Vitamin B/Riboflavin deficiency, amazed of what problems it causes

[FireGurl26]

I just wanted to post this in case there are peeps out there that don't know about this. I found my RIR hen in nest box at night (When i go check and make sure they are all in coop) a few days ago and wouldn't stand on Left leg. I thought she may have injured it since they were cooped up in the run and coop all day that day. So, I did research that night, and wanted to go with the simplest cure first. We don't have a chicken vet up here, so kinda on our own. She wouldn't walk or stand, and when she did she went backwards and limped hard. So, I seperated her from the rest of my flock of 25 and put her in our makeshift chicken cage hospital. Gave her some food and water, went to TSC the next morning. I bought what is called "Rooster Booster, Poultry Cell". That morning i gave her 1cc of the liquid str8 to the beak. Gave some wet cat food for extra protein as well. So, so far...today is the 3rd day now, and she is standing. Still hobbling mind you, but dramatic improvement. Everyday been giving her 1cc first thing in the morning. Who would've thought about Vitamin B/Riboflavin deficiency. We use "Nutrena Feather Fixer" because of the extra protein. Especially cuz this is our girls first moult and it is lasting forever! Anyways, now I mixed the "Rooster Booster, Poultry cell" liquid in with their waterers (3 1/2 gallon buckets with nipplers) and the other girls seem more energetic now as well and less pale combs with a much heartier appetite.
Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone out there that may have a similar problem. It seems to always help to start with the simpler fixes first before major fixes.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree that a vitamin or mineral deficiency can have serious effects.
However, I feed several types of Nutrena feed. I'm looking at the label of Nutrena Country Feeds Layer crumbles and Riboflavin Supplement is the 8th listed ingredient. It is also the 8th listed ingredient on their 18% All Flock Pellets.

 

[Molpet]

iit may be in there... it is not required to be listed

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I just wanted to post this in case there are peeps out there that don't know about this. I found my RIR hen in nest box at night (When i go check and make sure they are all in coop) a few days ago and wouldn't stand on Left leg. I thought she may have injured it since they were cooped up in the run and coop all day that day. So, I did research that night, and wanted to go with the simplest cure first. We don't have a chicken vet up here, so kinda on our own. She wouldn't walk or stand, and when she did she went backwards and limped hard. So, I seperated her from the rest of my flock of 25 and put her in our makeshift chicken cage hospital. Gave her some food and water, went to TSC the next morning. I bought what is called "Rooster Booster, Poultry Cell". That morning i gave her 1cc of the liquid str8 to the beak. Gave some wet cat food for extra protein as well. So, so far...today is the 3rd day now, and she is standing. Still hobbling mind you, but dramatic improvement. Everyday been giving her 1cc first thing in the morning. Who would've thought about Vitamin B/Riboflavin deficiency. I looked at our bags of feed and no where on the bag is Vitamin B nor Ribolflavin. We use "Nutrena Feather Fixer" because of the extra protein and calcium. Especially cuz this is our girls first moult and it is lasting forever! Anyways, now I mixed the "Rooster Booster, Poultry cell" liquid in with their waterers (3 1/2 gallon buckets with nipplers) and the other girls seem more energetic now as well and less pale combs.
Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone out there that may have a similar problem. It seems to always help to start with the simpler fixes first before major fixes.
I am just amazed that I have not found any chicken feeds, searching online that even have vitamin B in their feed. Crazy!

I don't know... feeds are formulated and they do have those nutrients, just not listed on the bag in a form we recognize. I called Purina myself when I wanted to know about a nutrient not listed in the analysis for ducks.

The better question is WHY was your girl failing when my birds have been on chicken feed for 8 years with never an issue. My guess is it's something more, and the additives either helped correct or delayed it's onset. (maybe worms, too many treats, or something genetic)

Yep I had 1 limping and tried vitamins (because as you say, try the simplest fix first and I thought was vit E deficiency)... it was Marek's. The bird lived and I culled it anyways.

What really helps with the feather fixer is yes the added protein, but it's the amino acids that count. The extra calcium only benefits your layers and the girls who are molting don't actually need it and it could (doesn't mean will) cause kidney issues if fed long term to non layers. For me I feed flock raiser with 20% protein and OS on the side for layers.

Some rooster booster products actually have an antibiotics in them. And NO supplement should be given for more than 10 days in a row.

Vitamin B is also known as thiamine (at least 1 form of it). It's there, just not considered a crucial piece of info I guess.

So cool that you are paying attention to labels! Nutrition really is the key to so many things.

Glad your girl is feeling better.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think we may be talking about 2 different things.

The Guaranteed Analysis only lists crude protein, the essential amino acids lysine and methionine, fat, fiber, calcium, phosphorus and salt/sodium. Some manufacturers list more things.

Then there is the ingredient list on the same tag. That is where all the ingredients are listed in order of their percentage makeup of the entire bag. Some minerals are in a form who's name one may not recognize, just as many vitamins are added in a stabilized form that may also have unrecognized names.

 

[venymae]

This is so true! My dad once had this hairbrained idea that all chicken feeds were medicated so I called up the companies and they sent me the ingredient lists for the feeds...so many long crzy chemical compound names ended up being a "shelf stable" vitamin supplement. I was pleasantly surprised, and thankfully my dad switched back to layer feed (he had been using wild game feed because someone told him it was the only unmedicated feed!)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Oh well, we all continue to learn.
Medicated will always be prominently shown on the guaranteed analysis/ingredient tag and usually printed prominently on the bag itself.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

(he had been using wild game feed because someone told him it was the only unmedicated feed!

One of my LFS told me the same thing!

Always get a second opinion on anything a feed store employee tells you.

 

[FireGurl26]

I am waiting on Nutrena to write me back about the Vitamin Bs not listed on their label of "Feather Fixer". Maybe they will tell me that it actually is in there but not listed. I wrote them Sunday night. So, hopefully i will get a response soon. My girls are in their first moult, and it is really rough on them right now. I did de-worm them a few weeks back as I noticed pieces of worm sheddings in their stool. Maybe that is why that got vitamin deficient. Not sure exactly, but if this feed i use doesn't have certain vitamins in it, i will definitely have to do some research on a good feed that has all they need. Either way, thank goodness for this supplement. Seems to be helping.
Also, I give them free oyster shell if they need extra calcium. Hard to tell if the paler combs were because of their first moult or the worms a few weeks back. Everything seemed to happen at once, unfortunately. But, I keep on using DE in the coop and run, dust bathing areas for them, clean constantly, check for outer parasites (like mites, lice, etc.), fresh water, and feed. Thanks for the info. guys!
Forgot to add, my hens were vaccinated for Marek's back when they were first hatched from the hatchery.

 

[FireGurl26]

OK, look who just caught up....ME! Apparently...I had a "Derp" moment. So, thank you to all who responded. I must've looked at the "Guaranteed Analysis" on the label online for my feed and others. Digging deeper I saw the full ingredient lists on the feeds. So, yes vitamins are in there. I don't have my bag label for my feed cuz I empty the bags in a large metal can, covered...and throw away the bags. So, thank you guys for setting me str8! No wonder "Nutrena" hasn't responded to me yet...they are probably like..."How dense is this girl?!" lol!
So, good thing is the RIR hen is doing better...i am hoping it will stay that way when the supplement is done. And also...my other girls seem to have a much better appetite after drinking the Vitamin supplement. I need to go edit my first post now...again..thanks for all the help!