Turkey starter for Ducklings

[Stonebriar Farm]

Well I've had a bit of a bad day at the feed stores, I just let the guy load the bags into the car and didn't translate the labels until I got home. The English is in very fine print.

So I was at the local Co-op and they recommended turkey starter for the ducks, they've been on duck pellets when I got them last week so I wanted to get the same food, I drove another 30 km to the Country Depot and was given medicated turkey starter at $5 a bag more than the local store.

It has 28% protein and 0.0125% amprolium to "aid in the prevention of coccidiosis" I was sure that one shouldn't feed medicated food to ducks - is this appropriate for ducklings aged 4 weeks? I'm not sure I can take it back - maybe I should pick up some turkey poults

Can I feed them 20% protein chick grower?

Feed stores close at noon today and they have to eat something what should I do??

Merna

 

[shelleyd2008]

I believe the amprolium is the only type of medication that baby ducks can eat, but I'm not sure. PM Katy and see what she says.

Until you find out for sure, the 20% feed will be fine, that's what I feed mine all the time.

 

[Stonebriar Farm]

Thanks Shelleyd - What's Katy's user name or is it Katy LOL

M

 

[TheBoonducks]

20% would be much better than 28%, from 2 wks on they need no more than 16% protein. You can lower it with a good amount of oats.... but I just don't think the turkey starter is any good at all. Five years ago when we got our first ducklings, the feed store (coastal) recommended gamebird starter which is almost as bad.

 

[Wifezilla]

I feed game bird feed. The protein percent is 24%. Before anyone freaks out, my ducks free range and get LOTS of greens

 

[Stonebriar Farm]

Thanks everyone - I've been going back and forth with this. Game Bird starter isn't really available here, most of the commercial producers are using turkey starter but I don't have a great feeling about it - I've been feeding chick grower and lowering the protein with scratch, greens and oats. They seem to be doing well on it but they eat like crazy. I'm planning on talking to a few small producers locally to find out what they feed. It's taking a bit of time to find the right thing for my animals.

Merna

P.S. Everyone talks about ducks being the messiest things around - oh wow I had no idea how right they were, but I just love the darned things

 

[Katy]

I've always just fed my ducklings the Purina medicated Start & Grow. The amprolium is fine for your ducklings.

I'd be a little concerned about that high (28%) of protein tho.

 

[MissippiDuckDiva]

Quote:
Thank Goodness for this post! I found a much needed answer to the question about feeding Medicated Starter to my ducklings. I have lost sleep over this!! When we bought our "littles" from the Feed Store, I asked what to feed them and pointed me to the Purina Chick Starter. That's it! They didn't ask if I wanted medicated or non...or tell me to I could give them extras like greens, veggies & boiled eggs. I guess maybe I could have asked questions, but I was so excited that they had finally gotten in ducklings and I had just gotten my new duck brooder and "MOTEL"

that morning, that I did't think to ask.

I have been worried sick that I was poisening them, since last night, when I saw somewhere online to NEVER feed ducklings medicated feed starter. Then I would see somewhere else online, that it's OK..THEN I FOUND BYC!

So now, I can rest easy knowing it is OK to feed Medicated Chick Starter to my babies...They are almost 3 weeks and seem to be doing fine, except for some skin issues and that is what I am looking for now, here on BYC.

 

[dumb_cluck]

If you can find it (I get mine at Agway), use game bird starter crumbles. It contains the niacin that the ducklings need without you trying to "accommodate" with supplements.

 

[MissippiDuckDiva]

Oh....thank you very much! I was just looking for and reading up on recommended dosages for Niacin, as an additive. I just a few minutes ago realized my "littles" need niacin! We are going to the Feed Store TODAY. They carry Mazuri Waterfowl Maintenance and I have seen the Starter as well there. Can 3 week old ducklings easily eat this? I guess I worry because I buy the maintenance for the adult ducks in the Lake where we live and they are LARGE pellets. I am sure the Starter will not be large, but wanted to ask yo, in hopes that maybe you knew the answer before we head to feed store. I am not sure how educated, on ducks, these folks are. They are great people, just not sure if they have good knowledge of what baby ducklings need. I grew up on a farm and we raised chickens, but not many ducks. I had a Pekin Duck as a pet when I was around 9, but do not remember much!

Thanks again for all of your help and for the warm welcome as well!