Good point, George. By the same token, feed store employees will unknowingly tell folks it's okay to feed ducklings medicated chick chow, it's not. The coccidiostat found in medicated chick chow can kill ducklings. Ducklings require a waterfowl starter diet.
Also, I know that some folks feed chicken mash to adult ducks and although many get away with doing this, some ducks are more sensitive to feed issues than others and it can be risky. Waterfowl require a certain amount of niacin in their diet and what's found in chicken feed is not sufficient. Often, the results are ducks presenting with neurological problems and eventual death. You typically won't get as many eggs either if ducks are fed chicken feed.
Better to keep ducklings and chicklets separate and feed appropriately until they're off the starter feed at about 6 weeks. If you want to combine them after that, feed ducks a waterfowl maintenance (grower) diet. If adult chickens and ducks sample each others food occasionally, it won't be a problem.
That said, I'll be wary of any chicks at the feed store that are wearing a
tuxedo ;)
Sue
WLR
"Old George" <barnmanager@...> wrote:
>
> LOL Marla, Sounds about right for feed stores. BTW, If you are looking for information don't ask the store clerk. Most of them, not all, but most of them don't know a chicken from a door knob.
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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