Feeding chicks and ducklings

[TheChickenTender]

I have laying hens, 3 weeks old chicks, and 2 week old ducklings. The chicks are with momma and the flock. Ducks are separate but get playtime with the flock for an hour or so each day. Everyone has different feed recommendations and I would love to put out only 1 feed to ensure safety for all. Given that, what does everyone think of giving everyone non-medicated chick starter grower and just adding in the niacin for the ducks?? OK for chicks to not have the medicated feed? And for laying hens to have the grower starter?
Thanks!!

 

[Amc29]

I am a little hesitant to say chicks don't need medicated feed. I have raised them on non-medicated before and they have been fine, but I made that mistake earlier this year and had some chicks die of suspected coccidiosis, which is what the medicated is supposed to help prevent. I have switched back to medicated. I do just use flock starter with brewer's yeast or a similar supplement for the ducklings, and when everyone is older, I just use an all-flock feed with supplemental oyster shell (my birds free-range during the day, so the ducks seem to get their nutritional needs met).

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Sorry to hijack this thread (briefly!). I bought non-medicated for my chicks although I intended to buy medicated. I only have 4 chicks, no prior chickens so all their housing will be new. They are still indoors now. Is there supplemental medicine I should give?

I still need to find out if they’ve been vaccinated for Marek’s.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

I have laying hens, 3 weeks old chicks, and 2 week old ducklings. The chicks are with momma and the flock. Ducks are separate but get playtime with the flock for an hour or so each day. Everyone has different feed recommendations and I would love to put out only 1 feed to ensure safety for all. Given that, what does everyone think of giving everyone non-medicated chick starter grower and just adding in the niacin for the ducks?? OK for chicks to not have the medicated feed? And for laying hens to have the grower starter?
Thanks!!

You have several options, but the simplest is probably to feed something like Purina Flock Raiser to everyone, and put Oyster Shell on the side for the laying hens. I like to hang or set the Oyster shell high enough that the babies can't get into it.

Purina flock raiser is most often sold as a crumble, and is formulated for all ages. It also has the extra Niacin that ducklings need so your covered there. As your flock grows, it is also available as a pellet if you wish to get away from the crumble.

Nutrena All Flock is a similar product that is only available as fairly large pellet. Nutrena also does not recommend it be fed to birds under 8 weeks of age.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

Sorry to hijack this thread (briefly!). I bought non-medicated for my chicks although I intended to buy medicated. I only have 4 chicks, no prior chickens so all their housing will be new. They are still indoors now. Is there supplemental medicine I should give?

I still need to find out if they’ve been vaccinated for Marek’s.

I'm told if they have been vaccinated for certain things then you want to stay away from medicated feeds. This is not an area that I have DON'T have much knowledge of so I will defer to anyone that knows more about this than I do. I have used both medicated and non medicated for chicks. For me there was no difference.

For ducklings I avoid medicated feeds. I will acknowledge there are several meds that have been proven to be safe for them, however, as ducks don't need the meds I see no reason to feed it to them. Also, some meds have not been found safe for ducklings, so its easier to just feed non medicated and not have to worry about it.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

Sorry @trumpeting_angel, I had to edit my post with the capitalized "DON'T". My fingers weren't keeping up with my brain lol.