What do you feed your ducks?

[HollowOfWisps]

I don't know any recipes, but from my research the ideal amount is 16-20%. Bear in mind, laying females could benefit from a slightly higher protein. For boys, perhaps a lower amount would be okay, but I have girls so I use 19% protein

If they aren't getting enough, you'll usually see signs they're craving it, such as feather eating

This has been my experience as well with laying hens. Mine not only laid better, but their molts when more smoothly and their feathers just looked so much better when I upped their protein. I also noticed that with hatching I had seemingly healthier ducklings and less hatching issues.

 

[laboroflove]

I don't know any recipes, but from my research the ideal amount is 16-20%. Bear in mind, laying females could benefit from a slightly higher protein. For boys, perhaps a lower amount would be okay, but I have girls so I use 19% protein

If they aren't getting enough, you'll usually see signs they're craving it, such as feather eating

That’s what I’m worried about, not giving enough protein. I have two mature ducks who are used to free roaming, and getting extra protein that way, that will soon be confined. I have some juveniles that have known nothing but confinement with duck feed, and more ducklings and goslings coming.

I just want to do what’s best for them. High protein feed and free roaming is all we have done for 12 years and it has worked until predators recently. Now they must be confined most of the time.

I would love if I can simplify feed with feeding my chickens and ducks the same thing too. The local feed mill has a game bird started but it’s 26% protein. That’s too much.

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

What should the protein in duck feed be? I always thought 20% but when talking to a local mill today they said someone who shows ducks and geese made a waterfowl recipe that they now make and sell. She said it works great for her birds. They said it is only 14-16% (I can’t remember which since we talked about so many). I would like to switch to a cheaper feed since I’m no longer working but I don’t want to skimp out of what my ducks need. Would chick starter be ok with yeast added to it for the niacin?

Does anyone have any homemade duck feed recipes they’d like to share?

I started using Kalmbach 20% Flock Maker and fermented homemade feed that is around 18%. I can give you the recipe if you'd like, though I don't think it would be cheaper. It's about $35/50 lbs for me but will vary depending on your ingredient cost.

This has been my experience as well with laying hens. Mine not only laid better, but their molts when more smoothly and their feathers just looked so much better when I upped their protein. I also noticed that with hatching I had seemingly healthier ducklings and less hatching issues.

I've noticed that too, their feather quality and egg production is better with 18% or more.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I've just started using my own feed because basically, I don't trust what Purina has been doing. They changed their duck pellets last August and I've noticed a reduction in egg production although it could be because my girls are getting older.

I don't trust a whole lot of anything anymore so I decided to make my own food using a chicken food calculator I found online. I just got my order from Azure Standard and am extremely happy with making my own. Plus the ducks love it and it's not very much more than the Purina duck pellets and has to be much better for them. They eat it up like crazy.

Here is the link to the calculator which is an excel spreadsheet: https://www.gardenbetty.com/garden-...culator-for-determining-your-protein-content/

I use a mac so I imported it to mac "numbers" app which is easy to do. I couldn't find a lot of the stuff listed on it but I found more than enough. The percentages of protein and fat will change depending on where you get your food from and you have to enter the amounts in as a formula. After I figured out how to use this I just deleted the stuff that I'll never buy or use so my sheet is down to about 17 items. For ducks, you need to have a protein of at least 16% so you mix and match until you get there. Once you get everything weighed and have the correct protein and fat % on your sheet there is nothing more to do but plug in your volume amounts and the sheet does the rest for you so you'll know where you stand with protein. I've got fish meal and raw peanuts on order and I guess when Halloween comes around I'll be gathering up pumpkin seeds. This is what my sheet looks like right now:

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

I've just started using my own feed because basically, I don't trust what Purina has been doing. They changed their duck pellets last August and I've noticed a reduction in egg production although it could be because my girls are getting older.

I don't trust a whole lot of anything anymore so I decided to make my own food using a chicken food calculator I found online. I just got my order from Azure Standard and am extremely happy with making my own. Plus the ducks love it and it's not very much more than the Purina duck pellets and has to be much better for them. They eat it up like crazy.

Here is the link to the calculator which is an excel spreadsheet: https://www.gardenbetty.com/garden-...culator-for-determining-your-protein-content/

I use a mac so I imported it to mac "numbers" app which is easy to do. I couldn't find a lot of the stuff listed on it but I found more than enough. The percentages of protein and fat will change depending on where you get your food from and you have to enter the amounts in as a formula. After I figured out how to use this I just deleted the stuff that I'll never buy or use so my sheet is down to about 17 items. For ducks, you need to have a protein of at least 16% so you mix and match until you get there. Once you get everything weighed and have the correct protein and fat % on your sheet there is nothing more to do but plug in your volume amounts and the sheet does the rest for you so you'll know where you stand with protein. I've got fish meal and raw peanuts on order and I guess when Halloween comes around I'll be gathering up pumpkin seeds. This is what my sheet looks like right now:View attachment 3424453

Thanks so much for sharing that calculator! I just put the recipe I use into it, and it sure was much easier than doing all the math. This is the one I make. I'd like to add a few things like pumpkin seeds and buckwheat for variety, but I haven't found them affordable yet. Where do you find such good prices on your wheat, barley, and corn?

 

[DuckyDonna]

Thanks so much for sharing that calculator! I just put the recipe I use into it, and it sure was much easier than doing all the math. This is the one I make. I'd like to add a few things like pumpkin seeds and buckwheat for variety, but I haven't found them affordable yet. Where do you find such good prices on your wheat, barley, and corn?

View attachment 3425301

The wheat we bought from a local grower. The corn comes from Tractor Supply and the barley and most of the rest from Azure Standard. Where did you find the fish meal for that cheap? I just ordered a 50lb bag for $130+ with the taxes

 

[DuckyDonna]

Thanks so much for sharing that calculator! I just put the recipe I use into it, and it sure was much easier than doing all the math. This is the one I make. I'd like to add a few things like pumpkin seeds and buckwheat for variety, but I haven't found them affordable yet. Where do you find such good prices on your wheat, barley, and corn?

View attachment 3425301

I've got a question about the pumpkin seeds. In the past, after Halloween, I've put out whole split pumpkins but the ducks don't eat the seeds. They are crazy expensive too buy and I'm wondering if the ones on the chart are the whole seed of just the inner part seed without the shell?

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

The wheat we bought from a local grower. The corn comes from Tractor Supply and the barley and most of the rest from Azure Standard. Where did you find the fish meal for that cheap? I just ordered a 50lb bag for $130+ with the taxes

A local farm special orders the fish meal for me from Sunrise Farm. They could have a dealer near you.

I've got a question about the pumpkin seeds. In the past, after Halloween, I've put out whole split pumpkins but the ducks don't eat the seeds. They are crazy expensive too buy and I'm wondering if the ones on the chart are the whole seed of just the inner part seed without the shell?

I think the ones we've used before were out of the shell; they were smallish and green and the ducks did eat them. I don't know which one would be on the chart though.

 

[DuckyDonna]

A local farm special orders the fish meal for me from Sunrise Farm. They could have a dealer near you.

I think the ones we've used before were out of the shell; they were smallish and green and the ducks did eat them. I don't know which one would be on the chart though.

I bet they'd be without the outer shell on them.

 

[Pekins Rock]

recently I got some live mealworms from Petco or Petsmart. I;eve been letting them grow to adult and then start breeding. It's cheap protein and my duck Millie will eat the worms out of my hand. You could start a vermiculture system in your basement or a shed using compost or whatever. This can diversify your feed. Also, my ducks love grape leaves, quickweed, chickweed, purslane, any edible weeds out of the garden. wild raspberries when they were in season. You can get brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast from grocery store and dust your food with it so they get the niacin they need. also, peas are easy to grow in a window or growlight and they have niacin as well as sweet potato plant. The whole plant is edible because it is from the morning glory family not the nightshade family.