they get old. Not a one has had a leg issue, and none have gotten supplemental niacin, either. Perhaps I am lucky, but they're sound birds.

 

[taprock]

Bad chicken mom discovered a broody yesterday hiding in our container where we keep pig feed. The eggs look at least 15+ days. I hadn't missed her because she has a twin so I assumed I was seeing them both at different times. I moved her to a grow out pen after dark. Hopefully she is still on her eggs this morning. She's only a year old and has never been broody before.

I love spring. We've had Eagles everyday. We also finally had our first vultures and Redtails. Just so they stick to the deer carcasses and don't decide to try the chicken.

 

[uchytil]

I wanted to add the nutritional specs for each

20% Chick starter
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.) 20.00%, Lysine (min.) 1.00%, Methionine (min.) .50%, Crude Fat (min.) 2.50%, Crude Fiber (max.) 4.50%, Calcium (Ca) (min.) .70%, Calcium (Ca) (max.) 1.20%, Phosphorus (P) (min.) .65%, Salt (NaCl) (min.) .25%, Salt (NaCl) (max.) .75%, Ruminant meat and bone meal free.

24% chick starter (what I have)
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.) 24.00%, Lysine (min.) 1.35%, Methionine (min.) .50%, Crude Fat (min.) 2.50%, Crude Fiber (max.) 4.50%, Calcium (Ca) (min.) 1.00%, Calcium (Ca) (max.) 1.50%, Phosphorus (P) (min.) .80%, Salt (NaCl) (min.) .25%, Salt (NaCl) (max.) .75%, Ruminant meat and bone meal free.

They seem very similar.

I wish I had time to be scientific about all this but in all the years raising ducks I just start them on chick starter (whichever brand is on sale and I don't worry about the protein level). Fresh water with no additives. After a few weeks I give them peas and chopped tomatoes as treats. They grow so fast they are on duck pellets pretty quick. Mine free range and gorge on slugs, bugs and worms. Never had a problem. One thing that I do know is a big no-no is freely giving ducks bread and crap like you see people throwing ducks in city parks. The high carb/sugar will make them more likely to be obese, get angel wing, and have major leg problems. Common sense rules and ducks are some pretty tough customers.

 

[bigmrg74]

The buffs are now 3 weeks old and have figured out that mealworms are yummy! Even had them eating right out of my hand today. Don't think I'm going to do that again without having some gloves on. Girls, Daddy needs that to make his money to buy you stuff to eat ya little velociraptors!!