Muscovy duck..surprise!

Well yesterday we got two Muscovy ducks, slightly earlier than expected, we were to get them in end of May but the guy arrived with them yesterday!
So a few quick questions, I have to ask here as the guy was German and he doesnt speak English or Finnish! and I dont speak German.
From what I could understand he says not to feed them whole grain, but to grind it init a flour. Is this right?
Today they had chicken mash and mashed potatoes.
So any advice from duck people is gratefully recieved!
Thankyou.
suomi.

they need a high protein mash to start with, like 18% or higher, but then you must cut down to around 14% after 2 weeks so that they can develop their wings properly, higher protein can cause what is known as "angel wing".

when young they need fine food they can swallow, but they also need grit in the food (which the mash should have)

you could also add sour raw milk to the mash, i added water and goats milk to my duck's mash

but when they come of size and can take whole grain, feeding whole soaked grains (for 24 hours or longer) is better, less messy and keeps them warmer in the winter.

Thanks
they are actually full grown, we were supposed to be getting young ones in may,but I guess something got lost in translation!!  but anyway they are here now, so I will soak grain, we have barley and oats.  Great if that keeps them warm in winter cos it gets to minus 25o centigrade!
suomi 

ah one more quick question.... is it ok for the ducks to be in the same run as chickens, its a huge area mostly silver birch trees and grass, the ducks would have their own seperate house.
Thanks, suomi

shouldn't be a problem, though the ducks may much up the chickens water, which is annoying
and the chickens may steal food that you intended for the ducks...