Feeding ducks (muscovy)

[RebinNH]

Hi! I was wondering about ordering more feed for my two 7 week old muscovies. I have used

Scratch and Peck Naturally Free Organic Grower Chicken Feed​

til now but being that I need to buy more feed, wanted to review how I feel about that. It has 17 % protein and I have been supplementing that with some egg, sardines or mealy worms once a day. I'm not sure I have been giving them the right amount (too little, too much) protein. Also give them brewer's yeast with each feeding of the feed.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rebecca

 

[ruthhope]

Hi! I was wondering about ordering more feed for my two 7 week old muscovies. I have used

Scratch and Peck Naturally Free Organic Grower Chicken Feed​

til now but being that I need to buy more feed, wanted to review how I feel about that. It has 17 % protein and I have been supplementing that with some egg, sardines or mealy worms once a day. I'm not sure I have been giving them the right amount (too little, too much) protein. Also give them brewer's yeast with each feeding of the feed.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rebecca

I feed my pekin and muscovy drakes duck pellets. My son feeds his pekin and muscovy females, organic layer feed for chickens, supplemented with extra niacin (brewers yeast) and oyster shell on the side. At 6-8 weeks age my son moved from organic starter crumbles to organic starter pellets all formulated for chickens so they had extra niacin. He hasn't found organic all flock/flock raiser which would be a preferred alternative, locally to us. He wants organic feed for them as we eat the eggs and because he thinks its better for his ducks

 

[Miss Lydia]

17% is not too high of protein. Just keep adding the Brewers yeast to it, make sure it has an adequate amount of niacin which ducklings need 10mg a day each.

 

[RebinNH]

I was wondering if

Mazuri | Waterfowl Maintenance Diet​

Is ok and if any feed their younger (13 weeks) ducks this. Mine seem to be bored with their feed and I was thinking if I feed them on water it might help. Also the Scratch and Peck grower has a lot of waste, as a lot ends up in the bottom of the water container.

The Mazuri says that it is for ducks 6 months old. It has 14% protein. Would that be good for my 3+ month olds?
Thanks!

 

[Canadian Wind]

I was wondering if

Mazuri | Waterfowl Maintenance Diet​

Is ok and if any feed their younger (13 weeks) ducks this. Mine seem to be bored with their feed and I was thinking if I feed them on water it might help. Also the Scratch and Peck grower has a lot of waste, as a lot ends up in the bottom of the water container.

The Mazuri says that it is for ducks 6 months old. It has 14% protein. Would that be good for my 3+ month olds?
Thanks!

That is way too low in protein, even for adult ducks.

 

[RebinNH]

I just found that Kimberly Link of The Ultimate Pet Duck Guidebook recommends Mazuri for 8 weeks and up. This is her favorite line of food. I think with the fact that they catch frogs, eat some beans and also get scrambled egg and some sardines, that they will be good. Just wasn't sure on the timing of when I can start but I guess I'm ok starting now at 13. I'll let you know hw they do and what the vet says on Fri.

 

[RebinNH]

The vet said "they are almost too robust". Don't know if he meant they are fat or just healthy @ 10 lbs and 8 oz for the male and 7 lbs and 8 oz for what he says (through process of elimination - no penis) is a female. He had no take on the food and told me to call Agway who really just want to sell their brands and also had no say about protein %. Is there a definitive guide on protein and other nutrients? I may contact Metzer Farms. Honestly I'm not convinced he knows ducks very well.
Gave me a few sheets out of a vet guide with a chapter on Anseriforme Husbandry and Management, to take home.
The general dietary protein recommendations for waterfowl are 18-20% for grower and 13-14% for maintenance. Layer diets 16%-20%. The suggestion is to work with a nutritionist for captive birds (most likely because there is so much variability and controversy). These sheets talk a lot about methionine and other amino acids (as a function of protein level) and suggest that starter and grower rations may be too high for pet birds. Additionally they support omega 3 supplementation for captive birds. Specifically fish oil (2% fresh herring oil - (sardines or canned salmon?)) has been shown to be relevant for Muscovy ducks. It also balances the corn in many feeds which contains too much omega 6 and can lead to obesity and all the stress that induces.
Anyway all interesting and I think well worth the research.