Niacin question

[HotWingsHoulihen]

I’ve been sprinkling on brewers yeast on my duckling’s food but I noticed yesterday after a trip in the tub that one has bowed legs while the others are fine.

I did a bit of research after we were given two ducklings (and then my wife bought two more). Apparently ducklings/ducks need niacin in quantity. From what I gathered, brewer's yeast, and any niacin formulated for people, is pretty much useless for ducks. It has something to do with the binders used to deliver the niacin.
What I did find as an acceptable delivery for niacin that ducks can use is Prairie Pride Vitamins & Electrolytes. They are sold at Tractor Supply. I mixed the entire 8 oz bag in 1 gallon of water to make a concentrate. I then take 1 tablespoon of concentrate per 1 gallon fresh cold water to make drinking water (repeat as drinking water is used). We have had our ducks for about 4 weeks and I have offered this free choice the entire time. In that time we haven't seen any symptoms of niacin deficiency.
All that being said, I'm no expert on ducks or ducklings. I am only offering my experience in the hope that it will help someone that was as lost as I was. I had no idea that ducks needed so much Niacin! Hope this helps.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...chPreview-_-DidYouMean-_-Product&cm_vc=-10005

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I did a bit of research after we were given two ducklings (and then my wife bought two more). Apparently ducklings/ducks need niacin in quantity. From what I gathered, brewer's yeast, and any niacin formulated for people, is pretty much useless for ducks. It has something to do with the binders used to deliver the niacin.
What I did find as an acceptable delivery for niacin that ducks can use is Prairie Pride Vitamins & Electrolytes. They are sold at Tractor Supply (no, I am not affiliated with TSC in any capacity). I mixed the entire 8 oz bag in 1 gallon of water to make a concentrate. I then take 1 tablespoon of concentrate and mix it with fresh cold water to make drinking water. We have had our ducks for about 4 weeks and I have offered this free choice the entire time. In that time we haven't seen any symptoms of niacin deficiency.
All that being said, I'm no expert on ducks or ducklings. I am only offering my experience in the hope that it will help someone that was as lost as I was. I had no idea that ducks needed so much Niacin! Hope this helps.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...chPreview-_-DidYouMean-_-Product&cm_vc=-10005

Hey I appreciate the advice. We have no TSC anywhere near us so this b complex will have to do. I already made up a gallon using 4ml per gallon. Hopefully I’ll see some improvement. The other ducks are fine and since vitamin b is water soluble it will be pushed out with their excrement.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

This is what Metzer Farms recommends.
https://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

 

[HotWingsHoulihen]

Sounds like you've got a good handle on it.

Keep us posted on the condition of the bow legged one.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

This is what Metzer Farms recommends.
https://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

Thanks for the article! I read through it and it seems I’m on the right track. One ml of my liquid complex has 100mg of niacin. I administered orally the first does and then added 4ml to their gallon of water. I hope to see improvement in the next week or so.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

At least you caught it early. You should be able to fix it permanently.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

At least you caught it early. You should be able to fix it permanently.

I just seen it a yesterday. Poor thing looked like Fred Sanford walking in the tub. It was swimming good though.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's great. Once symptoms are discovered, it is important to take action within 24 hours.
I haven't researched lethal dose but apparently it is difficult to overdose niacin.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

That's great. Once symptoms are discovered, it is important to take action within 24 hours.
I haven't researched lethal dose but apparently it is difficult to overdose niacin.

I hope it wasn’t walking like that too long though. Even if it was, I have enough b vitamin to treat 500 ducklings. If I run out, my neighbor up the road said he’d give me a new bottle.

 

[casportpony]

I haven't researched lethal dose but apparently it is difficult to overdose niacin.

My concern is not the niacin, it's the thiamine.