When to take ducklings off of chick starter?

[Kschwartz]

Okay so I've heard mixed opinions on this topic with people saying you should take ducklings off of the chick starter anywhere from 3-10 weeks.

First of all, I know I'll probably get yelled at but I do use medicated chick starter (Amprolium!) and they are doing absolutely fine with it. I have no concerns about it harming them.

Second, I use a brand called Sprout (sold @ Fleet Farm) and on the bag it says the chick starter feed can be feed up until about 18 weeks, but this is for CHICKENS, correct? So when should I take my Rouens (3 wks.) off of the chick starter?

I only have 2 Rouens and they don't seem to eat as much as I expected but I went and bought a 50# bag anyways and is only roughly 1/3 gone(?), so I hope I will be able to have them on this a little while longer so I didn't end up wasting money...


Let me know. Thanks.

-Katie

 

[gofasterstripe]

When I hatch out babies I buy a 20lb bag of chick starter, once that 1 bag is gone I move them onto grower finisher to get the protein levels down. So for the 15 to20 I hatch it take me about 10 days to feed it, plus they are outside from a few days old too.

 

[MrsKemmerlin]

All the responses I've gotten have said they should be on chick starter, the non-medicated kind, for two to three weeks. They should also be getting niacin during this time. Then they should be switched to something with a lower % of protein, like grower/finisher and what not

Then about a month before they should start laying, offer free choice oyster shell!

 

[Struttn1]

I like the gamebird crumbles that Rural King sells for ducks. It contains niacin and 3 broods of ducks this year have done great on it.

 

[1234duck]

Lucky Ducky(my Rouen baby) ate chick starter medicated till I ran out..}}}ummmm, he was about 11 weeks old. The medicated was fine I didnt have a problem with it. ~Julie~

 

[Kschwartz]

So I'm still unsure. Someone said 10 days and another say 10 weeks! that's quite a big difference...

 

[gofasterstripe]

Yep

Everyone is different on what they feed, how they feed and how long they fed it. Each to their own I say, If everyone is happy with what they are doing and the ducks are happy, then thats all that matters.

 

[gofasterstripe]

If you want to get the protein levels down in the feed you have you could always buy a bag of whole oats and mix that in. I mix a scoop of grower with 1/4 scoop of oats because I have goslings and they need low protein. If you have a 50lb bag, dont waste it, use it up.

 

[bibkel]

I have heard too much or long of growth will make them fat. I usually will feed starter until they are about 3/4 feathered out, and I keep them inside during this time.
I am supposed to, but don't, feed the middle stuff, then on to layer.

I actually will transition them to layer straight from growth. I use crumble for growth, pellet for layer. My chickens and ducks feed at the same time, and they all prefer pellets. They also forage free range at about 1/2 feathered out (babies have been in a separate yard where they can see the grownups. Today is the first day they are sharing both yards, I opened the fence door. Seems to be ok, and the "babies" will probably sleep in the coop tonight, except for my 4 day old baby. The rest are 6-10 weeks old.

 

[Kschwartz]

Yeah the protein level was my main concern. Right now my feed has 18% protein (i don't know to how many parts though?) Would it be okay if I kept them on starter until about 6 wks? Because by then the bag would be pretty much finished off (they are 3 wks. now)? After I take them off of starter what should I put them on and what protein percentage?

Thanks
-Katie