Questions about food in Spain

[Cincin]

Hello everyone! Greetings from Spain! I have three male ducks, about a year and a half old, and I'm wondering about changing their feed/pellets.

Since they arrived as ducklings, they've been eating Camper Starter brand pellets. But I think I should switch to something different. The thing is, Camper has 24% protein, and the other pellet I've seen from VerseleLaga has only 16%, which seems like a huge drop. What protein percentage would be ideal (approximately)?

They live freely in my garden and seem very healthy. They have their pellets all day (with nutritional yeast for one or two weeks a month), and every morning they get fresh food: peas (always) with a mixed salad with 2 or 3 of lettuce, corn, zucchini, broccoli, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, carrots, lamb's lettuce, kale, apple... almost any fresh vegetable I have on hand except tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, or onions.

They have free access to grass, slugs, ants, or whatever they can find.

I think I'm doing well, but I'm worried about making a mistake with their feed in the long run.

Here in Spain, it's difficult to find good duck pellets; they're quite mistreated and undervalued animals, unfortunately.

Any suggestions? Thanks a million in advance, and if I can, I'll upload some photos tomorrow so you can see them!

 

[casportpony]

Maybe @Shadrach can offer some advice.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Any suggestions?

The pellets you are currently feeding your drakes are for ducklings (it is in the name : "Starter") - NOT for adult ducks.
...Which is why their proteins level is so high!

In your place, I would just stop feeding your boys Starter pellets...
...and instead, I would give them : a mix of wheat and duck pellets in a feeder, and Oyster Shell Grit in another feeder.

Thanks a million in advance, and if I can, I'll upload some photos tomorrow so you can see them!

Please, do (post pictures of your drakes)!

 

[Cincin]

Hi.



The pellets you are currently feeding your drakes are for ducklings (it is in the name : "Starter") - NOT for adult ducks.
...Which is why their proteins level is so high!

In your place, I would just stop feeding your boys Starter pellets...
...and instead, I would give them : a mix of wheat and duck pellets in a feeder, and Oyster Shell Grit in another feeder.



Please, do (post pictures of your drakes)!

Thanks for your comment! Is a feed with 16% protein okay even if the percentage drops so suddenly? And for wheat, is it better whole or ground? Big hug!

 

[Shadrach]

Spain is a big place. Whereabouts in Spain are you?
With the conditions you state a feed of 16% protein should be fine.
As Papaye mentions the feed at 24% is for ducklings not adults.
Whole wheat would be my choice.
I found there was a greater range of decent quality feeds in Catalonia where I used to live than what I can find in the UK. In Northern Spain you should be able to find feed suppliers that will mix a feed for you.

 

[Jenbirdee]

They are all drakes they don’t need oyster shell it’s too much calcium and they might not even eat it anyway, it’s really for females who lay eggs.
They do need grit, but if they’re outside digging in the dirt/ mud, they’re getting it that way.
I feed soaked hard, red wheat berries as a treat to my geese, but not to my ducks.
I feed my ducks kalmbach duck and goose feed , also Mazuri Waterfowl maintenance floating pellets . For treats I give them some thawed out frozen peas, or chopped up romaine lettuce, sometimes cucumbers, or watermelon. When it’s very hot out in the summer, I will give them chunks of frozen watermelon. I also add ice cubes to their water bucket when it’s very hot out.
I don’t know if you can get those feeds where you live but if you look at them up online, you can compare the ingredients with what you can get there.
I’d love to see some pictures of them

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Is a feed with 16% protein okay even if the percentage drops so suddenly?

Yes, it is fine.

Drakes don't grow up anymore, so they really don't need more proteins than that... especially since they don't even lay eggs - contrary to duck hens...

And for wheat, is it better whole or ground?

Whole.

Just don't put MORE than 50% wheat in the mix : you have to put as much, or even more, duck pellets than wheat, since pellets are more nutritive...

And grit in another feeder, so your boys can break the wheat they eat thanks to it... and choose themselves the amount of it (Grit) they need.

They are all drakes they don’t need oyster shell it’s too much calcium and they might not even eat it anyway, it’s really for females who lay eggs.

Huh... my bad - you are right.
(Thank you for picking up on it!!)

@Cincin... :

I give Oyster Shell Grit to ALL of my ducks - boys and girls -, because it is what I have access to where I live.
But if you find Grit that is NOT made from Oyster Shell, give it to your drakes instead...

► Grit and Oyster Shell are, in fact, different things... but I really I am not sure what exactly you can find in Spain...?

In France - or where I buy it from, in any case -, it is sold as the same thing; so "Oyster Shell Grit" is what I feed to my ducks.
(But my ducks freerange during the days, so they technically do have access to actual grit too...)