Question about my Pekin

[Jjmduckdad]

I'll try using a flatter small plate and will put some on it just in the morning for them and see how it goes. Is the grit something you keep a constant supply of for them to eat? When I have kept it out they tend to keep eating it.
Last question- if they're getting Brewers yeast on their feed each time I refill it, and they're getting poultry vitamins sprinkled in their water each day, is there such thing as overloading them with the b complex? Aren't they getting the recommended amount by me supplementing with Brewers yeast? Just trying to understand why the one pekins legs aren't looking as good as the other and if I can harm the other ducks with everything? Thanks for your help!

 

[DuckyDonna]

I'll try using a flatter small plate and will put some on it just in the morning for them and see how it goes. Is the grit something you keep a constant supply of for them to eat? When I have kept it out they tend to keep eating it.
Last question- if they're getting Brewers yeast on their feed each time I refill it, and they're getting poultry vitamins sprinkled in their water each day, is there such thing as overloading them with the b complex? Aren't they getting the recommended amount by me supplementing with Brewers yeast? Just trying to understand why the one pekins legs aren't looking as good as the other and if I can harm the other ducks with everything? Thanks for your help!

No, you will not be giving them grit forever. Once they go outside and are noodling around in the dirt they will not need grit anymore. I hatch once a year in the spring/summer and my little bag of grit will probably last the rest of my life with ducks.

I think when you're putting the vitamins in the water a good portion of it is getting wasted with spills and just messy duckling antics so I wouldn't worry about them getting too much.

As far as the yeast goes, actually nutritional yeast is supposed to be better for them than Brewers yeast but giving them the brewers is still good and I can't imagine it hurting any of them. I put 2 heaping tablespoons of nutritional yeast on the top of their food every time I fill up their buckets just because it's good for them as well as it is for people too!

Pekins were bred for meat and they grow so fast just for that reason. That is why their poor legs just can't keep up with all the weight they put on. They were not meant to live a long life. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Isaac 0]

 

[Jjmduckdad]

No, you will not be giving them grit forever. Once they go outside and are noodling around in the dirt they will not need grit anymore. I hatch once a year in the spring/summer and my little bag of grit will probably last the rest of my life with ducks.

I think when you're putting the vitamins in the water a good portion of it is getting wasted with spills and just messy duckling antics so I wouldn't worry about them getting too much.

As far as the yeast goes, actually nutritional yeast is supposed to be better for them than Brewers yeast but giving them the brewers is still good and I can't imagine it hurting any of them. I put 2 heaping tablespoons of nutritional yeast on the top of their food every time I fill up their buckets just because it's good for them as well as it is for people too!

Pekins were bred for meat and they grow so fast just for that reason. That is why their poor legs just can't keep up with all the weight they put on. They were not meant to live a long life. I hope that makes sense.

Ok, so my 6 ducklings freak out when you try to seperate them. I was able to pour .5 ML on some blueberry for the Pekin with the less than desired extension in legs. The others wanted nothing to do with eating treats of they were kept seperate. I tried this for a very long time and finally just poured the remaining 2.5 MLs on a bunch of blueberry and let the rest of the group pick at it together. I think for now I'll continue to try seperating them when trying to administer the vitamin b complex, it's crazy how tight knit these guys are. I was thinking about giving the rest of the flock a small serving of their feeder and drop about 2.5MLs of the vitamin complex on it in the morning if I continue to not be able to get them to eat seperate.
Does anyone have any other thoughts about being able to break these guys up and getting them to eat treats individually, and also, what are your ideas on types of treats that would work best with the vitamin solution?

 

[CoriM]

What type of food are you giving them? I fed my ducks fermented whole grains and it was easy to add the vitamin B to their food. I also put it in their water - you can't overdose them on this, it's most important to make sure the ones that need it are getting enough. I had three pekins ducklings last year, plus three welsh. I just dosed all my ducks. I was also adding brewer's yeast to their food but it just wasn't enough for the pekins who grew so fast.

 

[DuckyDonna]

It sounds like they are at least getting it in their little systems.

 

[Jjmduckdad]

What type of food are you giving them? I fed my ducks fermented whole grains and it was easy to add the vitamin B to their food. I also put it in their water - you can't overdose them on this, it's most important to make sure the ones that need it are getting enough. I had three pekins ducklings last year, plus three welsh. I just dosed all my ducks. I was also adding brewer's yeast to their food but it just wasn't enough for the pekins who grew so fast.

They're on 18% non medicated chick starter, they get Brewers yeast with every feeding, and poultry vitamins every time I fill their 5 qt water. They get grit every day and usually a couple servings of snack, I mix it up between romaine lettuce, peas, grapes, berries and banana so far. Looking for more snack options too.

 

[CoriM]

I was just wondering if their food was something you could mix the liquid vitamin B with. Sounds like you're giving them lots of variety!

 

[Jjmduckdad]

I was just wondering if their food was something you could mix the liquid vitamin B with. Sounds like you're giving them lots of variety!

Thank you! I'll try just putting the liquid b complex right on their starter feed tomorrow and see how it goes!