Duckling Food and Niacin

[casportpony]

So they responded:

The amount of Niacin in Gamebird/Showbird is 125 mg/kg.

Is there a problem with ducklings having too much niacin?

That amount will be fine, thanks so much for checking!

 

[casportpony]

and in case anyone is wondering, 125 mg/kg = 125 ppm.

 

[Shannonw1228]

Can you take the bag back and get some Purina Flock Raiser instead?

I went and got Purina flock raiser after reading what you wrote. I'm reading storeys book on ducks. He says to change the feed at 2 weeks. On the bag it says 7. How exactly do you do it and what food do you switch to? I'd appreciate your input.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I went and got Purina flock raiser after reading what you wrote. I'm reading storeys book on ducks. He says to change the feed at 2 weeks. On the bag it says 7. How exactly do you do it and what food do you switch to? I'd appreciate your input.

I use this feed. I think Storey's mentions that if you can, change the food, but if not you can leave them on it longer. The book also mentions cutting the feed.
So, that is what I did around 4-5 weeks using metzer's feed calculator to cut the appropriate amount. If you can't find the calculator, I can post it.
After, 10 weeks, my ducks are back on the straight flock raiser feed. Of course it is cut naturally by foraging or whatever veggies I offer.
Purina really just wants to sell a different bag of feed as the protein levels are not that much different. Ducks like protein that is why they eat bugs and and worms, etc. As well if you have layers just set out a separate dish of oyster shell for calcium.
As far as preventing angel wing - 20% is not excessive. I have read enough on the byc forum as well as elsewhere to know that people who have followed the feeding guidelines to a T still get ducks with angel wing. So, there is most likely a genetic component to it.
Anyway, hope that helps.

 

[Shannonw1228]

I use this feed. I think Storey's mentions that if you can, change the food, but if not you can leave them on it longer. The book also mentions cutting the feed.
So, that is what I did around 4-5 weeks using metzer's feed calculator to cut the appropriate amount. If you can't find the calculator, I can post it.
After, 10 weeks, my ducks are back on the straight flock raiser feed. Of course it is cut naturally by foraging or whatever veggies I offer.
Purina really just wants to sell a different bag of feed as the protein levels are not that much different. Ducks like protein that is why they eat bugs and and worms, etc. As well if you have layers just set out a separate dish of oyster shell for calcium.
As far as preventing angel wing - 20% is not excessive. I have read enough on the byc forum as well as elsewhere to know that people who have followed the feeding guidelines to a T still get ducks with angel wing. So, there is most likely a genetic component to it.
Anyway, hope tgat helps.

OK so when I do switch the food can they go on same. Thing as chickens they will be sharing food for awhile? Are you cutting the food with oats like it says? Thank you I will go look up the calculator on the site.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

OK so when I do switch the food can they go on same. Thing as chickens they will be sharing food for awhile? Are you cutting the food with oats like it says? Thank you I will go look up the calculator on the site.

Chickens and ducks can be on flock raiser. Add oyster shell on the side for layers.
I had corn on hand so used that, but if I didn't have it readily available, I would have used oats.
I stopped using the corn when they were about 10 weeks.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Here is the calculator - http://www.metzerfarms.com/FeedConversion.cfm

 

[Eagle Flight Farm]

I still have the receipt from Atwood’s, I’ll check if they at least have that brand.

Our Atwood's carries Nutrena NatureWise All Flock which is what we use, once the ducklings have reached 7 weeks old since it is pelleted. Prior to 7 weeks, we feed the Purina Flock Raiser (crumbles) from Tractor Sypply and still add a bit of Brewer's yeast on top to assure there is enough Niacin. Good Luck!

 

[Eagle Flight Farm]

The reason we went with Nutrena NatureWise All Flock (at 7 weeks of age) over Purina Flock Raiser is below in the email replies I received from Purina and Nutrena when I specifically required about niacin content in the feeds:

From Nutrena NatureWise All Flock:

Jolene Hambley (Nutrena)

Apr 3, 7:51 PM CDT

Hello Shelly,

Thank you for your inquiry and for visiting our website. The NatureWise All Flock is 125 mg/kg. The niacin requirement for ducks per NRC is 55 mg/kg. Additional supplementation is not required but no harm if you want to add some brewers yeast. Brewer’s yeast is a very good B vitamin source as well.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please do not hesitate to email me if you have more questions!

Thanks,

Jolene M. Hambley, M.S.
Nutrena

**************************************************************
And from Purina Flock Raiser:

PMI Web [email protected] via va7b0t92pccsj12k.f3fhtof.j-i9xqeas.na55.bnc.salesforce.com
Apr 5, 2018, 12:31 PM

Thank you for choosing Purina feed. Purina Flock Raiser has 55 ppm niacin added to the feed, to insure that your ducks and geese get the niacin they need. If your flock is free range, make sure that the feed makes up at least 90% of their diet, or the nutrition level will become too dilute, and not meet their needs. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

************************************************

So, because of the additional niacin content, we decided to go with Nutrena NatureWise All Flock.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

The reason we went with Nutrena NatureWise All Flock (at 7 weeks of age) over Purina Flock Raiser is below in the email replies I received from Purina and Nutrena when I specifically required about niacin content in the feeds:

From Nutrena NatureWise All Flock:

Jolene Hambley (Nutrena)

Apr 3, 7:51 PM CDT

Hello Shelly,

Thank you for your inquiry and for visiting our website. The NatureWise All Flock is 125 mg/kg. The niacin requirement for ducks per NRC is 55 mg/kg. Additional supplementation is not required but no harm if you want to add some brewers yeast. Brewer’s yeast is a very good B vitamin source as well.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please do not hesitate to email me if you have more questions!

Thanks,

Jolene M. Hambley, M.S.
Nutrena

**************************************************************
And from Purina Flock Raiser:

PMI Web [email protected] via va7b0t92pccsj12k.f3fhtof.j-i9xqeas.na55.bnc.salesforce.com
Apr 5, 2018, 12:31 PM
Thank you for choosing Purina feed. Purina Flock Raiser has 55 ppm niacin added to the feed, to insure that your ducks and geese get the niacin they need. If your flock is free range, make sure that the feed makes up at least 90% of their diet, or the nutrition level will become too dilute, and not meet their needs. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

************************************************

So, because of the additional niacin content, we decided to go with Nutrena NatureWise All Flock.

That is good info to know about the nutrena. I contacted Purina and got the same reply.