Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

I was wondering if a person bought baby ducks and was not able to get non medicated food, could they use laying crumbles instead since there is no meds in that and it's easy to eat?

The laying crumbles are lower protein content then starter, but it wouldn't be a big problem if they were outside and could "catch" some protein supplement on their own.

Would some hard boiled egg chopped work to raise the protein for ducks? Is it ducks that also need supplemental Niacin?

I don't trust my feed store, they have a bad habit of getting their feed bags wet, and I've gotten feed with chunks like concrete, or worse, mold. I feed all babies dog kibble now, soaked soft and mashed. A bag costs about the same as starter, goes farther, a LOT less waste. Animal protein instead of soy, which I like. Never any pasty butt.

windwalkingwolf wrote: ↑

Sat May 27, 2017 2:19 pm

I don't trust my feed store, they have a bad habit of getting their feed bags wet, and I've gotten feed with chunks like concrete, or worse, mold. I feed all babies dog kibble now, soaked soft and mashed. A bag costs about the same as starter, goes farther, a LOT less waste. Animal protein instead of soy, which I like. Never any pasty butt.

My closest feed store is like that as well, plus they also let raccoons rip open the bags and want to charge full price, so I drive 30 minutes.
You gave me an idea, I used to give young hens dry cat food for protein to help with molting. I could give them lay and cat food combined. That should do it, or I could just be smart and not buy ducks but.......

Thanks for the dog kibble tip. I have 4 ducklings here. www is it adult dog or puppy food?

JimW

I use adult dog food, soaked until thoroughly soft and mashed up for the really little guys. The cheapie dog food is 23% protein, basically exactly the same formulation as chick food (except with guts and bone and yummy things like that lol) and cat kibble is about 32%.

Oh, P.S., don't use the dog food that makes 'gravy' when you add water. You will have gravy covered ducks, they'll play in it. Ok on the dinner table, not so nice in the brooder, plus, I don't think anybody actually eats that crap, including the dog!

Making me hungry Jan . luck

windwalkingwolf wrote: ↑

Sat May 27, 2017 2:19 pm

I don't trust my feed store, they have a bad habit of getting their feed bags wet, and I've gotten feed with chunks like concrete, or worse, mold. I feed all babies dog kibble now, soaked soft and mashed. A bag costs about the same as starter, goes farther, a LOT less waste. Animal protein instead of soy, which I like. Never any pasty butt.

When you say "all babies", do you mean just ducklings, or do you feed chicken chicks dog food as well?