Niacin supplements

[mommissan]

Hi all. I hatched 4 ducks in my incubator last week, 2 Pekins and 2 Ancona/Pekins. They were doing great until this morning.
I have a confession.

I did not buy starter for them. I ground a variety of high end breakfast grains for them and added minced organic baby greens. It is a mix of quinoa, amaranth, oats and millet. I knew there was a risk of niacin deficiency, and this morning, they were lethargic and not willing to walk around much. At first, I blamed it on the empty waterer. They emptied a quart overnight. Then, after some research, I realize (conceded) that they were showing symptoms of niacin deficiency.

Here's my question. I stopped at our local drugstore and bought B complex tablets.

Thiamine 1.5 mg
Riboflavin 1.7 mg
Niacin 20 mg
Vitamin B-6 2 mg
Folic Acid 400 mcg
Vitamin B-12 6 mcg
Calcium 35 mg

I crushed one up into a quart of water to jump start them, until my feed store is open tomorrow. Is there any ingredient here that is harmful or lethal? I can't find anywhere that it really is. If I get chick starter, am I any better off? Should I get duck starter?

They are looking better right now. They've drank about a pint so far..... or more like bathed in and tossed it all over the brooder floor and walls.

Thanks

 

[Funniducki1]

If you continue to mix your own grains, think about adding cracked/crushed wheat. It is highly nutritious. I have personally always used a chick or poultry starter and supplemented with free range, scraps, etc because I was always worried about deficiencies and poor growth.
I think you should be OK with that supplement, but I am not an expert. However, those are all B vitamins, which are water soluble, which I know means that the human body can flush through with water what it does not need/excess.

Go get yourself some nutritional yeast. That is what I like. It's all natural food/flake available at health food stores that is chock full of all B vitamins. I mix it with the food. You can eat it too. Tastes great on popcorn! Hope this helps.

~ Dani

 

[Funniducki1]

My fear is that those vitamins are too potent for tiny little ducklings as they were made for giant humans, regardless of the water-soluable trait. This is because most vitamins are chemicals, not foods like herbs are which makes them safe in their unprocessed form.

 

[mommissan]

Thanks Funniducki1. Nutritional yeast... is brewers yeast? Cracked/crushed wheat from the feed store or grocer?

I'm not a fan of chemical nutrition either. I bought this in a pinch to give them a jump start. I think it will take a few days before I see any big improvements.

 

[GloryGirl]

Yes, nutritional yeast is brewer's yeast.

 

[mommissan]

Just out of curiosity, how much niacin do worms provide? I vermicompost. I gave them a half dozen red wigglers today. They tasted them and flung them all over at first, but after an hour, there were none to be found anywhere.

 

[Amiga]

I don't know how much - that would be some useful information, since I am told that animal products - like worms - do contain niacin.

 

[mommissan]

I feel badly that I didn't do much research on what grains to grind up and what percentages of nutrients I was providing. I was hoping to mimic foraging to some extent. I pretty much ground up all my favorite "cereal". It wasn't cheap, that's for sure. I rattled my head awhile and saw the only thing really lacking was bugs. There's a few articles out there, but they're vague.

I know the starter is all calculated and so easy to use. I just wanted to lessen our dependence on corn and soy, and get back to a more varied diet, for ALL of us.

 

[mommissan]

And, liver is among the top foods high in niacin. Uhm, no. Not ready to leave liver laying around the brooder. They're messy enough.

 

[Bunnyhare]

Hi, sorry to gate crash this thread but I have a lame duck coming up to 2yrs old. She's had a slight limp but over the weekend it has got worse and now she's not standing.
I have kept her confined with her "sister" who is fine,there is no sign of injury or swelling.On googling "duck with a limp" over the weekend, I've done LOTS of reading and I found this site!!

Hello

all.

I was wondering if she may have a niacin defficiency?!?
I hand fed her a marmite sandwich yesterday as I had no niacin, would niacin enriched unsugaed breakfast cereal be of any benefit?
Will get some brewers yeast today. Can you over dose them?

Sorry I have so many questions...and this is my first Thread.

Liver.... do you feed it cooked or raw?

Looking forward to some suggestions and replies.

May thanks in anticipation, Amanda