Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[OldMissionChick]

I have a duck with a slight limp :-( I have read that brewers yeast & niacin will help. Will this affect my chickens as well? They are all penned together.

 

[Stacykins]

I have a duck with a slight limp :-( I have read that brewers yeast & niacin will help. Will this affect my chickens as well? They are all penned together.

Niacin will only help if the core of the problem (the limp) is caused by a niacin deficiency. Chickens don't have such a high requirement for niacin, but it is a water soluable B vitamin, so it will not hurt them if they ingest more than they need for their health. If the limp is caused by a physical injury, the duck will just need some TLC while it heals.

Is the duck an adult duck? If so, niacin deficiency is likely not the problem. It manifests in fast growing, developing ducklings with swollen, bowed legs. But for adults, they're done growing. If the bird is an adult, suspect an injury rather than a deficiency. Especially if you own multiple ducks, they'd all show signs of a deficiency rather than just one.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

@aart I read to tape a piece of red Saran Wrap over your flash light; the bees won't be disturbed by the red beam at all.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Freezing eggs: http://qpolitical.com/i-thought-he-...-an-ice-tray-seconds-later-it-all-made-sense/
Since we know egg prices are increasing.

 

[OldMissionChick]

Niacin will only help if the core of the problem (the limp) is caused by a niacin deficiency. Chickens don't have such a high requirement for niacin, but it is a water soluable B vitamin, so it will not hurt them if they ingest more than they need for their health. If the limp is caused by a physical injury, the duck will just need some TLC while it heals.

Is the duck an adult duck? If so, niacin deficiency is likely not the problem. It manifests in fast growing, developing ducklings with swollen, bowed legs. But for adults, they're done growing. If the bird is an adult, suspect an injury rather than a deficiency. Especially if you own multiple ducks, they'd all show signs of a deficiency rather than just one.

He is one of 8 that are 10 weeks old (the only one with the curled drake feather). So I am not sure if its a deficiency, an injury or if he was feeling amorous (has already attempted to mount a Peking) and pulled a muscle (if thats possible). They did recently get a much larger pool as well.
I got 100mg Niacin capsules. Should I mix it in with a treat or mix with food for the whole flock (8 ducks & 9 chickens)? If so how much? Thanks for the help

 

[Steve P]

My chicks are getting big. Will be 4 weeks on Monday.

 

[aart]

All the littlest chickies went to the coop today.....Out Da House, YAYYYY!!!

This pic portended well for roosting, but no they're all huddled on the floor sleeping...even ignored the cardboard box they slept in the brooder.


Sleeping on the floor had not occurred to the 3mo pullets that were displaced off this roost when the chicks went out.....
they are not having a good night. I went out to move them from the nests to the roost, didn't wait until it was dark enough and all holy heck broke out, poor birds.

 

[bigmrg74]

All the littlest chickies went to the coop today.....Out Da House, YAYYYY!!!

This pic portended well for roosting, but no they're all huddled on the floor sleeping...even ignored the cardboard box they slept in the brooder.


Sleeping on the floor had not occurred to the 3mo pullets that were displaced off this roost when the chicks went out.....
they are not having a good night. I went out to move them from the nests to the roost, didn't wait until it was dark enough and all holy heck broke out, poor birds.

I've been giving the kids some time out in the tractor with the big girls for a hour or so for the last week. They're getting to were they're a little more relaxed around them now, just merely staying away from the big girls instead of just cowering and pushing into a corner. I'm pretty much just waiting on the big girls to eat down the rest of their layer feed so that I can switch the feeder over to plain feed and supplement them with oyster shells. I'm thinking on Monday night after work I'm going to pull the trigger on putting them in with the big girls full full time.

 

[Stacykins]

He is one of 8 that are 10 weeks old (the only one with the curled drake feather). So I am not sure if its a deficiency, an injury or if he was feeling amorous (has already attempted to mount a Peking) and pulled a muscle (if thats possible). They did recently get a much larger pool as well.
I got 100mg Niacin capsules. Should I mix it in with a treat or mix with food for the whole flock (8 ducks & 9 chickens)? If so how much? Thanks for the help

If you want to make sure they get the niacin, then mixing it in a treat then feeding directly to each duck is a good idea. Almost like a bolus dose. Then giving brewers yeast or something similar with food will imrpove the niacin levels in the diet. Because it is a water soluable B vitamin, it is very difficult to overdose, since they quickly excrete what they don't need.

How much, I am not sure. With brewers yeast, I just sprinkle a bit on top of the food, I never really measured. I stop doing it once they're grown.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/980007/how-do-you-give-your-duckling-niacin

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/756861/duckling-niacin-deficiency#post_10734399