Winter nutrition?

[Thompsonv]

Thank you so much everyone this information is unbelievably helpful! I love hearing what people do for their ducks/pets it makes me so happy to hear of all these animals getting taken care of so well and perhaps a bit spoiled I'm going to do some research on the fermenting feed as it seems like a really healthy way to go and I'll also start Crackers on some crushed oyster shells since she's about that age. I'll be going to our grain store tomorrow so I'll be looking through these forums and try to figure out exactly what it is I will need to purchase for that kind of feed. Hopefully Clint and Crackers like this change but even if they don't they'll have to adapt.

 

[chickens really]

One tip. Do not mix the oyster shell in the feed. Use a separate bowl...

Best of luck!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you so much everyone this information is unbelievably helpful! I love hearing what people do for their ducks/pets it makes me so happy to hear of all these animals getting taken care of so well and perhaps a bit spoiled I'm going to do some research on the fermenting feed as it seems like a really healthy way to go and I'll also start Crackers on some crushed oyster shells since she's about that age. I'll be going to our grain store tomorrow so I'll be looking through these forums and try to figure out exactly what it is I will need to purchase for that kind of feed. Hopefully Clint and Crackers like this change but even if they don't they'll have to adapt.

Keep us update on how they are doing and what you decided on the FF.

 

[Amiga]

Hi. Be careful that the dogkibble is not so large it can choke them. That has happened.

Also they need grit. Without it they can be unable to process their food.

I give cat kibble to boost protein, and sprouted wheat for greens - or lettuce.

I also wet their food. They eat it quickly enough we have no concerns about mold

 

[Thompsonv]

Okay so i've been doing some reading and I just want to make sure i'm following this right. To do the fermented feed all i need is one or two 5gal buckets and I can use their layer pellets or crumble and I just mix that with water in the bucket and let it sit 3-4days and stir it a few times a day? I'm presuming this is how you added in the distillers grains into this? I can't seem to find exactly a ratio on how much layer pellets or crumble to water and it seems like some people strain it and some don't and I also can't seem to find how much I should be making up to a time since I only have the two ducks not a 15-25 plus flock. I think I have the rest sorta figured out but any other help would be great too, thanks so much!! Oh and Clint and Crackers were very displeased about the cut back of cracked corn today but they have moved on, I gave em a couple peas and they forgave me

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Okay so i've been doing some reading and I just want to make sure i'm following this right. To do the fermented feed all i need is one or two 5gal buckets and I can use their layer pellets or crumble and I just mix that with water in the bucket and let it sit 3-4days and stir it a few times a day? I'm presuming this is how you added in the distillers grains into this? I can't seem to find exactly a ratio on how much layer pellets or crumble to water and it seems like some people strain it and some don't and I also can't seem to find how much I should be making up to a time since I only have the two ducks not a 15-25 plus flock. I think I have the rest sorta figured out but any other help would be great too, thanks so much!! Oh and Clint and Crackers were very displeased about the cut back of cracked corn today but they have moved on, I gave em a couple peas and they forgave me

LOL...but it's for their own good. Corn must be like candy - most animals love it, including people.

Given that you're feeding just the two ducks, you could use a smaller container than a 5-gallon bucket - a gallon jar/container or maybe even a quart mason jar would probably work well. I'd just put in a few scoops of feed and any "extras" like distiller's grains or fish meal, pour in dechlorinated water (you can just leave tap water in a bucket or bottle without a lid and the chlorine will evaporate in about 24 hours), and stir until it reaches a thin porridge-like consistency. Let it sit for about 24 hours loosely covered. You should start to see small bubbles rising and it should begin to smell slightly sour. For the initial batch, to ensure you get good fermentation going, I'd wait at least 48 hours before serving it - I like a consistency where it's wet enough to be easily scooped but not like soup. Stirring twice a day should be plenty.

A couple of notes: you can make it more or less watery - some people insist that it must have a layer of liquid on top in order to ferment properly; others merely soak the feed. I found if it was too soupy, it's a hassle to scoop in the field - too dry and it doesn't ferment enough; there's a real sweet spot, but you have to play with the proportions until you find it. I like to get a strong initial ferment for a "starter" (like with sourdough) and then always leave some of this starter in the jar/container when I add new feed to facilitate the ferment. I have a big group of birds, so I feed using 5-gallon buckets and scoop with a metal milk frother - no straining necessary. Also, ducks can be pretty messy when eating FF - they get it all over themselves and fling it around as they shake their heads. They may also like to wash down mouthfuls with water, so the water will also get mucked up quickly.

As far as amount to feed, I watch and assess how much and how quickly my ducks eat. You may want to start with a cup or so between them at first, twice a day, and adjust as needed. If food is left after they stop eating, it's probably too much; if they're really hungry and wolf it down in a couple of minutes, it's probably not enough.

I hope they like it - they may balk at first, but I bet they'll come around.

 

[Thompsonv]

Alright I am off to the grain store, thanks for that last info it answered a lot! Also I was hoping to add at least one additional thing to their FF I was considering barley, oats, wheat or Rye? Are these things I can mix in to this fermented mixture too?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Alright I am off to the grain store, thanks for that last info it answered a lot! Also I was hoping to add at least one additional thing to their FF I was considering barley, oats, wheat or Rye? Are these things I can mix in to this fermented mixture too?

Yes, you can add any of those to the FF, but adding grains will lower the overall protein content - I wouldn't do it in the winter. Something higher in protein like soy meal or black oil sunflower seeds would help keep the protein % higher...but just fermenting their pellets/crumbles should be fine, too.

 

[Thompsonv]

I decided to only ferment the layer pellets so that is underway. Thank you about the info for not using the grains during winter, I got some black oil sunflower seeds for them as a treat once on a while for now. I also got some crushed oyster shells for crackers but Clint keeps eating them, I put em in a separate dish too. I thought he "wouldnt" eat them or so I read, and she doesn't have much interest soooo not sure where I'm at with that.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I found that some of my drakes liked the oyster shell, too...I moved it to a place they don't normally go (chicken coop) but they can still get to it if they were really determined. You could always wait until Crackers starts laying, then put it out again. Is there free choice grit, too? Clint might think it's grit.

Let us know how the FF goes over!