Sick duckling

[Speceider]

A folic acid deficiency can cause Perosis and poor feathering.

Clint

 

[Amiga]

So, Clint, I checked and that's a B vitamin. (B9). I know you know this, but I am writing for those who will read this thread later.

Might a B Complex vitamin be helpful in this situation, rather than just niacin (B3)?

(By the way - looking around at the NIH web site, I saw an abstract indicating that in people, the B9 in brewer's yeast was less available - 10% - than from other sources, that were more than 50% available. How about that?)

Do you think a little extra protein would be helpful with feathering?

 

[cavedog]

Her feet are almost the same size as the other ducks but she is so narrow that she runs really funny.

Its organic chick starter, not sure what % it is. Were going to get more tomorrow so I will tell you then. We put a tablespoon each day of brewers each day. And a tea spoon of the vitamins in each day also.

 

[Speceider]

Choline and manganese may also be involved. I would assume it is a genetic factor affecting the uptake. A 20% protein diet, particularly with higher levels of sulphur amino acids couldn't hurt.

Clint

 

[Amiga]

I had a runner who was slower to develop than the others, by about two weeks (significant at a very young age), who seemed to take some months to catch up - but she has.

 

[cavedog]

its 20.1% protein and we are giving them this

 

[Amiga]

I am just asking, please do not panic, but I have read here that when one cannot find poultry vitamins, to get Poly-vi-sol without iron. So what's the scoop with iron for ducks?

And I know there are folks who use Rooster Booster. Just never saw the label before….

You seem to be covering a number of bases, here.

 

[Speceider]

Amiga, I assume the "no iron" comes from the belief that all birds are the same. Some passerines (particularly mynahs) can get iron storage disease from diets high in iron show hepatic enlargement, as cites, and usually die. Iron storage disease only occurs in a few families of passerines, not all birds.

There seems to be no work done on ducks because it doesn't seem to be a problem. In chickens, they seem to avoid absorbing excess iron, so don't have problems. The only issues reported are the formation of insoluble phosphates so phosphorus absorption may be affected.

Not sure I would worry too much about whether it had iron or not.

Clint

 

[Amiga]

Amiga, I assume the "no iron" comes from the belief that all birds are the same. Some passerines (particularly mynahs) can get iron storage disease from diets high in iron show hepatic enlargement, as cites, and usually die. Iron storage disease only occurs in a few families of passerines, not all birds.

There seems to be no work done on ducks because it doesn't seem to be a problem. In chickens, they seem to avoid absorbing excess iron, so don't have problems. The only issues reported are the formation of insoluble phosphates so phosphorus absorption may be affected.

Not sure I would worry too much about whether it had iron or not.

Clint

I wasn't sure how much of a worry it was, either, and I greatly appreciate your help getting some perspective on this.