Cayuga Ducks Dying - HELP!

[elvidge93]

Hello, I'm new here! We bought our first round of ducks in June 2024 (5 Indian Runners, 1 Aconia). July 2024, we bought 8 Cayugas - about 2 weeks later, we bought 4 more. Not sure if this is important but we bought the Indians & Aconia from one store, all the Cayugas from another. Now, the reason for this post - we keep losing Cayugas. The only sign we get is they start limping. We're now down to 6, and found another one limping this morning. Typically, we notice the limping and within 1 - 2 days, it's dead. No other signs / symptoms that we've found. The Indians & Anconia are still happy and healthy. What could be causing this??

 

[nuthatched]

What are you feeding, including treats?
Anything toxic or moldy they could have found?

 

[elvidge93]

What are you feeding, including treats?
Anything toxic or moldy they could have found?

We feed organic layer feed from a local mill. Organic cracked corn for a treat occasionally. Nothing toxic or moldy. All ducks are in the same area and eat the same feed

 

[HollowOfWisps]

We feed organic layer feed from a local mill. Organic cracked corn for a treat occasionally. Nothing toxic or moldy. All ducks are in the same area and eat the same feed

They are most likely dying from niacin deficiency. The limping is a sign, but many if not most locally milled feeds do not have the correct nutrient requirements for ducks and do not have added niacin. Add in the cracked corn and it’s a recipe for niacin deficiency which if untreated leads to death. The reason it is only the Cayugas right now is because they are a heavier breed than runners and anconas. The larger the breed the higher the niacin requirement and the more quickly they tend to ail from niacin deficiency. I would recommend switching to either a duck specific feed or purina flock raiser right away along with picking up Durvets b complex.

 

[nuthatched]

We feed organic layer feed from a local mill. Organic cracked corn for a treat occasionally. Nothing toxic or moldy. All ducks are in the same area and eat the same feed

Any duck supplements for ducks included? Ducks need different nutrition than chickens.

 

[elvidge93]

Any duck supplements for ducks included? Ducks need different nutrition than chickens.

It is made for laying ducks. It has all the nutrients for them

 

[nuthatched]

It is made for laying ducks. It has all the nutrients for them

What brand is it? Some organic brands have lacking nutritional value.

 

[elvidge93]

What brand is it? Some organic brands have lacking nutritional value.

It's the local mills brand made from organic locally grown products.

 

[Panda Ducktress]

So, I have 2 Cayuga ducklings. Neither are limping. One has like a right leg that shakes sometimes. I am following this to figure out if I have a niacin deficiency with them. I was using the dumor duck crumble but we have switched to the purina duck pellets as they are 7 weeks old now. If you think it is could I add some brewers yeast and would it harm my other ducklings because I have 2 runners the same age. I just don't want to give them too much niacin and harm them either.

 

[nuthatched]

It's the local mills brand made from organic locally grown products.

There's a good chance the feed isn't good enough, I'd recommend you switching