feeding ducklings

[kansaskaty]

Hello all...haven't been on this forum for a long, long time. I've had my calls for 6 1/2 years and have raised many ducklings over that time period. I've always started them out on medicated Purina Start & Grow and have had good luck doing that. Now some people have told me that I shouldn't ever feed them that. I really don't plan on changing what I'm doing since it's been working for me and I've had ducks longer than these folks, but I was curious what you all feed your ducklings.

[Evy]

Medicated Start 'n Grow crumbles are the best thing I've found for all my waterfowl ducklings, from Calls to very valuable wild waterfowl.

[kansaskaty]

Thank you Evy......I was 99.9% that was what you recommended to me back when I hatched my first ducklings. Now I can tell them that a "premier breeder" of waterfowl recommends it....not just me. This person says waterfowl can't get cocci so there's no need to feed it.

[Rich]

There are some types of antibiotics that are not suitable for waterfowl and can cause death so many indivdiuals tell people not to feed medicated feed to waterfowl. The medication in the medicated start and grow is Amprollium a cocicciostat. It is not a problem.

[Evy]

Thank you Evy......I was 99.9% that was what you recommended to me back when I hatched my first ducklings. Now I can tell them that a "premier breeder" of waterfowl recommends it....not just me. This person says waterfowl can't get cocci so there's no need to feed it.

They sure can !!!! In fact, it's one of the few problems you are apt to have with them...unlike landfowl, who have dozens of ailments. A dose of cocci will wipe out a hatch overnight.

[kansaskaty]

There are some types of antibiotics that are not suitable for waterfowl and can cause death so many indivdiuals tell people not to feed medicated feed to waterfowl. The medication in the medicated start and grow is Amprollium a cocicciostat. It is not a problem.

I understand that, and any other kind of medication I wouldn't use. As I understand it amprolium is a preventative.....not even really a medication.

[kansaskaty]

Thank you Evy......I was 99.9% that was what you recommended to me back when I hatched my first ducklings. Now I can tell them that a "premier breeder" of waterfowl recommends it....not just me. This person says waterfowl can't get cocci so there's no need to feed it.

They sure can !!!! In fact, it's one of the few problems you are apt to have with them...unlike landfowl, who have dozens of ailments. A dose of cocci will wipe out a hatch overnight.

That's what I've tried to tell them. I guess they might find out the hard way someday.

[goosedragon]

amprolium is birth control for cocci it doesn't kill them it just cuts down their reproduction rate, It takes some time for the immune system to get up to speed to handle Cocci. most of the time the cocci reproduce faster than a young immune system can handle them and they overwelm and kill ducklings. Amprolium slows reproduction of Cocci so the healthy duckling has time to overcome them.~gd

[msmeower]

I got half a dozen each ducklings and goslings yesterday and can not find any 21% waterfowl feed in my area. I did find Burkman Feeds 20% Starter and Grower for chickens. It has zoalene in it for coccidia. Can I feed this to my ducklings and goslings?

[Leo]

I have always fed my ducklings medicated chicken starter and I have never had a problem. From what I understand years and years ago a certain type of medication was used in the chicken starter and if you fed it to ducklings they would OD on the medication because ducklings eat a lot more than chickens do...therefore the ducks would get a higher dosage than was recommended. I don't think they use that type of medication any more, tho.

[goosedragon]

I got half a dozen each ducklings and goslings yesterday and can not find any 21% waterfowl feed in my area. I did find Burkman Feeds 20% Starter and Grower for chickens. It has zoalene in it for coccidia. Can I feed this to my ducklings and goslings?

Zoalene is an unknown for waterfowl. By unknown I mean that I could Not find any information either pro or con. It is recommended for chickens and turkeys, never a mention of waterfowl. One thing that I did find was a report of toxicity in broilers at 2.5 times the normal dose. Personally I would NOT feed it but would stick with an amprolium medicated chick starter even if the protein wasn't in the best range. Your waterfowl, your choice.

[cegs]

It was arsenic that was used in starter that would kill waterfowl. And it was still in use as little as in the last 6 years. I found out the hard way with a couple ducklings and goslings.

Cally

[Neil E. Grassbaugh]

What we really need is a medication to administer to all the "experts" that continually puke all these old wives tales and no-longer-trues.
I am thinking about a broad spectrum medication to combat-

"medicated" feed will kill all waterfowl -dedern hell"

"ACV will cure anything physiologicaly wrong with anything"

"If ACV dosen't correct the situation then DE will"

"Chlorine will deworm chickens"

"Non red heat lamps will blind chicks"

"Cornish X are produced by mating a Cornish male to a Rock female"

Any more you can think of?

[Evy]

What we really need is a medication to administer to all the "experts" that continually puke all these old wives tales and no-longer-trues.
I am thinking about a broad spectrum medication to combat-

"medicated" feed will kill all waterfowl -dedern hell"

"ACV will cure anything physiologicaly wrong with anything"

"If ACV dosen't correct the situation then DE will"

"Chlorine will deworm chickens"

"Non red heat lamps will blind chicks"

"Cornish X are produced by mating a Cornish male to a Rock female"

Any more you can think of?

''Ducklings get oil from their mothers feathers. Incubator hatched ducklings shouldn't be allowed to swim until feathered".

'' Ducks & chickens make good house pets, especially if diapered!''

[Patrick]

Peking Ducks

Devestated free range poultry owners

Cayugas were derived from wild Black ducks

Turkeys drown in the rain

Commercial poultry is "pumped" full of hormones and antibiotics

New Hampshire "Reds"

Polish Crested

Chicks are peeps, or, worse, boys and girls

Biddies and banties

Sizzles

Heritage breeds

Guineas will rid your property of ticks

Mille Fleurs as a breed

clicker trainers

Duck rape councelors

imprinted goose crybabies

TURKENS!!

And the number one disease I'd like to find a cure for: reference to anything nonmarsupial as a "Roo", unless you're under 3 years old.

[Dondoyle26]

Pekins and turkens are not a breed ? Then just what are they ? or they not a breed recognized by all these over glorified poultry shows ???

[Patrick]

Pekins are a breed. I wrote Peking, which is a recipe, a method of serving cooked Pekin or other ducks. The two terms are often interchanged by people who don't care to understand the proper names of their breeds. Same with Turken. It's a fanciful name, thought up by the schiester hatchery promoters at a time when the average rural person had little education, and was easily swayed by such snake oil salesmen. Of course there is no such thing as turkeyXchicken hybrid, but the hatcheries still continue to use the incorrect term, and many people still fall for it.

It's not the poultry shows which recognize breeds, it's the APA or ABA, and both do recognize Naked Necks. If glorified means not misleading, then I guess they are.

[Evy]

Pekins and turkens are not a breed ? Then just what are they ? or they not a breed recognized by all these over glorified poultry shows ???

''Peking''...spelling & pronunciation do matter.

''Turken''...comes from the old myth that they're a chicken-turkey cross. NOT !!

[goosedragon]

Pekins are a breed. I wrote Peking, which is a recipe, a method of serving cooked Pekin or other ducks. The two terms are often interchanged by people who don't care to understand the proper names of their breeds. Same with Turken. It's a fanciful name, thought up by the schiester hatchery promoters at a time when the average rural person had little education, and was easily swayed by such snake oil salesmen. Of course there is no such thing as turkeyXchicken hybrid, but the hatcheries still continue to use the incorrect term, and many people still fall for it.

It's not the poultry shows which recognize breeds, it's the APA or ABA, and both do recognize Naked Necks. If glorified means not misleading, then I guess they are.

Yes and all the recognized breed names are completely accurate..

[chickenwhisperer]

I did recently see an add offering "Too loose" geese for sale...!