Niacin question

[GMT]

Quote:
I just bought the 100 mg niacin tablets from the local vitamin store. When I needed to fortify a gallon of water, I pounded the heck out of a tablet and poured the resulting fine powder into the water. Since they're ducks, half of it will end up on them, instead of in them. But that method worked out just fine for my six girls.

 

[tiffanya]

Is it necessary to supplement Flock Raiser with niacin? I didn't last year and had no problems with my ducks, but am no expert. The packaging doesn't seem to show that it is needed. I'm not saying there is no chance Purina is incorrect, but one would think that since they are in the business of making animal feed that they should have a general idea of what is needed. If my ducks began have leg problems I of course would start using it, but was curious what everyone else does.

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have never supplemented the diet of my ducks with niacin specifically. I give a multivitamin powder at times if I have a sick bird or through the winter months but over decades of keeping waterfowl I have never had a bird show symptoms of a niacin deficiency. I realize that feed manufactured here in Australia is different to what you have available in the USA or different countries- but mine get chicken laying pellets as the main source of nutrition with fruit vegetables and plenty of free ranging time and some worms a few times a week and I have never had a bird with problems.

 

[destinduck]

Besides the free rangeing. I pretty much mirror you ducky. EVERYTIME I see this niacin deficiency brought up it is ALWAYS chick starter, So what I conclude is if there is any way at all to avoid feeding this chick starter to your ducks then you NEVER have to worry about niacin. That being said if thats the only food you can get well I guess you have to worry how much niacin has to be consumed. There are two things always brought up on BYC and that is Niacin and drakes getting too much calcium (which in my opinion the ONLY way this is going to happen is if you forcefeed that drake pure oystershell), But getting back to the niacin I hope that everyone knows you dont have to worry about a niacin deficiency as soon as you can get them off that chick starter ( probably at around 4 weeks). Buttercup were you also feeding this "chick starter" to your baby ducks and that is why you got the niacin? And no tiffanya you dont need to supplement. And I agree whole heartedly with you if I had leg issues with the ducklings to begin with THEN I would do this supplement AND multivitamins (just to boost the system)

 

[tiffanya]

Thanks destinduck. This had been my understanding when I started raising ducks last year, but hear so many conflicting this I wanted to see what others though. I have also heard speifically from a Purina rep that ducklings on Flock Raiser don't need supplements of any kind.

 

[destinduck]

Yea but that same rep would also tell you what their website says From start to finish. Well that starting part is okay. but the finishing way dont always work out. I had a friend that fed his birds this way for years with very few problems but one of those problems was angelwing. And he had alot of ducks. Long story short though .NEVER again did he have this happen when prior to his birds feathers coming in he changed to chicken layer pellets (purina to be exact) and that is what he still feeds them after they feather out because he said its cheaper than the flockraiser anyway.

 

[KansasKid]

$19 a bag here.

 

[destinduck]

And are your layer pellets cheaper? Oh again thanks on that tip on the geese. I just love em.

 

[KansasKid]

Ya its a good bit cheaper, been using dumor layer and starter for the domestics and mandarin ducklings and layena for mandies/teal etc., lots cheaper that way. Welcome! saving my $ from my new job, trying to decide if i want to save and buy Donna's silver fulvous or if i want to get some Red breasted/magellans from the licktiegs