More Newbie Questions: duckling legs/feed

[loofa]

Okay, so before getting ducklings I did some reading, trying to decide if I wanted to try raising ducks, found a lot of people talking about how great ducks are, did some reading about care, and then got my three lovely little khaki campbells who are now 8 days old. They came from a local person, not a professional duck breeder - just someone whose ducks made more ducks.

Now that I have them suddenly everything I'm reading about ducklings is worrisome and has me doubting what I'm doing! These critters suddenly seem much more complex than chickens. Is one of my ducks sitting down more than others? Could it have niacin deficiency? Wait, is that even the same one? They seriously all look exactly alike! I've stared at them for hours and can't tell them apart. What's this angel wing thing? Is the food that I read was good for ducks not actually good for ducks? Okay, seriously...

1. They are eating a 50/50 mixture of flock raiser crumbles and scratch and peck organic starter with nutritional yeast added in. Like, maybe two tablespoons of yeast to two cups of feed? I add water to make a mash, and they are eating it like crazy. They have had peas and lettuce treats, and will soon get to try meal worms. How does this sound?

2. They are in a kiddie pool lined with towels that I change twice a day. it is not slippy - is this surface okay for them? Won't cause splayed feet or other problems?

3. I just read about looking for swollen hocks, but I can't seem to find any pictures that would tell me how their hocks are supposed to look. Do these legs look healthy? They are all very active, and until I started reading too much I thought they just plopped down a lot because they are sleepy clumsy babies.

I have just ordered some of the B complex that is recommended in the niacin thread just in case, so that should arrive tomorrow. Figure even if all is good now, it will be good to have it on hand.

 

[Texag87]

I think you are doing fine but have one question. Are you giving them chick grit ? They need ii if they eat anything but regular food unless they have access to dirt or sand. Ducks have their own quirks but are way more fun than chickens in my opinion.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Looks like you'redoing everything right. I must ammit I'm new to ducks and don't kbow a whole lot on this but here's a slide from my pwp that has a bit about angel wing

(Anyone, feel free to correct me on anything, I''m a noob )

 

[DuckyDonna]

It would be helpful if you had your location under your avatar picture. If we know you are not in the USA we won't waste time telling you to go to Tractor Supply.

Simple to do and really helps people help you. Just go to the top right where your "BYC name" is and click. A drop-down menu will take you to “Account Details”. If you put your location there it will always be under your picture.

If you can get some Purina duck pellets that will be perfect for their whole lives. If you've got girls all you'd have to do is add some oyster shells on the side but not until they start laying.

Having them on B-complex is an excellent source of niacin and it great for them and very good to have on hand so you did good ordering that. You also might want to get some nutritional yeast. We get it from amazon. It's the "NOW" brand and fortified. 1 tablespoon to every cup of food. Also very good for them.

I put pine shavings in my kiddie pool to act as a soft cushion and then put puppy pads over them. Easy clean-up for sure!

Relax and enjoy your ducklings because they are going to grow so fast you won't believe it! You're doing a fine job with them.

 

[loofa]

Okay, thank you all for your reassurances! They are getting grit in a separate dish, yes, and I'm already putting nutritional yeast mixed into their feed. I will put my location in my profile (Oregon, USA).
Is there no organic duck feed out there? Is Purina really the only/best thing to feed ducks?

 

[Texag87]

I would not say one way or another the Purina Flock Raiser is the best but it is convenient . Most feed stores carry it and you can feed it from ducklings to old age in addition to feeding most of your other birds.