Waterfowl starter for ducklings

[cburns407]

I have 4 duckling about 2 1/2 weeks old. 3 are Pekin, 1 is a Runner. I work at a local hardware store and am looking into ordering a water fowl starter. The only thing is that it is a 28% feed. Description states it is for all water fowl but everything I read says they should be on 18% feed/starter....

Is 28% to high?? It is a 25lb bag so it would last me awhile but I would hate to buy it if they cant have it for very long if at all. Right now I am using a started/grower that the store was using but I would like to get them on a better quality food more suited for them.

 

[Ducks4us]

From what i have read yes thats too high. Prob especially for the pekins.
I use flock raiser . As it has the added niacin. And i add nutritional yeast.
I have been told and read 18-19% protein for the first couple weeks.
Then from 3-9 weeks lower protein- 15-17% is what my duck book says. too much protein can cause leg and wing deformities and kidney and liver damage.

 

[casportpony]

I have 4 duckling about 2 1/2 weeks old. 3 are Pekin, 1 is a Runner. I work at a local hardware store and am looking into ordering a water fowl starter. The only thing is that it is a 28% feed. Description states it is for all water fowl but everything I read says they should be on 18% feed/starter....

Is 28% to high?? It is a 25lb bag so it would last me awhile but I would hate to buy it if they cant have it for very long if at all. Right now I am using a started/grower that the store was using but I would like to get them on a better quality food more suited for them.

Read this:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/NutritionalRequirements.cfm?CustID=14754169

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I have 4 duckling about 2 1/2 weeks old. 3 are Pekin, 1 is a Runner. I work at a local hardware store and am looking into ordering a water fowl starter. The only thing is that it is a 28% feed. Description states it is for all water fowl but everything I read says they should be on 18% feed/starter....

Is 28% to high?? It is a 25lb bag so it would last me awhile but I would hate to buy it if they cant have it for very long if at all. Right now I am using a started/grower that the store was using but I would like to get them on a better quality food more suited for them.

I also agree that 28% is probably too high a protein level. I feed 21% protein chick starter with brewer's yeast mixed in (fermented feed) and cut the protein level down to about 16% by mixing in rolled oats at the two week mark. The only case of angel wing I've had to date was a Muscovy drake I started on waterfowl feed (they love it - and the brand I fed smelled like cinnamon rolls)...he would really chow down on the feed and grew too fast. A week of wrapping resolved the angel wing, but it made me leery of using waterfowl feed for ducklings.

Good luck!

 

[casportpony]

FWIW, I feed 27% turkey starter to my Muscovy ducklings and haven't had any issues with it.

 

[nobueno]

Holderread's guide says no more than 18-20% and that's if raising for maximum growth. He recommends 16% to raise the healthiest birds possible. Cut with oats at 5% of volume per week til it's 3:1 chick starterats

 

[casportpony]

Holderread's guide says no more than 18-20% and that's if raising for maximum growth. He recommends 16% to raise the healthiest birds possible. Cut with oats at 5% of volume per week til it's 3:1 chick starterats

Welcome to BYC!

Here is another reference for people to look at:
https://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/7

 

[Nyla]

I've been raising and hatching ducks for about 6 years now and I always feed them Dumor Chick Starter 20%
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dumor-chick-starter-grower-20-feed-50-lb

 

[casportpony]

I've been raising and hatching ducks for about 6 years now and I always feed them Dumor Chick Starter 20% 
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dumor-chick-starter-grower-20-feed-50-lb

That will work.