Lucy and Ricky, 1 week old Blue Swedish
The following information is information from Nettie on the feeding of ducklings, thank you Nettie!!
(WEEK 1 to at least 8 you should have food and water available all the time (but the water shoud be shallow so they can not play/drown in it). You can construct a special watering device out of a juice bottle to keep them from playing in the water, I'll add a pic at the end to show you. They eat a lot when they are growing their feathers. .After that, you can feed them at certain intervals or have feed availale all the time, my runners eat 2-3 times a day in the morning, sometimes once in the early afternoon if their hungry, and then at night an hour or two before bedtime, I don't give them any food during the night. Water is okay, but mine don't need it)
WEEK 1: Just Starter feed no scratch, mixed with some water to soften it.
WEEK 2: (Same as week one, but less water)
WEEK 3: Add a tiny bit of scratch to your feed. No need to soften it any more
WEEK 4: Start adding in Layer feed to the starter feed (maybe a 1:4 Ratio at first) with a little bit more scratch (maybe 1:8 ratio of scratch to both feeds together)
WEEK 5: 1:2 Layer feed to Starter feed. A little more scratch than last week, 1:4 ratio.
WEEK 6: 1:1 layer feed to starter feed. 1:3 Scratch
WEEK 7: (Your duck should almost be fully feathered by this week or next) 2:1 layer feed to starter feed. 1:2 scratch
WEEK 8: 3:1 Layer to starter. 1:1 Scratch
WEEK 9: (this is when they can/will start to molt, they do this through the 12 week) 4:1 Layer to starter, 1:1 Scratch.
WEEK 10: Layer feed Only, no more starter feed. 1:1 Scratch. Incorporate a few new exciting treats for your duckies, like vegatables/fruits (avoid giving them extra protein at this time. Too much protein in a growing feathering duck can cause Angel wing. This is when the quills of the feathers grow faster and bigger than the muscles and tendons of the wing can hold causing the wings grow at 90 degree angles out from the body and is very hard to fix.)
WEEK 11: Same as week 10 (But add more new treats)
WEEK 12: Same as week 11
WEEK 13: (By now your duck should be fully feathered and done with their first molt) Layer feed only (just to be safe throw away the starter feed, your adult ducks can not eat it any more due to the protein levels and the feed will most likely go bad before you raise ducklings again). 1:2 Scratch to Feed, and many more vegatables/fruits/ and now small amounts of new proteins
WEEK 20 and on: Continue feed rations in Week 13. (By now your ducks will be 5 months old and may start laying if the weather is nice. If it is cold or winter, they may wait until the spring) Buy OYSTER SHELL from your local feed store and add it to their food. This helps them to produce good eggs, hard enough shells, and avoid egg binding (which can be a very serious problem).
Here are some feeds I reccomend:
Mazuri Waterfowl feed: (i think this may be the only feed special to waterfowl, it's expensive but it's the absolute best)
https://www.mazuri.com/Home.asp?Products=2&Opening=2
I'm using Purina FlockRaiser Sunfresh Recipe this time around: (I hear it's good for chickens and ducks, mixed flock multi purpose!)
http://poultry.purinamills.com/OURPRODU … fault.aspx
The first time i raised ducklings i used Nutrena, both the starter feed and my ducks currently eat their layer feed:
http://www.nutrenaworld.com/Screens/Speciality/Chick_Starter_Grower.aspx
Here is a HUGE list of other oods you can give your duckies:
Diet Supplements:
Romaine Lettuce (other dark lettuces, not iceberg)
Tomatoes
Worms
Nigh Crawlers
Cucumber
Cracked Corn
Eggplant
Peas
Bell peppers
Carrots
Eggs (scrambled or hardboiled chopped with shells on)
Beans (overcooked)
Feeder goldfish/minows/guppies
Plain yogurt
Mealworms
Broccoli
Cabbage
Brussel sprouts
Cauliflower
Beets
Asparagus
Special Treats:
Floating Koi Food Cottage cheese
Apples (applesauce)
Bananas (no peel)
Marigolds, pansies, clover (no pesticides!)
Pears
Peaches
Cherries
Grapes
Melons (cantaloupe, watermelon)
Squash
Pumpkin
Pomegranate
Turnips (cooked)
Raisins
Zucchini
Oatmeal (cooked)
Strawberries
rice (cooked, small amount)
These Treats are No-No’s!!!!
Bread
Crackers
Spinach
Onions
Potatoes
Avocados
Seeds of any kind
Chocolate
Sugar
Junk food of any kind
Nuts
Citrus (lemons, grapefruit, oranges, limes)
Popcorn
1 week old 2 months old
