Still confused...What feed should my ducks be on?

[snowydiamonds]

WARNING: Do NOT feed Medicated Starter to waterfowl. If you cannot find a Starter feed without Medication, use a Broiler/Grower feed instead...the only option for this is a dead duckling or gosling.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Glad someone put that up! I was getting nervous thinking redhen was going to feed hers medicated feed!

I feed my babies a mix of chick starter (non-medicated of course) and flock raiser. I have heard they need higher protein, and the flock raiser has that. I mix brewer's yeast in their food for the babies. They even like the dry grass, and eat it everytime they are outside

My adults get flock raiser mostly, and some cracked corn when it is really cold out. Lately, with all the rain we've been having, they are usually wandering through the horse pasture digging in the mud

Another thing I have heard is that ducks should not have seeds. So scratch grains is a no-no.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
probably because what is out there is adequate..

 

[Katy]

I raise my ducklings the way one of the most well known and respected breeders of call ducks in the US advised me to back when I first got them.

Start them out on Purina Medicated Start & Grow. Ducklings do and will get cocci too so as long as the "medication" is only amprolium they will be fine.

Give them surpervised swimming time from the beginning with a heat lamp to dry and warm up with after their swim.

Once they are grown I feed them Flockraiser with access to Oyster shell just like my chickens. Doesn't ever seem lie they take much of the shell tho.

 

[AHappychick]

Quote:
oh thank you for this info!!!

 

[MissPrissy]

I was told by a very well respected waterfowl breeder that spinach was good for them and I happen to agree. I have raised some beautiful ducks.

I am sorry but I disagree with most of the quoted list on caring for Ducklings and raising them to adulthood.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
now where did you hear that??

Not that I do not believe you, but tell me WHY seeds are bad..

do you mean seeds like corn seeds, buckwheat seeds, oat seeds,
wheat seeds, what else is in scratch grains?

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

sometimes I sprinkle flax seeds around... they (and the hens) like that.

 

[UrbanMama]

Wow...this is hard. Redhen and I are ordering the ducklings together (and I'm hatching some too) and I'm equally as confused in the food dept. And it sounds like there are several different opinions here...nothing straight across the board.

I had been planning on feeding the ducklings a 24% game bird starter that I already have for my quail. Would that be okay? I'd like to have everything prepared and planned out before they hatch/are delivered.

Also...Katy brought up swimming from the very beginning. Is this specific to call ducks or can all ducklings swim right away?

Sorry for the 20 questions. I've done sooo much reading/research, but I keep finding conflicting answers

 

[BeardedChick]

Wow, glad you asked this before my ducklings hatch. No wonder you're confused. Now I am, too.