What to feed ducklings...

[Amiga]

I got pine bedding from Tractor suply for bedding. Is that ok? I have a large tote, baby feeder, baby water and heat lamp. Is that everything? Ok on the food I got Friday from the feed store I found that is chick starter/grower so I went and bought chick starter from Tractor suply ( alot more $$$ ). After about every store are looking for niacin I found some at Walgreans. Everywhere was time release or flush free so the pharmacist got me some from behind the counter. It is 100mg tablets. I hope they disolve good! Thank you all for reading my post and helping me.

Sounds like you are on the right track. I used old towels for bedding because my runners ate the shavings and my beloved was allergic to them anyway. So watch the little sillies, make sure they do not eat the shavings. I think it was Wifezilla who placed something like plastic poultry fence on top of the shavings to keep her littles from eating them until they were older.

Babies splash A WHOLE LOT, so some way to catch the splash will be needed, you don't want Camp Swampy, and it causes the brooder to be too cool sometimes. That was my experience. I could keep the dry brooder (I used a huge tote at first) at 90F with dry bedding, but when the duckies got in there and soaked the bedding, I couldn't break 80. So I put the waterer on top of a two part broiling pan with a washcloth on it. That helped quite a bit. With each increase of waterer size, I had to come up with a bigger splash catcher, too.

Don't let it get you down. It takes some figuring to find a system that works for you.

The littles need water and food 24/7. And they need room service, too

 

[mtadkins5]

Wow thank you! What other bedding is ok for them? I never thought of them eatting it. Good ideas on the water bc I would have found out the hard way for sure. I am so very excited!!!!!!!

 

[mustangsaguaro]

Hi!

If you have not yet had the opportunity to read this, I really like it - - - good concise information https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711

Niacin is a vitamin critical to the proper development of the nervous system. Ducklings that don't get enough - and this seems to be different for different ducklings - often have seizures or leg problems or other symptoms.

Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks suggests that if there is a likelihood of niacin deficiency, to give 100 to 150 mg of niacin per gallon of water for ten weeks (I may misremember whether it's 8 or 10, or just "several").

You can buy niacin capsules at most drugstores, and some grocery stores. Get the plain niacin, not no-flush or timed-release.

Some folks sprinkle brewer's yeast on top of the ducklings' food once a day.

Worms, bugs, slugs, all have niacin in their tissues.

I have some duck eggs in my incubator too and have read they need niacin. In your above post you mention brewer's yeast. Does brewer's yeast have niacin in it. Is it better to feed the brewer's yeast or get the niacin capsules and put in the water.

I also will most likely have some chicks in w/ the ducks will the extra niacin hurt the chicks?

Also, I know ducklings can't eat medicated chick starter. That is not a problem as I don't feed medicated chick starter. Just concerned about the niacin though.

Thanks