Supplements for Muscovy Ducks

[Summernole]

I recently inherited 10 Muscovy Ducklings when their Mom was killed the night before they hatched. I brought in all the eggs and surrounded them with table and clamp lights. It was all I had. Then, after a doctor appointment, I returned with a heat lamp and set that up. I actually had 11 eggs but only 10 hatched. The 11th, after being candled, was not viable. I was amazed at how cleanly they hatched without an incubator. Anyway, they are now one month old and I have them on chicken starter/grower feed and give them peas which they love. They also like spinach and have lots of grass now. What else can I give them to raise them to be healthy and strong Muscovy ducks?

 

[Jpat]

Wow you should be proud of yourself! i love them

My duck had shakey legs so i knew he was low on vitamin b3 niacin. So i jave him 2 full droppers a day for 5 days and he was 100% better, Then whent down to 1 dropper a day then 1 dropper every three days

But since you have alot and their not showing signs ide just put a dropper to every 2 cups of water and make sure their drinking it!

Hopefully someone has better dosage instructions than i doo. I winged it

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Very cute. I posted in your introductory thread. Did you get a chance to look over the supplement and treat list for ducks?
Again, I will mention that spinach is not the best for ducks as it leeches the calcium from them.
Other than that, my first response is the same.
Welcome to byc!

 

[Summernole]

Wow you should be proud of yourself! i love them

My duck had shakey legs so i knew he was low on vitamin b3 niacin. So i jave him 2 full droppers a day for 5 days and he was 100% better, Then whent down to 1 dropper a day then 1 dropper every three days

But since you have alot and their not showing signs ide just put a dropper to every 2 cups of water and make sure their drinking it!

Hopefully someone has better dosage instructions than i doo. I winged it

Thank you, Jpat. I will look into getting the B3. I'm glad to hear your little one's legs are better!

 

[Summernole]

Very cute. I posted in your introductory thread. Did you get a chance to look over the supplement and treat list for ducks?
Again, I will mention that spinach is not the best for ducks as it leeches the calcium from them.
Other than that, my first response is the same.
Welcome to byc!

Very cute. I posted in your introductory thread. Did you get a chance to look over the supplement and treat list for ducks?
Again, I will mention that spinach is not the best for ducks as it leeches the calcium from them.
Other than that, my first response is the same.
Welcome to byc!

Yes, I saw your other post. Thank you. I won't give them spinach anymore. I wonder how they get niacin in the wild? They have lots of green grass to eat and I'm feeding the Purina Premium Poultry Feed Start & Grow - non medicated. They do love the peas! I'll see if I can buy a niacin supplement to add to their drinking water. Thank you, again, and I agree that Mom did all the work up until the 11th hour. I was very lucky they were so close to hatching. It is kind of ironic though because if Mom had not been killed I don't think any of these babies would still be alive with all the hawks, falcons, large softshell turtles and probably raccoons around.

 

[Summernole]

Yes, I saw your other post. Thank you. I won't give them spinach anymore. I wonder how they get niacin in the wild? They have lots of green grass to eat and I'm feeding the Purina Premium Poultry Feed Start & Grow - non medicated. They do love the peas! I'll see if I can buy a niacin supplement to add to their drinking water. Thank you, again, and I agree that Mom did all the work up until the 11th hour. I was very lucky they were so close to hatching. It is kind of ironic though because if Mom had not been killed I don't think any of these babies would still be alive with all the hawks, falcons, large softshell turtles and probably raccoons around.

By the way, I love the link about what you should and shouldn't feed the ducks! I printed it out as a handy reference.

 

[happy duck]

I there and welcome to BYC!!!! So happy you joined! About the spinach: My ducks love it. It does absorb calcium, but if you give in limited amounts and sprinkle apple cider viniger on it(or put some in their water) then it is safe. Just remember to give in small amounts!

 

[happy duck]

Also, forgot to add, here is a link about some feed and supplements for ducks.
https://thehappiestduck.wordpress.com/2018/05/09/feed-and-supplements-for-ducks/

 

[Summernole]

I there and welcome to BYC!!!! So happy you joined! About the spinach: My ducks love it. It does absorb calcium, but if you give in limited amounts and sprinkle apple cider viniger on it(or put some in their water) then it is safe. Just remember to give in small amounts!

Hi, Happy Duck. Yes, my ducklings loved the spinach too. Will only give it to them occasionally. It is hard to believe they would eat anything with apple cider vinegar in it.

 

[CayugaJana]

Ducks get niacin in the wild from mainly meat sources. Worms, tadpoles, minnows, etc.

Muscovy are a very hardy breed. And not prone to some of the health issues you see from the breeds that we humans propagated to get certain traits we wanted.

And congratulations for hatching out the eggs! What an accomplishment.