Niacin Deficiencies in Goslings & Ducklings (growth & leg problems)

[GloryGirl]

Amiga,

The three of them were 1 week on Wednesday. The temp in the brooder is 90-95 on the warm end. I have a 1 gal. chick waterer and a 1qt. chick feeder. The food they gave me at the farm store is ManaPro Game and Show bird feed. I have also given them around a teaspoon a day of minced greens (leaf lettuce, bok choy, and now dandelion greens when I can find them.) I didn't learn about the niacin until Monday so I got the brewer's yeast on Tuesday and mixed some in with their food. I'm trying to calculate how much to mix with their food, though it says it mixes in water too. They are standing on their feet more today and their hocks look smaller, but they still would rather be fed from my hand than the feeder and will lay down to eat if they can. They just don't seem to move around much except when they get their baths, then they have a ball.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me with this. The lethargy was such a slow onset, that if I hadn't been reading up, I might not have been looking for other clues.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Amiga,

The three of them were 1 week on Wednesday. The temp in the brooder is 90-95 on the warm end. I have a 1 gal. chick waterer and a 1qt. chick feeder. The food they gave me at the farm store is ManaPro Game and Show bird feed. I have also given them around a teaspoon a day of minced greens (leaf lettuce, bok choy, and now dandelion greens when I can find them.) I didn't learn about the niacin until Monday so I got the brewer's yeast on Tuesday and mixed some in with their food. I'm trying to calculate how much to mix with their food, though it says it mixes in water too. They are standing on their feet more today and their hocks look smaller, but they still would rather be fed from my hand than the feeder and will lay down to eat if they can. They just don't seem to move around much except when they get their baths, then they have a ball.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me with this. The lethargy was such a slow onset, that if I hadn't been reading up, I might not have been looking for other clues.

your temps in your brooder is too high. try to get it down to 85-90 better on lower end

 

[Amiga]

GloryGirl, I agree with Miss Lydia about the temperatures. Cool it down, that is very important. Sadly, some have accidentally overheated and killed ducklings.

Did they have chick starter? I think that would be better for ducklings.

 

[GloryGirl]

I can cool it down more. All the chick feed they had was medicated. I can check a different store today, though. Thank you. They're looking more chipper this morning.

 

[Amiga]

It's really something how we have to make these choices - adult unmedicated, or starter medicated......

Please keep us updated. Hugs to you and the duckies.

 

[GloryGirl]

Thank you again for your help.

I got the temp down so the warmest corner is 90 which puts the coolest corner at 82. I took pictures, but my phone and computer aren't talking to each other, so I have to hunt down the real camera. I just don't know for sure if their legs look normal or not. They seem better, but the smallest one (I think she's a gold phase) still spends a lot of her "standing" time on her hocks. I've been giving them a couple of baths a day for a few days now for exercise and it's also where I put their greens.

 

[Amiga]

A few of my ducks sat on their hocks quite a bit for a few weeks.

Looks kinda funny, doesn't it? I'll see if I can find a photo.

 

[Amiga]

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is so cute Amiga, I think most ducklings go through that stage where they sit on their hocks alot, my Muscovy duckling did it.

 

[GloryGirl]

A few of my ducks sat on their hocks quite a bit for a few weeks.

Looks kinda funny, doesn't it? I'll see if I can find a photo.

They are kinda funny looking that way. Thank you for sharing the photo, too. They're sweet looking.

I was able to get to Orscheln's today and talk to their poultry guy who raises and shows his own flocks of various birds. He was able to help me see what was normal and look at the pics I have and assured me they were doing fine. He did get me a different bag of food and wasn't sure why anyone would have suggest the show bird one in the first place. It's the same brand but it's non-medicated chick starter for chicks, ducklings and goslings. He said he's never had to add niacin with that, but I think I'll continue the brewer's yeast for safety. He also told me that too much protein can cause fat legs and a bit about bumble foot.

Now I feel more confident about them, especially since cooling their brooder seems to have made them a bit more energetic and seeing your youngsters helped quite a lot.