Waterfowl - Raising Poultry - page 197

to that of short legs in the Japanese Bantams, discussed in chapter 10 , Bantams, on page
143 .
Feeding Ducks
Day-old ducklings can be started on a feed that has an 18 to 23 percent protein content.
Baby chick feed can be used, but if available a special feed for water-fowl is the best.
Waterfowl feeds often have more plant sources of protein, a more healthful choice for
the ducklings in the long run.
Avoid feed with coccidiostats (medicine used to control coccidiosis) if at all possible.
For years the coccidiostat used in chick feed was harmful to waterfowl. It destroyed
their gut and they died. Although I have experimented recently with giving waterfowl
these newly formulated medicated feeds and all seems okay, I would not risk it if I had
a choice.
At about three weeks of age, the ducklings will start to get a few feathers here and
there — usually along the sides of the chest — and their wings will start to grow. At this
point, start cutting back the protein level in the feed. This is a crucial stage in their de-
velopment and, if fed a ration with too high a protein content during this time, they will
develop a condition called angel wing . This happens when their feathers grow so fast
that the bone structure behind them cannot support them; the outer wing feathers sag at
angle, making the bird look like an airplane (see box opposite).
It is at this stage in their life (around three to four weeks) that I begin to introduce
them to pasture or at least a larger selection of greens and leafy products. If you graze
them at this point, they will devour less protein, and angel wing will appear minimally
or not at all. I cut back all of the waterfowl feed to around 15 percent protein at this
stage and raise them a little slower than commercial producers to let their bone and body
structure develop. See chapter 25 , Flock Health, for tips on treating angel wing. If your
goal is to butcher your entire flock as soon as you can, however, you can ignore the an-
gel wing advice and let them grow as fast as possible.
Adults
Adult ducks can be fed a crumble, pellet, or mixed grains. If confined to a small area,
they need a source of grit and oyster shell for proper digestion. On range, they find nat-
ural sources of grit without human provision. When given access to pasture and forage,
they will also consume less commercial feed. Whether or not you allow your birds to
range, ducks need a food protein content of at least 15 percent to maintain a productive
laying season. With a 15 percent protein feed ration and ability to glean goodies on pas-
ture, they should provide you with an ample number of eggs for an extended season.