Medicated chick starter and ducklings?

[BlueHorse17]

So I just read it’s bad to give ducklings medicated chick starter because they can overdose on it. I bought two 40lb bags of it. Ugh! Should I get regular chick starter ASAP? They all seem fine but they’ve also only been eating it for about two days. Thoughts?

 

[Isaac 0]

The coccidat (amprolium) found in most medicated chick feeds is fine for ducklings.
What you read is simply a myth spread around.
Using chick feed, I would be more so concerned about the lack of niacin found in chick feeds. Consider adding a niacin source to their feed if you wish to feed the chick feed.

 

[BlueHorse17]

The coccidat (amprolium) found in most medicated chick feeds is fine for ducklings.
What you read is simply a myth spread around.
Using chick feed, I would be more so concerned about the lack of niacin found in chick feeds. Consider adding a niacin source to their feed if you wish to feed the chick feed.

Whew! Good to know it’s just a myth. I was worried because I asked other duck owners in person and they said it was bad as well. Wonder what started the myth?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I haven't many choices here for feed so I have to use chick starter/grower and I use Nutritional yeast sprinkled over top 1 Tab per cup of feed. Never had any trouble with my Muscovy having leg issues. NY is a good source of niacin. But if you notice a shakey leg or lameness then you need liquid B complex TSC. If you let your mama and ducklings forage she will show them what they need.

 

[BlueHorse17]

I haven't many choices here for feed so I have to use chick starter/grower and I use Nutritional yeast sprinkled over top 1 Tab per cup of feed. Never had any trouble with my Muscovy having leg issues. NY is a good source of niacin. But if you notice a shakey leg or lameness then you need liquid B complex TSC. If you let your mama and ducklings forage she will show them what they need.

I incubated these guys so unfortunately they don’t have a forage mama. I’ll look into getting the yeast for now so I can at least use up the chick starter. How does niacin contribute to ducks? Does a lack of it cause they immune systems to shut down?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Niacin is so good for their legs it helps them become strong. Chickens don't need as much so when we haven't a choice of what to feed then we have to supplement. I have a mixed flock so I can't feed just feed for waterfowl anyway. My birds are all adults except my chicks and they still get NY in their feed a couple of times a week just because it's so good for them and us to actually.

this will help explain it much better than I.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

Just be sure it's Nutritional yeast and not baker's yeast.

 

[BlueHorse17]

Niacin is so good for their legs it helps them become strong. Chickens don't need as much so when we haven't a choice of what to feed then we have to supplement. I have a mixed flock so I can't feed just feed for waterfowl anyway. My birds are all adults except my chicks and they still get NY in their feed a couple of times a week just because it's so good for them and us to actually.

this will help explain it much better than I.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

Just be sure it's Nutritional yeast and not baker's yeast.

Great information! Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Now we need a bunch of pics of your babies.