Vitamins for ducklings: what to give at home and the names of the top 4 supplements
Without vitamins, metabolic processes and biochemical reactions in the body of a bird cannot proceed normally. In addition to carbohydrates, proteins and fats, poultry needs vitamin compounds. Consider the purpose and effect of vitamins for ducklings, which have a natural and industrial origin, for which they must be given to young animals raised at home.
Benefits of vitamins for ducklings
In spring and summer, the issue of providing poultry with vitamins is easier. There are enough vitamins in the green food that ducklings and mulards eat, chicks, walking in the fresh air, get calciferol from sunlight.But in autumn, winter and early spring there is no greenery, so poultry grown at home must be fed either with fortified vegetables that can be stored for a long time without changing their quality, or with special premixes.
However, regardless of the period of the season, it is important to supply vitamins to the duck body in the first days of their life. Substances protect the bird from infectious diseases, normalize metabolic processes, and prevent hypovitaminosis. Ducklings, receiving vitamins, absorb feed better, the livestock is better preserved, the mortality of young animals is reduced.
The lack of these components leads to morbidity and death of young animals. The growth of the chicks stops, they are depressed, they eat poorly, their physical and mental condition worsens. Violations are also manifested in appearance: ducklings move little, their feathers are ruffled, dull, begin to fall out, claws and beak become soft. If the lack of substances is large, the ducklings may begin to peck at each other.This is a clear sign of beriberi.
To prevent this from happening, you can give ducklings vegetables that contain natural vitamins or premixes, the composition of which is specially selected and developed for feeding poultry.
Additives are recommended to be introduced into the feed of ducklings of any breed, both sexes, in the autumn-winter period, and also in summer, if the products lack nutrients.
Natural source of vitamins
Many vegetables that can be grown in the garden or bought contain vitamin compounds needed by ducklings. In addition to vegetables, you can feed them with animal products and mineral supplements.
Fish meal
Fish feed contains proteins, vitamin compounds of groups B, A and D, calcium and phosphorus. Fishmeal should be approximately 7% of the volume of food. From it you can cook nutritious broths, prepare a variety of mixers, or simply pour it into ready-made food.
Carrots
It contains a lot of carotene, retinol is synthesized from it in the body of chicks. In addition to carotene, carrots are saturated with vitamins K and PP. The vegetable can be fed fresh, dried and in silage. It is given to ducks from 3 days old, at an early age, carrots can make up 1/4 or 1/3 of the daily diet.
Pumpkin
The orange vegetable contains carotene, as well as vitamins belonging to group B, tocopherol. It contains phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc. Pumpkin can be fed to ducklings from a very early age.
Sugar beet
Beetroot can be given to ducklings from the age of 5, but not fresh, but boiled and as part of grain mash. Little ducklings need to grind it on a grater. In the diet of ducks, it can occupy 1/5 of the total feed volume. Beets contain a lot of sucrose, fiber, mineral elements and nitrogenous substances.
Rotabaga
This vegetable contains retinol, tocopherol and folic acid and other B compounds, vitamins PP, C and H, as well as iron, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium. The vitamins in it are preserved during the storage period and after heat treatment, so the swede can be added to the mash in boiled form. The volume of swede is approximately 10% of the total diet.
Potatoes
It has a lot of starch and carbohydrates, B vitamins, retinol and tocopherol, ascorbic acid. Mineral elements are present, especially phosphorus and potassium.
Boiled tubers can be fed to 1.5 week old ducklings, potatoes should be 1/5 of the grain mash.
Chalk
Already on the 4th day, chalk top dressing is introduced into the duck diet. This is a source of calcium that the body of a young bird uses for bone growth. Ground chalk is mixed into wet mixers or left in a bowl in a finely crushed form so that the chicks peck at it.
Crushed shell
There is a lot of calcium in the shell, but it is also added to the feed so that the ducklings can more easily digest the food. There should be water near the mash all the time so that the chicks wash down the food with water to facilitate swallowing.
Vitamin supplements
In addition to vegetables, ready-made complex supplements, specially designed for this purpose, can be added to the duck diet.
Components are selected by manufacturers in such a way that they fully satisfy the need of the bird for vitamins and mineral components.
"Sunshine"
In the composition of the premix retinol, ascorbic acid, biotin, tocopherol, calciferol. It is saturated with substances from group B, the most important macro- and microelements. The components in the "Sun" premix are contained in a concentrated form. Because of this, it is economical. For 10 ducklings aged 1 week, 4 g is enough, it is enough to give monthly 18 g every day.The premix is mixed into the mixers.
ProKorm
The premix is made from high quality grains, milk proteins, vegetable and animal fats, enzymes and amino acids. ProKorma contains retinol, biotin, calciferol, tocopherol, group B compounds. Mineral elements: selenium, iron, copper, cob alt, manganese. The supplement can be given on the 1st day of life after eating food: pour on a light sheet of paper. When the ducklings are 3 days old, the premix is added directly to the feeders.
Grow Rich
Premix is added to the food of young animals. It contains a lot of vitamins and mineral components, in composition it is not inferior to previous remedies. According to the manufacturers, there are no growth stimulants and hormones in the complex. The "Rich" remedy is formulated in such a way that it can remove toxic substances from the body of ducklings: metal s alts, carcinogenic and radioactive elements.
Premix can be added to chicks from the day they are born. It is recommended to mix it into freshly prepared food and distribute it to the chicks in the morning. Food should be at room temperature, not hot. Hot damages the bird's digestive system and destroys vitamins.
"Siberian Compound"
Concentrated premix prepared for feeding young ducks as a means of supplying their bodies with the necessary mineral elements and essential vitamins for normal life. The concentrate can be added to the feed every day, while its proportion should not exceed 1%.
Vitamins and mineral elements no less important for the body should get into it every day. Without them, young animals cannot develop properly, grow slowly, and remain weak. Sources of the necessary components are fresh vegetables, root crops, herbs and ready-made premixes.
The latter are convenient in that they are stored for a long time, do not deteriorate, do not take up much space during storage, and are economical. They can be bought at any store for livestock breeders, the cost of premixes is moderate, the purchase costs always pay off.
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