What to feed 3 month Muscovy?

[joya250]

Hello again... one more question about my domesticated female Muscovy. She is now 3 months old. I have been feeding her "Starter Crumble" along with lettuce and peas (which she loves)... Now that she is no longer a duckling, I know I need to transition her to something other than the crumble. She is my only duck. My two geese eat dry corn and whatever grass / weeds they like from the diminishing backyard lawn. ;-) The geese are picky and don't branch out to other food.

I want to give Lucky Duck the best diet I can. Please suggest what is best. Due to my geographical location (Panama) I am limited to what is available here... which does NOT include specific food for Ducks or brand-name anything. Will the corn pieces that the geese eat be okay? She has access to the ground, so like to also eat dirt, bugs, etc... And I have no problem purchasing lettuce for her.

Thank you in advance for your responses!

(Oh and yes, I have googled but there were so many things that came up... that I'm not sure what is best for the staple diet.)

 

[ruthhope]

Your girl needs "big girl" duck food! You can use duck pellets, or all flock pellets with extra niacin added. When she starts laying -- maybe from 4 or 5 months old, she will need layer feed, with extra niacin if it is chicken layer feed, not duck layer feed.

She will enjoy chopped lettuce or kale and defrosted frozen pea treats, but she must get most of her nutrition from pellets

 

[StinkyAcres]

I wouldn't feed just corn. What chicken feed can you get there? Is there a pelleted or crumble version? I'd use that and add niacin (peas, nutritional yeast). Or you can even stick with the starter crumble and niacin.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello again... one more question about my domesticated female Muscovy. She is now 3 months old. I have been feeding her "Starter Crumble" along with lettuce and peas (which she loves)... Now that she is no longer a duckling, I know I need to transition her to something other than the crumble. She is my only duck. My two geese eat dry corn and whatever grass / weeds they like from the diminishing backyard lawn. ;-) The geese are picky and don't branch out to other food.

I want to give Lucky Duck the best diet I can. Please suggest what is best. Due to my geographical location (Panama) I am limited to what is available here... which does NOT include specific food for Ducks or brand-name anything. Will the corn pieces that the geese eat be okay? She has access to the ground, so like to also eat dirt, bugs, etc... And I have no problem purchasing lettuce for her.

Thank you in advance for your responses!

(Oh and yes, I have googled but there were so many things that came up... that I'm not sure what is best for the staple diet.)

View attachment 3856891

Oh my gosh, she become a beautiful girl. If you can't find any other type of feed like an all flock then stick with starter and add the nutritional yeast, Once she begins to lay if you can get it put her on a layer feed. If that isn't an option then starter with Oyster shell on the side.
Corn is starch and not really very nutritional as a main feed. Treats yes but sparingly. My geese loved whole corn but mainly got it in winter as a treat.

 

[joya250]

Oh my gosh, she become a beautiful girl. If you can't find any other type of feed like an all flock then stick with starter and add the nutritional yeast, Once she begins to lay if you can get it put her on a layer feed. If that isn't an option then starter with Oyster shell on the side.
Corn is starch and not really very nutritional as a main feed. Treats yes but sparingly. My geese loved whole corn but mainly got it in winter as a treat.

Oh no, I have been feeding my geese corn for years. Unfortunately we are limited here. When I ask for specific "goose" or "duck" food, they look at me like I have 5 heads! haha. Corn is the feed for all "aves" (birds). Sounds like I will need to get creative.

Yes, she is beautiful. And very loved. Thank you.

 

[joya250]

I wouldn't feed just corn. What chicken feed can you get there? Is there a pelleted or crumble version? I'd use that and add niacin (peas, nutritional yeast). Or you can even stick with the starter crumble and niacin.

The chicken feed is corn. That's all they have for birds here. Good to know I can use the crumble and I will have to search for nutritional yeast. I am not sure it is available here... the only option would be the little "organic" (and extremely over-priced) health food store... they might have it. What would the measurement / ratio be to use the nutritional yeast? Thank you.

 

[joya250]

Your girl needs "big girl" duck food! You can use duck pellets, or all flock pellets with extra niacin added. When she starts laying -- maybe from 4 or 5 months old, she will need layer feed, with extra niacin if it is chicken layer feed, not duck layer feed.

She will enjoy chopped lettuce or kale and defrosted frozen pea treats, but she must get most of her nutrition from pellets

Thanks. We have no duck feed or pellets here in Panama... at least not where I am in the Western Highlands. I will need to improvise. Thank you for your input.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wheat is a good alternative if you can get some that hasn't been spray with pesticides. Oats is another but you'll have to get creative on the protein My goos loves dry dog food and mealworms those are good sources of protein.

The chicken feed is corn. That's all they have for birds here. Good to know I can use the crumble and I will have to search for nutritional yeast. I am not sure it is available here... the only option would be the little "organic" (and extremely over-priced) health food store... they might have it. What would the measurement / ratio be to use the nutritional yeast? Thank you.

Can you order online or its it way too expensive to ship?

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://search.brave.com/search?q=I...e&summary=1&summary_og=2e04bf4a4567314e1064c2

 

[joya250]

Wheat is a good alternative if you can get some that hasn't been spray with pesticides. Oats is another but you'll have to get creative on the protein My goos loves dry dog food and mealworms those are good sources of protein.

Can you order online or its it way too expensive to ship?

Thank you. I can't get anything without pesticides, unfortunately. And here they use stronger pesticides that are usually banned in the states.

Oats are available. I am assuming UNCOOKED? Is one type better than another?

It is rainy season here, so any food I put out will get wet with the daily (and sometimes all-day) downpour.

I can share Jorek the Dog's dry food with the geese. Is is rather large kibble, so many I will need to crush it as best I can.

And, mealworms are not available. Again, when I asked, I got looked at like I was crazy! hah

Shipping could be expensive, but I will look into it. We don't have a mail system here, so all the 3rd party shippers charge around $8 per pound... on top of what one pays upon purchase to ship to Miami.

Anyway, thank you. All good information to have.

I don't know if the geese will expand their palate, as it has been only corn for years... they don't like to eat any thing else I have offered (greens, etc.) ... but I will try!