Need Help With Lowering Protein!!

[Cdacosta]

Hello,
I need to lower my pekins diet as there’s way to much protein for them and first time duck owner unsure how to or what’s the best supplements to do so??? Right now they are on poultry feed from local feed store and it’s 20% protein which is way to much for them

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Can you just get a different feed and start mixing the two until you totally switch over to the new feed with less protein?
Most recommend cutting feed with oats, but oats have protein as well. Raw oats has 11 grams of protein to 55 grams of carbs in 1 cup. So, it would cut the protein, but maybe not as much as you would like. And, it's only recommended to give them about 5% - 10%. Technically any treats you feed "cuts" the nutritional levels of the feed. Most people offer some type of treat - which is anything other than a prepared feed.
My ducks eat an all flock feed and depending on the brand the protein level is between 17% - 20%. Usually they are on the 20%. I have muscovy which is a meat bird like pekins. However, they are great foragers, so I've never had any issues or need to cut protein levels. But, I don't have pekins and I know they are prone to being over weight plus not the best foragers. It would be easier just to change feeds if needing to alter the nutrition.

 

[Banana01]

I provide corn along side their protein feed, and they also free range on grass and leaves, adding to the variety of the feed. Ducks eat at least 40% corn along side their high protein feed. They seem to love it.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

How old are your Pekins?

 

[Banana01]

How old are your Pekins?

I have muscovies that are between 3 months to a year. I have had good luck with the flock, it has grown to 20 and have not ever lost one to illness. The mother is on her third brood, nice healthy eggs and babies all grow up healthy and fast. They eat the same feed as my chickens, in fact they share the same food trays and dishes with them. Half corn, and half purina feed. I see them eat both types generously. They eat both the milled corn and the whole corn, as i provide both. Given a choice, they prefer milled.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

The best way to cut protein is to use a lower protein feed such as a flock maintainer. Cutting with anything other then feed runs you the risk of also cutting valuable nutrients and ending up with ducks that have vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Are you in the US? If so what state? Can you have feed shipped or is what at your local mill the only feed you can get your hands on? My two favorite brands for a lower protein feed are Mazuri and Kalmbach's flock maintainers both of which you can order from Chewy.com. If you decide to go with a flock maintainer make sure if you have hens that you provide free choice oyster shell on the side.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I provide corn along side their protein feed, and they also free range on grass and leaves, adding to the variety of the feed. Ducks eat at least 40% corn along side their high protein feed. They seem to love it.

That's a lot of corn. I wouldn't recommend that much even if your ducks are fine, it doesn't mean the pekins would be. They would end up little butterballs or big butterballs. Muscovies are great foragers and cover a lot of ground during the day - not so much pekins.
With that said, I throw one handful of corn to 7 ducks and 6 chickens once in awhile - especially during harvest season.

 

[JenInNev]

My question: why lower the protien? How can you tell if they are getting too much?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Before I went to NON GMO feed I fed PurinaFlock Raiser and never had any problems with Angel wing which is why many want to lower the protein content in the feed. This was from 2004 till 2016 when I started feeding the non gmo. But again I only had Muscovy and chickens at the time and all foraged on 1/2 acre and they were eating other things too, but mostly probably bugs so that would even up the protein more. I think it's still up in the air as to what exactly causes angel wing feed or genetics. This was newly hatched ducklings all the way to my old ones. That were eating Purina Flock Raiser.