Five week old duckling with shaky leg

[BornToQuack]

Hi all, four weeks ago our family welcomed three "Blue" Indian Runner Ducks into our household (they're now five weeks old). So far they seem very healthy and active, but I've noticed that one of our girls (she's already quacking) has a shaky leg.

I've been adding two teaspoons of brewer's yeast per gallon of water for the last two weeks, in the hopes that a boost in niacin would help strengthen her legs. When we first got them, the feed store sold us a flock raiser feed they said was for ducks and geese. They never said anything about providing extra supplements. It was only after I noticed that this one duckling's legs trembled a lot while standing that I realized something might be off about their diet.

So in addition to adding brewer's yeast to their water, I've also transitioned them to a 50/50 mix of Scratch and Peck Organic Starter feed & Scratch and Peck Organic Grower feed. The long-term plan is to transition them to 100% Scratch and Peck Organic Grower feed until they start laying, and then get them a duck-specific layer feed. They also regularly forage in our backyard and vegetable garden, and will be free range in a few weeks.

Her siblings (hopefully also girls) seem to be just fine, so now I'm wondering if there's something else wrong with her leg? She runs and swims just fine, so it it possible her leg only shakes when she's anxious or chilled?

Thanks for any feedback or advice!

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC!

I think @Miss Lydia recommends adding the brewers yeast to food, not water, and I think she recommends one tablespoon per cup of feed.

How water soluble is your brewers yeast and how much niacin does it contain?

Can you get some liquid b complex from the feed store or Walmart? I think @CayugaJana has pictures and dosing info.

 

[BornToQuack]

The brewer's yeast we bought is supposed to be water soluble for mixing into stews, soups, and juices. It says it "mixes instantly without the use of a blender."

It contains 10mg of Niacin per 30 grams.

I don't mind mixing the powder in with their food if that's best, though. The only niacin supplement we could find nearby was a 1 lb container from a local health food store (there aren't any really close feed stores out here, and Portland has a thing against Wal-Mart).

 

[casportpony]

The Purina Flock Raiser contains 55 ppm niacin (55 mg per 2.2 pounds, so if you mix their feed with something that does not contain niacin you have reduced the amount of niacin they will consume in a day so you should make up the difference by adding it back to the feed or water.

How much does a tablespoon of your powder weigh? 10 grams? If so, one tablespoon has ~3.3 mg niacin, which isn't enough I don't think. .

If I were you I would go to a pharmacy or health food store and get some human liquid b complex and try that.

 

[CayugaJana]

That’s exactly what I would suggest @casportpony. Most if not all of US pharmacies will carry sublingual vitamin b complex. Look at the ingredients, give each bird having issues 100mgs of niacin a day. For about a week. They should be drastically better in a weeks time.

In the future, do you have any sources of nutritional yeast? I believe you can get it in the baking section of some grocery stores. Nutritional yeast has a lot more niacin than brewers yeast. Or some people prefer to buy the regular niacin tablets in the vitamin section of your grocery store. Make sure it is the regular kind. If it says, “flush free” it won’t work. You could grind all your tablets up at once and mix into a big batch of feed. I’m just trying to give you options for down the road. Hopefully I’m not confusing you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I really like Nutritional yeast better than Brewers yeast more niacin. But for a lil one that is already having leg issues should be put on B Complex liquid it can be ordered on line or bought at health food stores 2-3 droppers a day for a least a week. Saying this because others this season who have had lil ones with shaky legs have used the B Complex liquid and have had great results.

 

[BornToQuack]

Thanks for all of the great advice! I'll look into other niacin options. Thankfully her shaking isn't all that bad, and certainly isn't stopping her from running, swimming, and enjoying life in general.

In any case, I moved them over to the Scratch and Peck feed (from the Flock Raiser crumble) for a few reasons:

1) I was afraid the ducklings would develop Angel Wing if I didn't start lowering their protein consumption.

2) Just as our one duckling's leg started getting really bad, the poultry specialist at the feed store we got them from became injured and went on disability leave. When I called the store asking if the flock raiser they sold us had enough niacin for ducklings, no one seemed to know, and they wouldn't offer any advice on whether I should supplement with brewer's yeast.

Since their staff clearly weren't knowledgeable about ducks, I contacted two other feed stores (both had duck experts on staff) and they both suggested Scratch and Peck feed, with brewer's yeast as a supplement. Of course, Scratch and Peck is made locally, so that could partiality explain why it's popular out here.

In any case, I've contacted Scratch and Peck directly (via email) and asked how much Niacin is in their starter and grower feeds (the amounts aren't listed on their bags, nor their website).

 

[BornToQuack]

If it helps, here are some pictures of the girl having issues. Her left leg seems to be the worst.

 

[Lil Drake40]

Sure are adorable. I love sitting out watching my Runners they really are clowns

 

[Lil Drake40]

Legs look nice and straight too