Possible niacin deficiency

[0iseau]

One of my ducks, Yoda, was niacin deficient as a duckling. We quickly corrected it with niacin rich foods and adding a niacin supplement to their food.
She started laying a couple weeks ago and is now exhibiting signs of a niacin deficiency once more (turned in feet). Nothing in their diet has changed, so could this be an affect of the egg laying?
The eggs themselves have been fine. Even the very first eggs have not had any imperfections - all smooth, properly sized, and hard shelled. With 3 ducks I get 1-2 eggs a day and can typically guess which duck will lay based on their body. Yoda seems to lay once a day with the occasional every other day.

I'll be picking up some oyster and switching my girls to a laying feed.
Is there anything else I should do?

 

[Aunt Angus]

One of my ducks, Yoda, was niacin deficient as a duckling. We quickly corrected it with niacin rich foods and adding a niacin supplement to their food.
She started laying a couple weeks ago and is now exhibiting signs of a niacin deficiency once more (turned in feet). Nothing in their diet has changed, so could this be an affect of the egg laying?
The eggs themselves have been fine. Even the very first eggs have not had any imperfections - all smooth, properly sized, and hard shelled. With 3 ducks I get 1-2 eggs a day and can typically guess which duck will lay based on their body. Yoda seems to lay once a day with the occasional every other day.

I'll be picking up some oyster and switching my girls to a laying feed.
Is there anything else I should do?

I would supplement her feed again.

 

[0iseau]

I would supplement her feed again.

Thank you for such a quick response! I'll definitely start supplementing the feed again

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thank you for such a quick response! I'll definitely start supplementing the feed again

Hopefully, that helps. I am not an expert. I figure it can't hurt, right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Layer and oyster shell will help with egg-laying, but the niacin def needs liquid B complex. TSC carries Durvet Liquid B complex one of the best. 1 ml over a tasty treat 1X a day.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Egg laying takes a lot of energy and effort from hens of all species, so it is possible that the egg laying would cause a deficiency. Some ducks just need more niacin than others.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Many people think deficiencies only happens at the duckling stage, but vitamin deficiencies can happen at any age. If I see even the slightest hint of one of my ducks acting off I start everyone on a round of poultry vitamins and that usually solves it.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Many people think deficiencies only happens at the duckling stage, but vitamin deficiencies can happen at any age. If I see even the slightest hint of one of my ducks acting off I start everyone on a round of poultry vitamins and that usually solves it.

Good point!