Question about baby duck food.

[domromer]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. My ducks are arriving either today or tomorrow....The anticipation is killing me!

 

[litredhen]

ɱůşçōvý :

What percent protein does the Flock Raiser have? I'm not familiar with it. I've heard of it but have never looked into it myself.

Medicated chick starter is fine for ducks as most, if not all these days, is made with a coccidiostat like amprollium. Back in the day feeds were made with arsenic based 'medications' which is when they were dangerous for waterfowl.

I have yet to hear of ducklings being harmed by medicated chick starter and know of several different long-time breeders that use it exclusively for their calls. These are birds that are potentially worth $50, $100, $200, etc. , each. They wouldn't jeopardize their birds health by feeding a dangerous feed.

Hello, I was told that medicated feed can KIll baby ducks, I would not take that chance.​

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Hello, I was told that medicated feed can KIll baby ducks, I would not take that chance.

I've raised a lot of call ducklings on Medicated Purina Start & Grow and never had a problem with it. Ducklings can die from cocci as easily as chicks.

 

[Wifezilla]

It is 2009 and people still think you catch a cold from going outside with wet hair

I don't know if the medicated chick starter thing will ever die.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I know it's like an urban legend or something!! Everytime I see a post warning of the dangers of feeding it to ducklings I just want to throw up my hands and say "don't come whining when your ducklings are all dying of cocci"!!

 

[taras.farm]

Good posts...I'm tired of hearing it too....They are safe now and if I have many ducklings to feed I'll feed medicated to them too...

 

[MDC]

My question is do you honestly think breeders whose name & reputation depend on the quality & health of their birds are going to feed something that will kill ducklings that are worth a hundred dollars or more?!?

If you're relying on the kid working at the farm supply store who makes $7 or $8 an hour and may not have ever actually even seen a live bird to tell you what to feed your animals then you're going to end up believing a lot of misinformation and your animals may suffer for it.

 

[Katy]

ɱůşçōvý :

My question is do you honestly think breeders whose name & reputation depend on the quality & health of their birds are going to feed something that will kill ducklings that are worth a hundred dollars or more?!?

If you're relying on the kid working at the farm supply store who makes $7 or $8 an hour and may not have ever actually even seen a live bird to tell you what to feed your animals then you're going to end up believing a lot of misinformation and your animals may suffer for it.

Exactly!!!!!!​

 

[Wifezilla]

If you're relying on the kid working at the farm supply store who makes $7 or $8 an hour and may not have ever actually even seen a live bird to tell you what to feed your animals then you're going to end up believing a lot of misinformation and your animals may suffer for i

You mean like the kid at the Big R that when I asked what breed of ducklings they were getting in answered "Yellow ones"?

Surely he would not lead us all astray!!!

/sarcasm​

 

[MDC]

You mean like the kid at the Big R that when I asked what breed of ducklings they were getting in answered "Yellow ones"?

Surely he would not lead us all astray!!! gig

lol Precisely! For the most part, if these little guys didn't come in a box marked, 'ducklings - hatchery choice' and 'goslings - hatchery choice', they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Old Wives Tales are a hard thing to fight...​