Ducks - Niacin Deficiency

Hello all.

I have two Pekin ducklings going on two weeks old, one male and one female. The female was showing signs of a niacin deficiency, so I began adding Brewer's Yeast to their feed, but now the male is starting to show signs. The female seems to be better, but not much. Both of the ducklings lie around most of the time and I'm really worried. I've only been giving them Brewer's Yeast for three days now, and I have no idea how fast (or slowly) this works, so I'm hoping someone can help me out. I've read that if it isn't treated early, it can lead to serious issues. I added 1/2 cup of the yeast to 5-6 cups of feed (is this too much? enough?). Should I purchase a poultry multivitamin instead? I'm REALLY worried about my little babies! Any information will be DEEPLY appreciated -- thank you!

I had this happen. My duck had it and didn't move much, and when he did he kind of limped. I put him in a cage where he wasn't disturbed often. He had food and water. His water was in one of those small 25oz plastic container. I bought a thing of sundown naturals Niacin pills, ground one up, added a tiny pinch of it to the water, and he soon recovered. If you want to see the thread I started for it, look here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1101350/is-there-anything-else-i-can-do-for-my-duck You might notice I call the duck "She". It turned out to be a boy. I didn't give him the brewer's yeast just so you know. A tiny pinch of niacin in the water worked fine. Hope this helps!

Oh boy, try @Amiga
She will help you............


Cheers!

It's one tablespoon of Brewers yeast per cup of feed. You are very close to that. There are 8 tablespoons in 1/2 cup. You could increase the amount of feed you mix in a little.

Every duck is different and will react differently to deficiencies and then also when you correct the issue. For my one that had a problem, it took a week before I noticed a real improvement. Just give them both a little time.

150 mg niacin per gallon of drinking water is what Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks recommends. So the 150 mg niacin - B3 - is what I suggest.

Also - not no-flush, not timed release. Plain. Call around, big box store, grocery store, drugstore, be sure it's plain niacin.

One alternative is B complex vitamin - use the niacin-B3 amount to know how much to add to a gallon of water.

Hugs

Thanks everyone for all your help! I think I will try the niacin tablets in water and see if that helps more.. I worry so badly about my animals and it's always nice to have caring individuals that offer their help

AmberCamilia said:

Thanks everyone for all your help! I think I will try the niacin tablets in water and see if that helps more.. I worry so badly about my animals and it's always nice to have caring individuals that offer their help

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lol, YES, Everyone is great and we all love Ducks!!


Cheers!

I am seeking help with this as well. Our ducklings are 4 weeks old today and one has started showing signs of a niacin deficiency, I have researched for the last 24 hours straight and I am going a little bonkers because I can't seem to get a straight answer using so many very reputable waterfowl/duck raising sites. I know now that we weren't supplying enough nutritional yeast in their feed, so I have increased that amount, but I need to know if the amount is correct, or if it is still too little. I have read THREE CUPS of yeast per TEN POUNDS of food. I see here that it can be broken down to ONE TABLESPOON per ONE CUP of food. I read that a duckling this age needs 55 MG of Niacin a day, which makes that TWO TABLESPOONS. And then I am trying to figure out, for FIVE ducks, does that need to be multiplied by five for them to all be getting an adequate amount per day? So far, just one of them is showing symptoms (laying/sitting most of the time, using her hocks to move about and scoot, not standing fully upright like the rest of the girls when I'm in the brooder room with them). I just want to make sure I have the right amount or at least am not doing too little, as I am sure if one has this issue, the other 4 ducks aren't too far behind. HELP! It's been 24 hours now with her showing these signs, and it's breaking my heart reading about the long term effects and failure to thrive. Thank you, anyone and everyone who can help me!!!

It sounds like you are providing some nutritional yeast now. Is that right? If so I would start by increasing what you are giving now. Back when my ducks were ducklings I followed the one cup per 10 lbs of food rule of thumb but I had one duckling out of four that started showing symptoms of deficiency. So I upped what I was giving them by maybe 1/4 cup and she was fine after about a week. Some ducks just need a little extra. Chances are your other ducks won't show any symptoms. You are addressing the issue early so your little one will more than likely be fine once you find a good balance for her.

Oh yes forgot to say, welcome to BYC!