Urgent: Can you Give Ducklings Human Vitamin B 12

[Soos-Quacken]

I have several ducklings that are beginning to demonstrate early symptoms of nican deficiency. I'm wondering if you can give ducklings human B12 and how much you need to give to them (there approx 4 weeks old)

 

[Isaac 0]

If the B12 doesn't contain any niacin its not going to do really anything, so there would be no point in using it.

 

[Soos-Quacken]

Alright, I've already purchased some poultry electrolyte mix from my local tractor suply, it has 22.5 mg per 5 gm scoop, is that enough?

 

[Isaac 0]

Can you get some Cattle B Complex?

 

[Miss Lydia]

You want B complex! https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

 

[Soos-Quacken]

Ok, I'll get some tomorow from the tractor suply. Thank you guys!

 

[416bigbore]

To the best of my knowledge, Vitamin b3 is the Niacin you are looking for.

 

[Isaac 0]

Any of the brands on the thread @Miss Lydia will work.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay I’m here what did I do? @Isaac 0

 

[Floof]

You can give them human vitamins for niacin but you need to get the right kind and calculate dosage (although there is little risk of overdose). Nicotinic acid is the kind used for ducks. The flush free and slow release kinds are not the same and will not be as available to the ducks before it passes through them. I think you can dissolve 100mgs in 1 gallon of water but I chose to crush it and coat some frozen peas in it for my ducks to make sure they were actually eating it. It worked overnight for my ducks who had a painfully wide stance and I give it to them every couple days to prevent issues in the future. I buy duck food which has niacin in it but for my bigger breed ducks, it just wasn't enough for how fast they grow.