Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks has a section on how ducklings are (were) brooded at Holderread's.
"The trough feeder is filled to the top with 18-percent-protein waterfowl starter/grower crumbles. Chick-sized granite grit and old-fashioned oatmeal (uncooked) are lightly sprinkled on top of the crumbles."
That's what I did, though I used more oatmeal, chopped, because I could only find turkey-waterfowl crumbles, at 27% protein. So I used the oatmeal to cut the protein. But I very lightly sprinkled the chick grit on their food once a day.
In winter when it's tough to get grit outdoors, I will set a free choice bowl of grit out for the adult ducks from time to time.
"The trough feeder is filled to the top with 18-percent-protein waterfowl starter/grower crumbles. Chick-sized granite grit and old-fashioned oatmeal (uncooked) are lightly sprinkled on top of the crumbles."
That's what I did, though I used more oatmeal, chopped, because I could only find turkey-waterfowl crumbles, at 27% protein. So I used the oatmeal to cut the protein. But I very lightly sprinkled the chick grit on their food once a day.
In winter when it's tough to get grit outdoors, I will set a free choice bowl of grit out for the adult ducks from time to time.
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