Niacin Deficiency? Video added!

[HilaryAkin]

Hi all,

I have a week and a half old duckling. I noticed she is not getting around well, lays down a lot, and is wobbly. Today I saw her hock joint (??) on one foot is enlarged (see pic below) and she won't put weight on it. Does this sound like niacin deficiency? I went to the local feed store today and get a Durvet Vitamin and electrolyte supplement for their water.

If not a niacin issue, a sprain or something? It almost looks like her hock joint is bruised and that leg is peeling a bit...

Any insight would be appreciated as I already love my little Penelope and want her to grow up healthy.

Thanks,
Hilary

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Enlarged hocks and trouble walking are both signs of a niacin deficiency. Pekins being a large breed require extra niacin and Purina only has the recommended amount for average sized ducklings. Since your duckling is showing multiple signs of a deficiency I would highly recommend Durvet's B complex (carried by most farm/ag stored) given at 1 ml per day.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Started it yesterday, along with brewers yeast in their feed and poultry cell in their water. Too much? The one I was concerned about doesn’t seem any better today, maybe willing to stand longer but not putting weight on the foot yet. The other one seems to not want to walk much. My other ducks zipped around when they were that small…either way, they’re both getting a boost of nutrients in their food and water. Should I give the other, seemingly healthy one, the b complex too? How long does it take to see improvement. If they don’t improve, do they die or just not be able to use their one foot?

For a niacin deficiency that is at the stage of swollen hocks and not being able to walk it will
most likely take a few weeks before you see any significant improvement. If the other is already receiving poultry cell in their water I wouldn't give the B complex because they are still receiving extra niacin. In extreme deficiencies they can die, but your duckling is now receiving extra niacin so in the worse case scenario a permanent limp.

 

[HilaryAkin]

Enlarged hocks and trouble walking are both signs of a niacin deficiency. Pekins being a large breed require extra niacin and Purina only has the recommended amount for average sized ducklings. Since your duckling is showing multiple signs of a deficiency I would highly recommend Durvet's B complex (carried by most farm/ag stored) given at 1 ml per day.

They didn’t have it at our local one ugh. I only got the supplement with some niacin in it. Is that enough? I could order the complex online but it would take time.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

This is an injectable?

You can inject or give orally with a needless syringe by putting one drop on the edge of the inside of the bill, allow your duckling to "chew" a couple of times then continue this process with another drop untill the syringe is empty. You could also try giving it over treats, but I would only use that method if you are confident that you can get your duckling fully eat whatever you put it on.

 

[HilaryAkin]

Poultry Cell is a great supplement that has Niacin so I would definitely start with that since they don't have the b complex.

Awesome! Super helpful! Thanks

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I’m also going to grab brewers yeast. Can I use both and not overdose the poor baby duck? Is it weird that the brewers yeast is in the baby section for lactation…?

You can give both at the same time. Brewers yeast usually only has 5mg of niacin per tablespoon so there is no risk of overdosing. As for the baby section Brewers yeast is considered a galactagogue which is a label for anything that promotes breast milk flow and nutrition.

 

[HilaryAkin]

You’re the best! Thanks again!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What are you feeding? You can use brewer's yeast as a niacin supplement. Ducklings need about 10 mg of niacin per day. You need about 1.5 tsp of yeast added to each cup of feed.

 

[HilaryAkin]

What are you feeding? You can use brewer's yeast as a niacin supplement. Ducklings need about 10 mg of niacin per day. You need about 1.5 tsp of yeast added to each cup of feed.

I just started on the Purina one with niacin.