Starter feed for Ducks?

[amysue2012]

I've got chick feed already and 2 ducks hatched out of the bator today. Can I feed them starter feed or does it have to be game feed? Or something else? Do I have to offer water for swimming right away?

 

[amysue2012]

Any ideas?

 

[MaineChickens]

Unless it is unmedicated chick feed, you need to get gamebird starter asap. Even if it is unmedicated chick feed, I wouldn't feed it for long. It is lower protein.

If it is medicated chick feed, it will kill your ducklings.

 

[MaineChickens]

They do not need to swim right away.

If you cant get gamebird feed today- you can boil eggs and mash up yolks for the ducklings.

I only have my ducks swim when I can supervise when they are young. They can tire easily and drown with no mom there to make them get out.

 

[amysue2012]

I think I'll just stick to the boiled eggs! I dont want to cause any harm to the little ducks. Any ideas on bread crumbs? I'm not sure if the farm store is open tomorrow (Sun) especially since its the holiday weekend. Oh Man! I really dont want to loose them!

 

[amysue2012]

I wish I would have put alittle more thought into this. I only got the eggs cause my dog went out a collected them for me. (from a marshy pond down the road) She probably thought she was doing a good thing since she always sees me collection the chicken eggs. I candled them they were still good so I put them in the bator with my chick eggs. I couldnt stand throughing them out when I saw they were good.

 

[momma's chickens]

When I got my two ducks the other day at the feed store, the gentlemen in there told me that unmedicated chick starter works great for ducks. I thought I needed some gamebird feed, I will have to get some soon.

Congratulations on your two new duckies.

 

[amysue2012]

I put in some boiled egg and they both nibbled at it a little. One seems to be doing pretty well, the other Im not sure of.

I did something everyone says not to. My dog broke open her shell, I could feel it still moving inside so... I slowly and very carefully removed the rest of the shell. For lack of better words it had part of its bottom that wasn't fully absorbed yet...I put it in the bator. (with my fingers crossed) So far so good, it seems to be doing ok just not quite as good and the one that hatched on its own. I just took them both out of the bator.

All the wild ducks around here look like Mallards but I was looking them up and saw that Dark Rouen also look alot like a Mallard. I'm in north west Ohio, any ideas on what kind they could be? They are black with blonde stripes.

 

[dacjohns]

I commend you for saving for ducks but I feel must caution others.

It is a federal offense to mess with migratory birds. This includes collecting feathers or raising/rescuing wild birds without the proper permit.

I probably would have done the same thing.

 

[amysue2012]

I really dont want to get into any trouble. At the time I thought I was doing the right thing. Oh heck I still think Im doing the right thing. Every one needs a chance.