[crosser]

my bantam has just hatched some of her bantam eggs and now the runner duck eggs are pipping so hopefully hatch anytime soon...  is it ok for the chicks and runners to eat the same chick feed? wet or dry?

many thanks....

[CameronS]

 am currently feeding my ducklings dry chick crumbs and they are thriving 

[goosepimple]

I read somewhere to feed them breadcrumbs (rather than bits) with soaked in milk - it's worked for me with hen chicks and ducklings - I've never had success with chick crumbs, even when soaking, and end up with most of the bag unwanted - like layers pellets, its like shredded cardboard - give hens the choice of pellets or grain, they choose the grain hands down.  We also shred (with scissors) grass for the ducklings and goslings and they yummy it up too.  They start eatimg bigger bits about 2 weeks old.

[jaykay]

Try to get some proper duckling crumbs. Chick crumbs often have coccidiostat in them, which can really upset some ducklings. Feeding standard (medicated) chick crumb I once lost one duckling and had two others fail to thrive, who picked up and grew well once I got them onto ducking crumb. Feed dry with plenty of water next to it. Failing duckling crumb, untreated chick crumb is the next best.

I'm surprised bread has enough protein in for growing youngsters?

[Hopewell]

Coccidiostat (ACS) in chick crumb kills ducklings slowly ie over several days. Finding crumb meant for ducklings isn't always possible but it is often possible to find chick crumb without ACS and this is fine to feed - we have reared ducks in the past on it without any problems.

[Anke]

Traditional way of rearing ducklings and goslings used to be soaked bread crumbs in milk and also mix shredded nettles in it, quite a job, but that's what used to be done when I was growing up (I didn't have to go to cut the nettles though!).

[SallyintNorth]

I'm surprised bread has enough protein in for growing youngsters?

Would the milk in which the bread is soaked provide enough protein?

[jaykay]

That makes sense Sally 

[Sylvia]

I have always fed mine organic chick crumbs with no problems.

[crosser]

wow, thanks for all your advice, im going to my local poultry store and try to get duck crumbs and if no luck then will try to get some organic crumb..  just wondering am i best leaving the runners with the bantam or take them away? oh and my other chicks are happily eating there crumb and cucumber and tomatoes..  they love it...

[Roxy]

Personally, I would leave the ducklings with the bantam - has one hen hatched bantie and duck eggs together?  My buff sussex is a proud mum to two ducklings hatched for a neighbour, and seems happy with her strange looking young!!!  Hopefully leaving them with hen, she will keep them safe from rats.

[goosepimple]

The crumbs and milk thing was something I read on this website a good while back, we sometimes mix in weetabix or porridge/porage oats. Sure I also picked up somewhere not to give poultry cucumber (or avocado for that matter)?  Anyone know anything about that?

[crosser]

the bantie has hatched banties and 2 ducks....   they seem happy enough together...  i hope cucumber is ok as mine have had it for well over a year with no bad effects..  they scoff it down..  just been up for a check and boy do them ducklings stink..  phew !!!  lock me in a lift with my dog anyday compared to that...

[crosser]

[jaykay]

Awwwww