Swan feed?

[AuroraSprings]

As cygnets, what do I need to feed them? I'm adopting two tomorrow and I've never had swans before. I have 16% layer pellets for the ducks and geese. Can they eat that?

 

[chickenzoo]

Yes, you feed them a good quality layer feed, but I would use crumbles.... as it is smaller and easier to chew.Pellets would be too big for babies. Also give them plenty of greens, Romane lettuce, etc.... If they are baby babies, chop it up real fine for them for the first week...


I am now confused on the feeding rations. I was told by 2 breeders that they use Layer feed to raise up their Swans here in Fl. Others so no way..... I have had trouble with 2 of mine from when I got them, but raised up 4 others with no problems....................

 

[Dr. Todd]

Mazuri waterfowl starter is the best feed for any and all young waterfowl. Layer feed is NOT a great feed for swans of any age.

Swans should also get copious amounts of greens daily along with clean, easily accessible swimming water. They are for all intents and purposes an aquatic bird, far more so than geese and most beginner ducks and will wind up with leg problems on improper diet and in sub-par conditions.

Dr. Todd

p.s. Birds don't chew!

 

[chickenzoo]

I meant it was easier for them to eat/nibble/crush crumbles compared to pellets... LOL

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Dr. Todd :

Mazuri waterfowl starter is the best feed for any and all young waterfowl. Layer feed is NOT a great feed for swans of any age.

Swans should also get copious amounts of greens daily along with clean, easily accessible swimming water. They are for all intents and purposes an aquatic bird, far more so than geese and most beginner ducks and will wind up with leg problems on improper diet and in sub-par conditions.

Dr. Todd

p.s. Birds don't chew!

Mazuri is nothing more than over priced Purina Gamebird chow, while we're at it.
Just get that as a starter and save yourself a good bit every time you buy. I have raised thousands of waterfowl over 25 years, and honestly, there's no extra benifit to amount to anything, unless you just enjoy spending money

. Just a prettier bag from the same mill.​

 

[Dr. Todd]

Purina Duck Chow, while specially formulated for ducks and a good product, will fluctuate ingredients to standardize price. All commercial feed mills only adhere to whats on their guaranteed analysis and vary the actual nutrient composition greatly without notifying the consumer. In comparison Mazuri will fluctuate their prices to keep their ingredients standard and is the only commercial feed company I have found that provides a proximate analysis (dry matter) for all their products, and provides this information on their website for all to see.

Mazuri is designed to float which simulates natural foraging behavior and will not form a mushy paste like wet pellets or crumbles. We raise birds for quality, not quantity and would spend what needs to be spent to feed them a diet appropriate for them. Mazuri can be a pain to get at all feed stores but when ordered well in advance it keeps very well and is worth the effort and money to get it.

Dr. Todd

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Dr. Todd :

Purina Duck Chow, while specially formulated for ducks and a good product, will fluctuate ingredients to standardize price. All commercial feed mills only adhere to whats on their guaranteed analysis and vary the actual nutrient composition greatly without notifying the consumer. In comparison Mazuri will fluctuate their prices to keep their ingredients standard and is the only commercial feed company I have found that provides a proximate analysis (dry matter) for all their products, and provides this information on their website for all to see.

Mazuri is designed to float which simulates natural foraging behavior and will not form a mushy paste like wet pellets or crumbles. We raise birds for quality, not quantity and would spend what needs to be spent to feed them a diet appropriate for them. Mazuri can be a pain to get at all feed stores but when ordered well in advance it keeps very well and is worth the effort and money to get it.

Dr. Todd

This is true, but when buying by the ton, it just hasnt show enough actual difference to me to justify the special order hassle and extra price . when compared to the results of the standard Purina chows, seeing how they are just a division of Purina any way, I just use Purina with great results as well.​

 

[Dr. Todd]

I'm not trying to change anyone's mind on here, just offering another point of view from someone with an equal level of waterfowl experience to you...we use Mazuri and swear by it, you use Purina duck chow and swear by that, so be it.

I will add that we use some of their specialist diets with great success, including the insectivore diet and fish analog for young plovers and sea ducks. These are really for specialists but it's great that we now have these diets to keep the tough species going.

Dr. Todd

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Dr. Todd :

I'm not trying to change anyone's mind on here, just offering another point of view from someone with an equal level of waterfowl experience to you...we use Mazuri and swear by it, you use Purina duck chow and swear by that, so be it.

I will add that we use some of their specialist diets with great success, including the insectivore diet and fish analog for young plovers and sea ducks. These are really for specialists but it's great that we now have these diets to keep the tough species going.

Dr. Todd

yep you got a point there, all the new diets that have come out over the past decade or so are a great addition for the specialise species, without them, it was always tuff to find a suitable feed ration to keep them healthy...​

 

[waterdog]

I agree we used to feed a waterfowl grower from a local mill and after talking to a friend who started working there I discovered to keep cost down they added alot of different ingredients to keep cost down while still meeting analysis on the bag plant protien products and grain by products can be a wide variety of things, in our case they were adding cookie meal from a local food processing plant. We have since started having another local mill make our feed to our specifications, although this cost a little more at least we know exactly what we are feeding. We also supliment with the Mazzuri fed on the water as a treat daily. With feed if you find a bargan price it is probably not a high quality feed, not saying there are not good comercial feeds out there but it pays to check into what you are buying.