Organic duck starter, help, can't find it anywhere

[dehave]

I have called every feed store in town looking for organic game bird starter. I can only find organic poultry starter. Several manufacturers claim their poultry starter is fine for ducklings, but I was under the impression that they need slightly higher protein and more niacin. I would really like to feed them organic feed. Any resources? Thanks.

 

[SueNH]

non medicated turkey maybe?

 

[raindrop]

Storey's Guide tells you how to add brewer's yeast to chick starter to increase the niacin content. The protein level is fine.

 

[greyfields]

Go with a normal chick starter and supplement with brewer's yeast as stated... HOWEVER, there is a ton of protein in brewer's yeast, so I worry if you go too far overboard you could cause angel wing. So, I would also recommend stretching your chick starter with maybe 1/8 cracked corn and brewer's yeast.

It's very hard to find waterfowl food...a nd organic may not even exist. But, I'm proud of what yo'ure trying to do.

 

[MissPrissy]

Organic waterfowl feed is a hard one to come by for most of us. Plain waterfowl feed in general is hard to come by in these parts, too.

Blue Seal makes a starter for chicks, ducks, goslings and turkeys. It is all I could find and I bought it because I couldn't get anything else. My ducks are also eating yogurt daily and a chop/puree of spinach and lettuces. They are doing well.

I switched my geese over to purina flock raiser at 10 weeks and they doing very well on pasture.

 

[SueNH]

I'm stretching back 40+ years now but I clearly remember my father putting a few drops of cod liver oil on the baby goose food. I remember him saying it stopped leg and wing problems but beyond that I can't remember. I was just too young. I do remember buying regular chick starter for them. My father made me go to the counter and do the transaction myself. He did say my grandmother did it too.

Doesn't sound like it would hurt

 

[moenmitz]

I got organic Duck starter from murray Mcmurray-you can order it on their website, but it is pricey, and shipping is high. I live only a half hour from them, so I drive to pick it up, and that cuts down on the cost. Still about $30 for a 50 pound bag though.

 

[dehave]

Thanks for all your replies. I have a call into Blue Seal about a local distributor, but haven't heard back. I will try the organic chick starter with the brewer's yeast. It is 20% protein. Is that about right?

 

[professor-yellow]

Mazuri had a line of feed for watrefowl, but I am certain it is not organic.

I fed my ducklings Honor feed, "Duck Goose Chick Starter/Grower". For the meat Pekins I started them on turkey grower at 22%, until butcher 8 weeks later.

For layers i swithed them out of turkey grower at 16 weeks and put them on l;ayer pellets, where they are to this day.

As fr as organics, you may have to go with a chick starter and supplement with hard boiled eggs mashed up if you are concerned with protien.

You can also go to www.metzerfarms.com for nutritional needs for ducks. A very helpful website, dedicated to waterfowl. They also have excellent ducklings.