Purina Flock Raiser- Foot Issues, etc...?

[CityChicker]

I am just wondering how everyone that is feeding Flock Raiser likes it? I think a number of us here are using it. My WH, and now some new baby Runners, are my first two groups of ducks that I have used it on from Day 1. I have had a couple of issues that may or may not be feed related.

At about one month of age, I lost one of the WH ducklings suddenly with no previous signs of illness. He had the same sudden neurological problem that some other people have had occasionally. Within less than 12 hours, he was dead. I haven't lost any ducklings suddenly like this for a few years and it is bound to happen from time to time. Of course, it very possibly has nothing to do with feed, but it did look similar to what Holderread's describe as a B vitamin deficiency.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I had another drake that was limping some (again, pretty normal from time to time). He quickly recovered and is doing fine and at that time, had nothing apparently wrong with the feet (or anything I could see on his body).

Fast forward to yesterday, I examined several of the ducks and now several have some minor foot issues. It is completely normal for ducks to get cracks on the pads of the feet and minor swollen bumps. This definitely doesn't look like bumble foot and they are being housed on dirt/grass and moved to a different location every couple days so they are not on a hard surface.

This makes me strongly think that there is a deficiency in B vitamins since this can cause foot issues that are a little beyond the realm of normal. Has anyone else seen this on Flock Raiser? Don't get me wrong- overall, they look beautiful. Growth has been just about perfect, feathering is beautiful, no signs of back or wing problems, etc... it is just the feet. I am going to add some yeast right away to see if that helps and maybe a tiny amount of bleach in the swimming water so there doesn't become an issue with infection (as recommended in the Holderread's book, but I have never tried that personally). Has anyone else had anything at all similar?

 

[Katy]

That's what I've fed mine for years with no problems.

 

[CityChicker]

See, I wondered if it might be completely unrelated. Really, overall- they are looking beautiful. This is the first time we have kept ducks at our newer house in town though and I wonder if they are getting on something out in the yard that irritated their feet.

Who knows. Of course, it could in part be the feed or it could be something not all related to that. The only other time I have had something feed related, it only affected about a couple out of about forty birds.

 

[pteresa]

I came here looking for info on this very subject. I have three welsh harlequins and one started limping today. I was wondering about the feed mostly because she tends to eat mostly just feed and forages less than the other two. I'm feeding them Flock Raiser. They are just 7 weeks old.

Tell me, what type of yeast do you supplement with? Do you just put it on the feed? I'm very new to all this, so any help is greatly appreciated!

Teresa

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Brewers yeast is often recommended to add B vitamins including niacin to duck's diets. Many people buy the tablet form of niacin or brewers yeast and crush it before adding it to the feed. I am able to buy it cheaply at a health food store locally, but you could get in online at a reasonable price.

I have noticed those cracks in my duck's feet, even when they were relative young. I started them on Purina Turkey Finisher in June and I haven't added much brewer's yeast lately, I just noticed the cracks in my eight week old drakes feet. Last year I had a couple of minor cases of bumblefoot, I think I had them on Flock Raiser then, side by side with Layena free choice. I guess I really need to be more consistant with adding the nutritional yeast. (I was better about it when they were smaller). They forage all day and I would hope at least in the summer they would find what they need, but maybe not necessarily so.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Yes, you need to give them brewer's yeast along with the flock raiser. Some of them do fine without it, and some don't.

 

[CityChicker]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I am inclined to think that the feed may have at least a little less Niacin/B vitamins than optimal for ducks. I am going to go to adding the yeast regularly, unless I am able to find a feed store to go back to ordering the duck chow.

As far as where to get it pteresa, like DWD said, you can get it a number of places. They sell it at a lot of feed stores even. In the past, I have used even the bulk generic nutritional yeast from a vitamin store.

 

[pteresa]

CityChicker,

How are your ducks' feet doing?

I found nutritional yeast at my health food store and added it to the Flock Raiser I'm feeding my ducks and now, less than a week later, my girl who was limping seems fine.

I am so glad! Thanks for the help.

Teresa

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

Quote:
Nope. The niacin level is just fine. Besides it does not cause limping. Show me a credible source that says it does.

 

[CityChicker]

Simmer down, Le Canard de Barbarie. I didn't say that it caused limping.

FYI- I added a multi that I sometimes use that has additional B's/Niacin and now several days later, the foot issues are almost completely non-existent. It began clearly up very quickly. I am intelligent enough to know that one thing may have nothing to do with the other. It could just be coincidence that they had some minor foot issues on Flock Raiser that cleared immediately after adding the vitamins. As always, YMMV, and I am not sure what you are expecting for "credible evidence" other than that. LOL