Purina Flock Raiser vs. Dumor starter/grower for wild stock ducks?

[fowl_love]

Hello! I'm rather new to raising ducklings and in need of some opinions/advice!

For my Master's research, I'm hatching Blue-winged Teal eggs that came from wild nests and raising them in captivity to study and monitor their behavior. Right now I have 14 (8 that are in the pre-juvenile stage and 6 that hatched last weekend) and they are on Dumor Chick Starter/Grower feed. They seem to like it with no problems, but the bag is getting low and I have 13 more eggs soon to hatch. I was wondering if switching to the Purina Flock Raiser would be wise, or to stick with Dumor starter/grower and then switch to grower/finisher at 10 weeks. I know Dumor's protein decreases once I switched bags, whereas the Purina Flock Raiser would be at 20%. I am trying to monitor their migratory restlessness or any pre-migratory behavior, so perhaps more protein is better? But I was worried about a possibility of angel wing.

Any suggestions/opinions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Purina Flock Raiser would be at 20%.

Check the label before you buy.

Nutrena "Flock Raiser" used to be 20%, but the last few bags I've bought say 18%.
I don't know if Purina has changed or not

I doubt it really makes any difference though, since that's a "minimum" amount, and not absolute

Sounds like an interesting study​

 

[Speceider]

I raise wild ducks (also a wildlife biologist). I use a gamebird starter until they are class 3 ducklings. I would add niacin because it's recommended that domestics (mallard-types) need 55 mg/kg feed. At this levels, there's little possibility of overdosing on Niacin (for humans, in the g/day range).

Clint

 

[fowl_love]

Oops put this post in the wrong forum for chickens instead of ducks.

Sorry about that!

I will make sure to check the label because that is a very good point! I am looking forward to the study, but I hope the ducks are not too shy as they will have cameras and sensors on them all the time when they get to a certain age.

Clint, do you ever mix gamebird and chick starter 50/50? What type of gamebird feed do you tend to use? I was going to be purchasing Brewer's Yeast to make sure they were not niacin deficient along with giving them chopped lettuce/dandelion greens/grasses per Storey's Guide recommendation.

Thanks for the posts and advice so far!

 

[colebarnhart]

I heard that Purina makes Dumor as a store brand for TSC, so it might be the exact same thing.

 

[Speceider]

Quote:
I don't like mixing feeds because a diet is formulated for the ME content that is related to intake. If you start mixing feeds with different ME and protein contents, it is much harder to know what the bird is actually getting. You will get alot who recoomend cutting diets with oats or other grains. Here's a little table I worked up to show what happens when you start mixing without balancing. If it was my project (funds available), I'd get Mazuri and not worry about anything else. Mazuri isn't easily available here and shipping costs are high. (sorry about the spacing, an Excell table doesn't copy well here and I'm technologically challenged to make it easily readable.)

Feed kcal/kg % protein % ARG % ISOL % LEU % LYS % METH % METH + CYS % TRY % VAL MG Niacin
Recommended 2900 22 1.1 0.63 1.26 0.9 0.4 0.7 0.23 0.78 55
oatmeal 3120 16 0.9 0.55 1 0.54 0.2 0.44 0.2 0.75 13
whole oats 2550 11.4 0.79 0.52 0.89 0.5 0.18 0.4 0.16 0.68 12
wheat (hard red) 2900 14.1 0.6 0.44 0.89 0.37 0.21 0.51 0.16 0.57 48

Mixed 75:25oatmeal 2955 20.5 1.05 0.61 1.195 0.81 0.35 0.635 0.2225 0.7725 44.5
Mixed 60:40oatmeal 2988 19.6 1.02 0.598 1.156 0.756 0.32 0.596 0.218 0.768 38.2

mixed 75:25oats 2812.5 19.35 1.0225 0.6025 1.1675 0.8 0.345 0.625 0.2125 0.755 44.25
Mixed 65:35oats 2777.5 18.29 0.9915 0.5915 1.1305 0.76 0.323 0.595 0.2055 0.745 39.95
mixed 55:45oats 2742.5 17.23 0.9605 0.5805 1.0935 0.72 0.301 0.565 0.1985 0.735 35.65

mixed 75:25wheat 2900 20.025 0.975 0.5825 1.1675 0.7675 0.3525 0.6525 0.2125 0.7275 53.25


Clint

 

[fowl_love]

I heard that Purina makes Dumor as a store brand for TSC, so it might be the exact same thing.

I haven't heard that, but again, I'm new to all this so I will have to do some digging to see. You might be right!



Clint -
Unfortunately, Mazuri isn't available here and I don't think there is enough funding to afford it even though I would love to purchase that brand instead. That is a very good point you raise about mixing feed. I know there was talk of getting it mixed at a mill, but I think we decided on buying something already pre-mixed. But it does make sense that you might not be able to see what your bird is actually getting from the feed. Thanks so much for the table... I like when it is all laid out and organized like that!

 

[Cindy in PA]

There is a $5 Purina coupon in Mother Earth News this month & Dumor is listed as one of the feeds it can be used for, so like we have all been told repeatedly, Dumor is made by Purina. First time I ever saw it in print.