So many niacin questions

[NewPoultryMom2019]

Hello!
I just recently bought 4 chicks and 2 ducks from TSC. I was not told at the store about niacin for my ducklings, but have read on like that apparently this is essential?
What do I give them?
Where can i buy it?
Is it possible to just give them a high niacin diet, and not give them supplements?
What would that diet consist of?
Can my chicks eat the same foods/supplements(they share food)?
Are they too young to eat actual foods yet(ducks are a few days old and the chicks are about 3 weeks old)?
Anything else I need to know?
So sorry! I have never raised poultry, and I don't want to mess this up. I now feel like a fully committed mom to them, and it'd break my heart if I did anything that hurt them.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I wouldn’t keep them together as the ducklings will get everything wet and chill the chicks. I use brewers yeast for my ducklings and sprinkle a bit on their food. I am a new duck dad to 4 pekin ducklings.

 

[NewPoultryMom2019]

Yeah, the lady at TSC warned us of the ducks getting the chicks wet, but explained ways we can make sure everyone is warm and happy. Plus I'm a SAHM so I'm home all day to keep an eye on things

 

[sylviethecochin]

Your feed may be formulated for ducklings. It should have 55 ppm niacin listed on the feed tag. Mainly , Pekin ducks are the ones that suffer deficiencies, since they grow so quickly. If you have a slower-growing breed, you don't need to worry as much. If your feed doesn't contain 55 ppm niacin, you can supplement it. I get mine in tablets from walmart, in the human medicines. Make sure it says "nicatinamide" and not "Inositol Hexanicotinate," or flush-free.

The chicks can eat it; vitamin B is water-soluble, so they can easily defecate any excess.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Yeah, the lady at TSC warned us of the ducks getting the chicks wet, but explained ways we can make sure everyone is warm and happy. Plus I'm a SAHM so I'm home all day to keep an eye on things

They will still chill the chicks. Separate brooders is always best. I use a plastic tote. You can also use b complex vitamins and crush them up.

 

[sylviethecochin]

They will still chill the chicks.

I find that that's not true, especially with small numbers of ducklings.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I find that that's not true, especially with small numbers of ducklings.

Learn new things every day!

 

[ldrchickens]

I was feeding my new ducks flock raiser which is suppose to have enough but my babies started showing signs of niacin deficiency, legs bowing, shaky walking,etc. I went out and bought the liquid b complex. Put it in their water and uped the amount of brewers yeast I was feeding and after 3 days im already seeing a ton of improvement.

 

[NewPoultryMom2019]

They will still chill the chicks. Separate brooders is always best. I use a plastic tote. You can also use b complex vitamins and crush them up.

I will keep an eye on them. There are only 2 ducklings to the 4 chicks, and there are 2 waterers and feeders(just so they didn't crowd each other while eating/drinking). There brood is pretty big for just the 6 of them.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I will keep an eye on them. There are only 2 ducklings to the 4 chicks, and there are 2 waterers and feeders(just so they didn't crowd each other while eating/drinking). There brood is pretty big for just the 6 of them.

What duck breeds did you get? I’m all excited now