Niacin check: Dumor Chick Starter/Grower 20%

[Vantic]

Dumor 20% says it has niacin but not how much. Does anyone know if it has the correct portion for ducklings or not. Storey's Guide says you can't over do it so I supplemented Brewer's Yeast, but thought I should check.

New dad to Silver Appleyards

Thank you

 

[Texag87]

That is what I always start with. Just add the brewers yeast to make sure. About two to three weeks into brooding I switch to Purina Flock raiser crumbles. The reason I don't start with flock raiser is the smell. I brood in the bathtub and try to get them out at 3 weeks

 

[Vantic]

Great, do you use Brewers Yeast in the water or food (I put it in both), but I was curious where you put it and how much. I don't want to over do it.

 

[Texag87]

Food. One of the scoops that comes with it to each cup of food. You cannot add to much and harm the ducklings . They will poop out what is not needed. if you add way too much they might not eat it.

 

[Isaac 0]

I couldn't find any source listing the niacin content of Dumor Chick Starter/Grower 20% either, but, like *most* chick starters, the niacin content will likely be around the 35ppm mark, which is only near about half of what you want for heavyweight breeds (such as Silver Appleyards). Whether supplementation of BY (Brewers yeast) will work or not, depends greatly on the brand.

If you do a quick search online, some brands only contain 5mg per tablespoon, or up to 25mg per tablespoon. If you do your research and find one that's high in niacin, you should be fine, or you could purchase NY(nutritional yeast) which is significantly higher in B vitamins the BY, and is more palatable for ducklings. As a third option, you could purchase a niacin powder, or capsules, and add some to either their feed or water.

Just note, that the pure niacin powders you find online contain a large quantity of niacin, and should be used to the correct dosage, as excess amounts have been known to have a reverse effect and cause structural damage in ducklings.

 

[Vantic]

Thank you both for your input. It is much appreciated.