What do you feed to Baby ducks?

[sandy sea]

What should I be feeding my two baby ducks? I got them on Sat. from a feed store. Is it ok for them to eat chick starter feed? I asked two different feed stores and both said that Med . Chick starter feed is what I should be feeding them. Is that correct? or What should I really be feeding them?

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

This topic has some different opinions, but heres a good start for you...


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=196817

Good Luck,
Jason

 

[froggie71]

I was told to give non-medicated game starter to ducks. Any bag of feed ok for ducks should have a picture of ducks on the bag. There are others who says that it is perfectly fine to give them medicated feed. All the ducks we've had have done well with non-medicated. Good luck with the new babies.

 

[Katy]

I raise my call ducklings on Purina medicated Start & Grow.

 

[Birdgirl]

I was told medicated chick starter would KILL ducks....I know it sounds funny but mine eat laying mesh...they are fine and Ive done it for years... I suppose non-med chick starter would be ok too...The place where you got them from "should" know. But sometimes a dog knows more then them. Good Luck

 

[Sillystunt]

NON MEDICATED chick feed!! They eat more then chicks thats what makes it dangerous. I also break up lettuce in to small pieces and smash green beans for them.

 

[Katy]

IT IS NOT TRUE THAT MEDICATED FEED WILL KILL DUCKLINGS!!!! yes, I shouted that. Ducklings can and will get coccidiosis and die from it too. I've raised lots of call ducklings on medicated feed. This is a urban legend that won't die.

 

[Calebs Acre]

Now, I have been told by Cornell University that cocci is RARE in ducks. If you look at the Long Island Duck Research Lab website, they list the most common illnesses in ducks and you will see that Cocci is not even listed there. This Lab is part of Cornell and I have a friend who works closely with them and was nice enough to hook me up with one of the duck care specialists to answer a ton of questions for me.

I feed my ducks non-medicated crumbles with a small sprinkilng of dried kelp. Treats: peas, green beans (cut up), mashed up boiled egg. When they are a couple of weeks old, I add a small amount of crushed alfalfa pellets and switch to a duck grower pellet as soon as they can eat it to get the protein down.

Actually, the medicated feed isn't exacly an urban legend because at one time, the medication used in the feed was not good for ducks, but over time, the types of medication have changed and the most prevalently used medications are fine for ducks.

Personally, I prefer not to give them medications of any kind if they don't require it.

 

[Wifezilla]

If you use french cut green beans (thawed frozen ones) you don't have to cut them up.

 

[froggie71]

Personally, I prefer not to give them medications of any kind if they don't require it.

I agree with this too!