Baker's yeast in the water

[FenDruadin]

I have never added niacin to water before, because my ducklings are outdoors part of the day, but this time one was developing shaky legs. I didn't have anything on hand except a one-pound bag of (old) baker's yeast, which I've read contains niacin along with other stuff. I figured it wouldn't hurt to try and if I saw no results, I could go get something better. I poured an indeterminate amount into their water, which they LOVED.

Well, that was yesterday, and Ve*Ron*ica's legs are steady today. Was it the yeast? I think so. I'd love feedback.

 

[Duck Keeper]

I would think in their water the yeast would be happy and start breeding, start making CO2 and make your waterer EXPLODE MUAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

But yeah, I think it was the yeast.

Isn't Brewer's yeast what you're supposed to use though?
I guess yeast is a good all-around niacin supplement then, eh?

 

[FenDruadin]

Yup, brewer's yeast is what they say. But baker's is what I have. lol. Ronnie's legs are shaking a bit again today, so the problem is not gone altogether. I am going grocery shopping and will look for brewer's yeast or, if that's not available, I'll get niacin caps.

But, yeah, the yeast gets real happy in the water. I change it often, lol. But the ducks really really love it. Hermione was busy eating the clumps that formed when I dumped it in the water this morning. Outdoors in their kennel, I just put out a pan of water, so no risk of explosions. Indoors, I leave the yeast out.

Thanks to this "experiment" my 5-year-old is now raising "pet" yeast. He was fascinated by the fact that it is alive, and I showed him how to mix it with warm water and sugar to stimulate it to grow. Which it is now happily doing on the kitchen counter. I guess I need to bake some bread with him.

 

[Duck Keeper]

I always heard of people putting it directly on their food, so it doesn't end up getting 'happy,' but if putting it in the water works for you, go ahead. (You know what it's doing when it's 'happy,' don't you?

) I'm happy I never had any problems with angel wing so far. If it pops up in my flock I'll eat (oh my word! someone eats their pets?! GAH! only so I don't have to needlessly kill and let it go to waste) the bird that it shows up on instead of selling her/him, so the bad genes don't get passed around. Since I'm working with a rare-ish breed, I don't want people buying any culls from me and trying to breed them, even with the problems manifest. Trying to get a few more bloodlines going in my Silver Appleyard program, so they aren't getting inbred. A few more years, and I'll be showing my birds and have a regular old farm going.

 

[goosedragon]

About yeast: brewer's yeast and baker's yeast are different. baker's yeast makes poor beer and brewer's yeast won't raise bread very well. brewer's yeast was bred to produce alcohol out of sugars, baker's carbon dioxide. Both are only fair sources of Niacin and are usually sprinkled on the food not added to water because water activates them and makes then "happy" in the terms used on this thread. When eaten the acid in the bird's gut kills both kinds. Brewer's yeast are usually raised on grain and some of that grain settles out with the yeast and is dried as part of the finished product. Baker's yeast is raised in sugar solution and doesn't have the grain.