The Poultry Keeper

jaydee67 · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject: feeding ducklings

I have chick crumbs - that I think are medicated - my daughter binned the label when she opened them, layers pellets and layers meal. Suggestions so far are just the meal or mix the meal with the crumbs as just crumbs are not good for the ducks - anyone who has raised ducks want to chip in and give me some advice?

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

aorry I don't have ducks and know nothing about them. Didn't someone on here say about using chick crumbs because the duckling ones weren't available on the islands?
See debcat's response to your post in egg and growers

jaydee67 · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 9:37 pm Post subject:

yep - originally I was going to give them the chick crumbs but I have now been told not to by someone on another board I was chatting to on msn. Never having raised ducks before I was hoping for some input - not sure if the crumbs are different here to those in America.

debcat · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 9:56 pm Post subject:

You could mix them with meal instead of giving the crumbs 'neat'.
Not sure why they're not supposed to have them medicated,
mine only have the crumbs for a week or so then just mash once they go into the barn

jaydee67 · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 10:00 pm Post subject:

thanks deb - I will go with my initial idea I think of feeding them the crumbs - with the chicks dying on me I have plenty although I do have 2 broodies sitting on eggs. I may mix it with some meal, I think the idea is because of the quantity they eat it is easy for them to overdose on the meds.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 888 Location: Cornwall

I always fed all my ducks and goslings on medicated chick crumbs. Had no problem with them at all.

hch4971 · Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 24 Location: North Yorkshire

I think it is because the ducklings/goslings can gorge on the (medicated) crumbs and the anticoccidiostats can be poisonous to them in large amounts (Ive been reading a lot in the 3 weeks Ive had my goslings!!)

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1192 Location: Correze

Don't ducklings eat a lot? And grow fast?!!!! Laughing

jaydee67 · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:21 pm Post subject:

yes and yes - lots of old posts being resurrected - nice to see people are still reading the old stuff too!

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 888 Location: Cornwall

Don't put too much food down, just feed enough. Ducklings and Goslings will slurp up food like there's no tomorrow if you let them.

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1192 Location: Correze

... as I've discovered Laughing

I now give them what I think is "about right" morning and night, and they graze grass between-times.

james419 · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 3:45 am Post subject:

Our pets ducks get wheat in the morning and graze for the rest of the day - the "freezer" candidates get food available all day to fatten them up more quickly and yes they do eat alot - they also love lettuce and other spares from the veg patch or from the kitchen - when pumpkins come in season they love them as well - we are growing a few for the animals as well as for some soup and jam! That is for us not the ducks.........

sirfrancis · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 71 Location: northumberland

chick crumbs totally fine, weve had healthy happy ducks grow up on them, otherwise wizz some growers pellets in the food mixer!!!

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1192 Location: Correze

I thought "growers" were too high in protein for ducklings and could cause drop-wing? Confused