Soo.. what, exactly, is the ideal duckling food?

[Dwen]

5. Supply the birds with fresh feed that has been formulated specifically for young poultry. In the order of preference, we recommend starting hatchlings on one of these feeds: duck starter or broiler starter (we highly recommend Purina's Flock Raiser ration when a duck/goose starter is unavailable). By themselves, chick starter is low in niacin, and turkey and gamebird starters are excessively high in protein (forcing young waterfowl to grow too fast). However, using a mix of 1 part chick starter and 1 part turkey of gamebird starter normally makes a good ration for baby waterfowl. Use only fresh feed and NEVER give laying rations to young waterfowl. In our experience, so-called "all purpose" or "triple duty" feeds normally are unsatisfactory if used as the sole ration for waterfowl during the first 8 weeks. We highly recommend the additional information on feeding and nutrition covered in Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, The Book of Geese and Wing Disorders in Waterfowl.

This was with some information I got with my order conformation from Holderreads.

 

[Tahai]

That seems easier. I thought Tahai's post was talking about only offering feed 2x/day. Hey, is nutritional yeast okay instead of brewers? I have that already. Save me a trip if they can get their niacin that way. I got nervous earlier when I watched them try to walk on the hard wood and 2 could barely stand (rouens) the 1 i hatched seemed okay. They seem to do fine in their brooder on pine shavings and in the water they look like they have motors on their butts

Hi lilstar,

I was talking about feeding twice daily. On page 178 of Storey's guide, Mr. Holderread has a chart that says "free choice 5 minutes, twice daily" for all breeds except "green" ducks (which are meat birds, doomed to a short life), from ages 2-7 weeks. On page 173, Mr. Holderread does say that his ducklings are given access from the brooder to the grassy yard as soon as the weather permits, with the brooder lights left on for them to warm up at need. This would indicate the ducklings supplement their twice daily feed with foraging. He also says the the quantity of feed needed by ducklings is influenced by several factors, such as quality of feed, availability of natural food sources, and the climate.

In the paragraph above the chart, Mr. Holderread states that they should be limited, after 2 weeks, to 2-3 free-feedings a day, of 5-10 minute duration. He says that at 4 weeks, if the ducklings have access to succulent pasture, feedings can even be cut down to one meal.

It is my understanding that limiting their feed slows down their growth, which allows them to develop into more physically sound birds.

Meat birds are a different story, and are free-fed high protein food up until slaughter at 7 weeks.

Hope this helps somewhat.

Tahai

 

[ambrose]

What does "free choice" mean? i was wondering that when i read the book. If only one feed is offered what is the choice to be made by the duck?

 

[lilstar]

I was assuming free choice meant it was available 24/7 whenever they felt like eating?

 

[Lute]

Free Choice is any mix of feed they will eat at any given time.

Holderread may be the expert on poultry but I tried his method and it made for some rather unhappy ducklings. I'd rather they be allowed to eat as they warrant. They will not eat themselves silly.

 

[Tahai]

Free Choice means that the quantity of food is unlimited for the time they are being allowed access. So you would fill a feed dish, and if they emptied it in 3 minutes, you would add more, and keep adding more as needed, until they came to the end of their 5 or 10 minute meal time, when you would remove the food from the brooder until the next feeding.

This is the opposite of 'rationed' feeding, where a measured amount is given, and when they run out, they run out.