The Brooding of Allie, Casey and Latte

[Ravynscroft]

Do you know if they would have it at a grocery store?

I haven't had luck finding any in ours, but it's a small town... I know you can use the non-time release Niacin tabs from the vitamin area, but I don't remember how much... might want to ask on the duck thread for more options...

 

[Tevyes Dad]

What type of electrolytes do you use? Also, where did you get the Brewers Yeast?

I can answer the yeast, they have the same one I do, lol...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000H...imed+yeast&dpPl=1&dpID=51zvkvikg3L&ref=plSrch

RavynFallen nailed the Brewers Yeast.
For the electrolytes, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0069SGC2C

I got this one because it was available on the first brood at our feed store. This container has both electrolytes and probiotics and makes 60 gallons of water. (It has a convenient scoop for 1 gallon inside the bottle.) So it would take 20 3packs of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes + 20 3 packs of Sav-a-Chick probiotics to do the same thing... At our feed store that is 20 * $2.99 + 20 * $2.49 = $109.60 This was under $20. Also it is much more convenient to put a scoop in a gallon of water than mess with 120 packets.

The formulation is very different than Sav-a-Chick on the vitamins/electrolyte side - on the probiotics, I couldn't find what was in Sav-a-chick so I have no idea. They are recommended for the same conditions so who knows...

INGREDIENT SAVE-A-CHICK DURVET Unit
Salt 8-9 * %
Sodium 14-14.5 * %
Potassium 15 3 %
Vit A 2819 22500 IU/g
Vit D3 7048 2500 IU/g
Vit E 2 5 IU/g
Vit C 6 * mg/g
Vit B12 .0004 * mg/g
Vit K * 1.1 mg/g
Thiamine * 1 mg/g
Niacin * 25 mg/g
Riboflaven * 1.2 mg/g
Panthotenate Acid * 10 mg/g

* None or not listed...

 

[Tevyes Dad]

I haven't had luck finding any in ours, but it's a small town... I know you can use the non-time release Niacin tabs from the vitamin area, but I don't remember how much... might want to ask on the duck thread for more options...

We just got the lowest dose and cut the capsules in half and poured each half into the half gallon pitchers we used for premixing the water. That was way more than recommended but we had no bad effects (water soluble vitamin so if it isn't at a toxic level, excess passes through - it won't build up to toxic).

 

[Ravynscroft]

We just got the lowest dose and cut the capsules in half and poured each half into the half gallon pitchers we used for premixing the water.  That was way more than recommended but we had no bad effects (water soluble vitamin so if it isn't at a toxic level, excess passes through - it won't build up to toxic).

Good to know, thanks! I wasn't sure so did not want to misinform...

 

[MagpieDucks]

Well it has been nearly a week that we have had the 'lings (tomorrow around 5:30am would be dead on, but close enough). I thought I would take a special photo for perspective: One week ago: Today: An interesting item... When we clean out the brooder (it only takes about 2 minutes before it is ready for the 'lings to go back in with new towels and a single water drinker - then we get the rest of the work done with them in the brooder) we put them in a box not much bigger than this and they stay in it calmly. When I put them in this box they were scrambling to get out of it. I wonder if they thought they were going to get shipped again and maybe that wasn't a great idea as far as they were concerned...

It seems just like yesterday! They are growing so fast!! In fact, I bet that heat pad is still warm!

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Good to know, thanks! I wasn't sure so did not want to misinform...

I think we gave them 500mg / gal which is more than they need. 100mg / gal is closer. Here is an authoritative reference: http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

Edit: Doh! we had 2 "1 GALLON" pitchers, so we gave them 250mg / gal which was still too much, but not quite as bad. (I was thinking we used 2 qt pitchers but I was wrong...)

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Daily weight and role call:

Allie: 7.9oz up 23% - she didn't quite make Snow's 8oz, but she's pretty close

Latte: 5.3oz up 13%


Casey: 5.3oz up 15% - she really wants to keep up with Latte...


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Some more pics from today
============================

Yes, Latte really has a purple bill - It would be cool if it stayed that way, but I am sure it won't.


No matter how small the potato chip crumb, a duck will find it...


Today they get to play Frozen Bubble...


Casey still likes the camera...


All done playing...

 

[Debs Flock]

Wow, Allie really looks big compared to the other 2 in that pic of them sleeping!

(Please don't tell her I said that.)

Do they still play with the bandana in a box?

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Wow, Allie really looks big compared to the other 2 in that pic of them sleeping!

(Please don't tell her I said that.)

Do they still play with the bandana in a box?

She does weigh half again as much as they do....

Yes they do! It is a 4-way toy.

1. King of the box. A duckling can sit higher than all the other ducklings until they knock them off (OK, maybe pester them enough to leave.)
2. Bandana yank. Grab a fold any fold and chew or yank it great fun for 'lings of all sizes.
3. Poop free smooth mattress. They don't poop on it and they do lay on it.
4. Echoing bongo drum. Peck at the box and it makes a hollow sound.

Allie is also working on a 5th game: see where the bandana comes from - poke around in the hole the bandana comes out of and see if you can find anything.

I think they would rather have their own smart phone though...

Edit: Can anybody think of some kind of material that when it degraded would only tear off in small bits, not long strips? Something that if they did tear it off would pass through the duck harmlessly? I think even all natural hemp ropes would still be a recipe for disaster. I have been wracking my brain trying to think of something I could pass through a 3 hole brick and give to the big ducks as a similar toy. But of course they are not as closely supervised and are much smarter about ways to hurt themselves.

 

[Ravynscroft]

FEETS ON FACE!!!!!!!