Question about Niacin and/or Brewers Yeast for Ducks

[AnaD]

Great info people (Duck_Feeder). I had not given any supplaments because it has it in the flock starter food and my duckies have been free ranging every sunny day since week 1 1/2. They LOVE the chard growing in the garden, good thing I don't like it myself. I guess I will add some brewers yeast since we already have it for the dog food (helps deter fleas) if they show any signs of limping or whatnot.

 

[donnavee]

chickensducks&agoose :

I have an adult duck who has been very strange lately, and for the past 4 days, has been unable to walk. SHe looks tired. I thought she must have eaten something bad, like a stick or a rock, and isolated her, made her comfortable, and waited for her to die. well, 4 days later, she's no worse, and certainly not dead... could this be a niacin problem? My ducks free range (it's been a long snowy winter) and eat a mixture of grains and greens... but she's low duck on the totem pole, and it's possible that she's not been getting as much greens as everyone else...

I'm not sure, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to give her some niacin to see if she improves. From what I understand, most free range ducks don't have a problem with niacin deficiency but as you said, possibly she hasn't been able to find that many bugs, grubs and slugs during the winter.

Hope she comes around. I think I'm going to try the poultry mix that Duck ABCs mentioned after I run out of my current supply of niacin.​

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

would it be a one time brewer's yeast treatment, or should I do it every day for a week?

 

[donnavee]

chickensducks&agoose :

would it be a one time brewer's yeast treatment, or should I do it every day for a week?

I'm guessing you would need to repeat over several days and then maybe once a week.​

 

[emjay]

okay. more questions. sorry.
I have ducklings hatching and hatched now (1-2 days old now)
I am feeding them unmedicated chick starter.

now, being it's formulated for chickens.
what else do I need to be giving?
as well, they are under a chicken mama, so will extra niacin or brewers yeast hurt her?

and how much, and how often. I have to run to the feed store this morning, so hopefully if I can get his figured out I can get the stuff today.
would just getting that vitamin supplement to add to the water work? was linked a few posts back?

 

[tdgill]

i know that my friend crumbles up the tabs over the feed...let me see if I can get info.

 

[PerpetualLearner]

Ok I've had a prob with one of my 17 day old Khaki Cambell ducklings. (S)He doesn't seem able to hold his head up for long. Keeps trying to walk but falls over on to back. Also he seems to be smaller then the others. He was ok this morning and I found him on his back midafternoon. Got him dried off and in seperate box ... he seemed a bit better so I returned to main baby box a few hours later. I was hoping the other ducks woould cuddle him and help him. Went out to check on him a few hours later and he was away from others and on his back again so he's in the seperate box again.
Could this be a niacin defficiency? What should/could I do to help him. Thanks for any advice

 

[PerpetualLearner]

Ok more questions ...
When should the ducklings move to the coop/run which is already occupied by 31 chickens about 6(?) males the rest female. They are just over 3 months. Will the chickens hurt the babies? The run is fairly large. Thanks for any/all advice/info 8)

 

[adorable]

Niacin is a B vitamin. See the Wikipedia entry for how it is used biologically http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niacin

Brewer's yeast is the waste product of alcohol fermentation (usually beer) that is high in niacin (the yeast can produce niacin). It can also refer to the concentrated yeast before it is used for fermentation. Feed stores tend to carry the former, vitamin stores tend to carry the latter.

Research indicates that ducks are not as efficient at absorbing niacin and/or they require more than similar birds.

Niacin deficiency is believed to cause lameness in ducklings as well as other ailments in juvenile or adult ducks. I have not seen any formal research indicating that niacin deficiency later in life can cause lameness in ducks.

Niacin supplements are not always necessary. Whether or not it is needed depends on diet and genetics. Like people not all ducks eat the same foods and some are more prone to vitamin deficiency problems.

Ducks that eat nothing but pellets formulated for ducks are not likely to need extra niacin unless they have a genetic predisposition towards niacin deficiency. Ducks that eat duck pellets as well as other foods (fed to them or from free ranging), might need the extra niacin depending on what they eat.

Ducks that free range (part time or full time) are a crap shoot. If they can catch lots of small animals like insects, worms or fish then they are not likely to need extra niacin. If they end up eating vegetables that are low in niacin, they might need the extra niacin.

Ducks that eat almost exclusively corn almost definitely need the extra niacin. While corn does contain niacin it is in a form that is NOT bio-available.

As far as dosages, too much can cause "flushing" in humans. I have not been able to find any research on whether or not it ducks or other poultry can exhibit negative symptoms from high niacin dosages but it is very likely toxicity exists at very high dosages. Niacin is water soluble so it is very difficult to overdose on it without the aid of supplements.

Because niacin is water soluble, it needs to be provided on a regular basis (assuming supplements are even needed).

Dosage is very different depending on how you give it. If you mix it in with their food then you'd want to use a much lower dose than mixing it in their water. The 100 mg per 1 gallon of water is a much lower dose than 50 mg mixed into their food!


As it is with people, it's much better to eat a well balanced diet than it is to rely on supplements!

The approach I take with niacin for our ducks is:
1. Primary food is pellets (about 50% of the daily diet of our ducks)
2. Most of their dry foods other than duck pellets (about 10% of diet) are a good source of niacin (dried peas, cat food, parrot food)
3. We feed fresh foods everyday (about 40% of their diet) - most of which are a good source of niacin (peas, leafy veggies, sprouts)
4. We put dry brewer's yeast (the kind from feed stores) in the feed bowl that contains their pellets and other dry foods. It's a powder and most of it settles to the bottom of the bowl where they ignore it.

THis is awesome information... I was wondering how much you put on there food . And how old do you start doing this.. As day old or wait until they are 2 weeks old and up.. I have 3 ducklings in with my chicks... they are eating non medicated chick feed. So everyone will be getting the yeast.

 

[Bish]

Is there any specific niacin tablets I should be buying for my 2 year old duck or just buy any? And do all niacin tablets dissolve?