6 baby ducks

[Kgordon]

we got 6 ducklings at our local farm store 3 weeks ago. Boy did I get myself into something! But I love them and we’re working on getting their permanent shelter finished. Problem is 1 of 6 is not doing well. Seems to have a niacin deficiency. I have been adding brewers yeast to their feed for the past 2 weeks or so because I didn’t know about it at first. Even the people at TSC couldn’t tell me whether I really needed it or not. Anyone know if 1 of the 6 can be deficient and not the rest? Should I put additional niacin in their water or do something different?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Anyone know if 1 of the 6 can be deficient and not the rest?

Yes. Some individuals may process vitamins less efficiently, or excrete them more quickly. If a riboflavin-deficient food is fed to chicks, the Merck Vet manual says that only about one in ten will exhibit symptoms.

Should I put additional niacin in their water or do something different?

You should probably use something besides Brewers yeast. It doesn't have a lot of bang for the buck, and what's usually needed to correct a deficiency of any sort is a huge dose all at once.

I'd buy niacin (nicitinimide. Not inisitol hexanicitinimide--forgive me if I spelled those wrong) from Walmart in tablet form, if you can find any. More and more lately, I've noticed I can't find any niacin but the flush-free/slow release variety, which isn't actually niacin. If you can't find it, go with B-complex. You can pick that up from Walmart or from your local farm store. The stuff at TSC/Rural King is in a great big bottle that says "injectable" on it. You can administer it in their water.

 

[Kgordon]

Yes. Some individuals may process vitamins less efficiently, or excrete them more quickly. If a riboflavin-deficient food is fed to chicks, the Merck Vet manual says that only about one in ten will exhibit symptoms.


You should probably use something besides Brewers yeast. It doesn't have a lot of bang for the buck, and what's usually needed to correct a deficiency of any sort is a huge dose all at once.

I'd buy niacin (nicitinimide. Not inisitol hexanicitinimide--forgive me if I spelled those wrong) from Walmart in tablet form, if you can find any. More and more lately, I've noticed I can't find any niacin but the flush-free/slow release variety, which isn't actually niacin. If you can't find it, go with B-complex. You can pick that up from Walmart or from your local farm store. The stuff at TSC/Rural King is in a great big bottle that says "injectable" on it. You can administer it in their water.

Thank you. I’ll go tomorrow. Do you know how much to give?

 

[sylviethecochin]

I read on poultry DVM that it should be a minimum of 40 mg/kg. I usually use more than that, but I favor the "dump" method of dosing with vitamin B, since it's water soluble and easily excreted.

 

[Kgordon]

Unfortunately he didn’t make it.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

so sorry

 

[ThatOneFarmGirl786]

@Kgordon let me tell you. While you still can, you need to fix him/her. I deeply regret not fixing my duck. You can only fix them when they are young. After they get older, they're hock swells and their limp stays permanent. Go on google and search up"duck with a lame leg" please and I mean PLEASE don't make the same mistake I made. It hurts to see him barely able to walk. Please fix him while you can. I recommend ordering actual duck food if youre using chick starter. And try to help him or her with walking. If you don't see improvements, cut a styrofoam cups in half and use the bottom part and put something that weighs it down a little bit so it doesn't break like a rock. And use surgical tape to tape it on. Please fix it and update on the duck. Good luck.