Niacin & brewers yeast

[farmerbrowne]

Brewer's yeast is a good source of niacin. Niacin is needed when ducklings are growing fast, especially large breeds and ducks that can't free range for insects, etc. Layer pellets are high in calcium and can be hard on a drake and can cause liver or kidney damage. Take a look at storey's guide to ducks for recommendations on home-mixed feed, but you can do a lot with cracked corn, cat kibble, potatoes, free ranging and misc supplements. How old is your drake? What symptoms is he showing?

I'm now wondering if I have to worry so much about Brewers yeast as mine are 5 months old

 

[Kimmyh51]

I had some ducklings develop niacin deficiency despite generous Brewers yeast on every meal. I now feed duckling mostly canned catfood (beef, liver, Turkey, or chicken, not fish) which is only 9% protein but the main ingredient is meat. Had no problems at all with niacin deficiency on this diet, and also less health issues overall. I suspect the higher protein levels I was told to feed ducklings were not actually good for them. Meat is high in an easily available form of niacin. Apparently ducks cannot utilise niacin from non meat sources very well..

 

[GracieJ]

Most likely if you can get water fowl feed you probably don't need to add extra niacin in the form of brewers yeast or Niacin tab. Most of us can't get it so we have to use feed formulated for chickens, but even then using water fowl man. you may still have a duckling that develops leg issues so then you have to add niacin to their diet. I use an all flock and just for regular maintenance add Brewers yeast [animal] grade to my flocks feed since I have very young and old in my flock. Ducklings can also develop neurological problems from lack of niacin their diet, it usually shows up early in their lives around 2-4 weeks. and can be corrected pretty fast once started on the niacin[b3] they need to be kept on it till 10-12 weeks of age.
http://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

Okay, please help me get this right - I feed my drake and hen layers pellets with meal worms, lettuce (they LOVE lettuce) and grit - with veggies every so often. Is this fine? My drake doesn't eat a great deal though. Do I have to add brewers yeast to their food? Should I be feeding them different pellets? I tried the layers mash and they looked at it like it was offensive to even think of presenting it to them lol.

 

[BrittanyMccarter92]

Niacin helps ducklings bones develop properly, as they grow fast you want them to develop properly.

One or the other, I like to use brewers yeast because I can sprinkle it over their feed.

Would it hurt the other ducking to eat it?. My little guy has his best friend with him. When they’re separated they cry for one another.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Since I made that post I have read up on niacin and actually prefer Nutritional yeast instead of Brewers yeast. It has more niacin and if they are having issues shaky legs or lameness the best is liquid b complex it works faster. If you just need to supplement and all water fowl need to be supplemented unless your feed has adequate Amount so no it will not hurt your other duckling to have the extra B’s they actually need it.