Need help with adding oats to feed

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello Friends!

My ducklings are going to be 4 weeks old this week and I want to start adding oats to their food in an effort to prevent angel wing and any other issues. They are currently eating Purina Flock Raiser with a 20% protein level. How much of the oats should I add to a cup of feed? I was going to add a tablespoon, but that might be too much. I have no idea what 0.02 of a cup of feed is in terms of tablespoons or teaspoons? Does anyone have a suggestion for me? Thanks so much!

 

[Weeg]

If they don't have angle wing, don't worry about it. Oats can make fat ducks as well. Give them their normal feed, its not 100% there going to get Angel wing from a higher protein feed, and most ducks are fine on it. All of mine were.
I would leave it out, you babies will probably be fine. It may just do more harm then good.

 

[SolarDuck]

I agree, I would not add any oats to their feed. The flock raiser should be fine, if you want something really good I'd recommend Mazuri waterfowl starter.

 

[Weeg]

I recently switched to Kalmbach All natural Non-GMO for a pretty good price as well. I don't know its as good as Mazuri, but its a feed I would recommend.

 

[Ratchnick]

Hello Friends!

My ducklings are going to be 4 weeks old this week and I want to start adding oats to their food in an effort to prevent angel wing and any other issues. They are currently eating Purina Flock Raiser with a 20% protein level. How much of the oats should I add to a cup of feed? I was going to add a tablespoon, but that might be too much. I have no idea what 0.02 of a cup of feed is in terms of tablespoons or teaspoons? Does anyone have a suggestion for me? Thanks so much!

Hello Friends!

My ducklings are going to be 4 weeks old this week and I want to start adding oats to their food in an effort to prevent angel wing and any other issues. They are currently eating Purina Flock Raiser with a 20% protein level. How much of the oats should I add to a cup of feed? I was going to add a tablespoon, but that might be too much. I have no idea what 0.02 of a cup of feed is in terms of tablespoons or teaspoons? Does anyone have a suggestion for me? Thanks so much!

i think your supposed to a 4 to 1 ratio, so quarter cup.

 

[Isaac 0]

Purina Flock Raiser is formulated by feed scientists to match the desired nutrient contents ducks and other fowl needs. Oats are not nutritionally balanced, so when you add it to the feed you are effectively altering the nutrient content which can lead to various problems. To help prevent the onset of AW, allow the birds to get plenty of excise during the day, and practice a natural day/night cycle without a heat lamp.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

Purina Flock Raiser is formulated by feed scientists to match the desired nutrient contents ducks and other fowl needs. Oats are not nutritionally balanced, so when you add it to the feed you are effectively altering the nutrient content which can lead to various problems. To help prevent the onset of AW, allow the birds to get plenty of excise during the day, and practice a natural day/night cycle without a heat lamp.

Thanks for the info. I will be sure they get plenty of exercise and I'm not using a heat lamp. I have the mama heating pad for warmth.

 

[Pollo Blanco]

Four to one has worked well for me.

If there was some magical processed food that ideal for any one bird, all food would be identical, and it's not.

Avoid gross generalizations about what constitutes ideal nutrition. Something as simple as a molt or egg laying is going to change the requirements of any animal.

Processed foods with chemically derived vitamin adjuncts are at best an approximation, and the bottom of the rung nutritionally.

Natural, fresh and wild foraged foods are ideal; highly processed foods should only be used as a temporary substitute when conditions for foraging are lacking.

 

[Isaac 0]

Four to one has worked well for me.

If there was some magical processed food that ideal for any one bird, all food would be identical, and it's not.

Avoid gross generalizations about what constitutes ideal nutrition. Something as simple as a molt or egg laying is going to change the requirements of any animal.

Processed foods with chemically derived vitamin adjuncts are at best an approximation, and the bottom of the rung nutritionally.

Natural, fresh and wild foraged foods are ideal; highly processed foods should only be used as a temporary substitute when conditions for foraging are lacking.

Seems like we both have strong opposing opinions in regards to what to feed - we will agree to disagree.

 

[Pollo Blanco]

Seems like we both have strong opposing opinions in regards to what to feed - we will agree to disagree.

I think everyone can agree that GMO wheat is far from optimal for an omnivore that should get most of its protein from slugs, worms, bugs and the occasional small fish or tadpole.

What ducks chose to eat when they have access to a natural diet is not opinion.

Ground dried grain cannot approach natural green foliage and any grit mixed with the grain doesn't have the same biological profile as muddy earth.

Anyone who is still having difficulty understanding this should select one dried product off the grocery store shelf and try eating only that for one month.

Now, after a month, imagine eating nothing but that your entire life.

Dried processed foods are formulated for long shelf life, not optimal nutrition.