What to supplement feed with for newly hatched ducklings and poults?

[picklepat]

I'm fairly new to having backyard poultry, only for about a year and a half. I bought my first chicks from TS in September 2020. They told me to feed them chick starter, which I did and all was fine but they did not recommend any other type of supplements, vitamins or electrolytes. When the chickens were about 6 months old I started "collecting" other poultry types, I now have grown ducks, geese, turkeys and chickens. I have a cabinet incubator and am a little (A LOT, lol ) addicted to hatching babies! My question is what is the best thing to feed them (the hatchlings, ducks and turkeys)? I do not mean pre-packaged feed as I get that at my local feed store, I mean do they need any additional supplements or vitamins or will they be fine with just the starter crumbles? I know ducklings need non-medicated chick starter and turkeys get game or quail starter (28% feed) but do they NEED anything else? The first ducklings and poults I raised I did not hatch and just fed them crumbles and they were great but did the hatchery or store give them anything before I got them? I want to make sure I give them the best start I can because they are all soooo adorable! I'm also new here so if I should have put this somewhere else or if someone already has a thread addressing this I'm sorry.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

I just give niacin to ducklings... But all those vitamins and stuff can get expensive and I've raised healthy, laying, happy, chickens. I've never used them before.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I use Nutritional yeast to suppliment Niacin for the first few weeks of my duckling hatches - but don't hatch ducks often, or I'd crush Niacin tabs instead (cheaper).

 

[picklepat]

Thank you for the great info! So do I use niacin gels or tablets, I'm not sure what form they come in lol? Do I dissolve it in their water?

 

[picklepat]

Apparently there is flushing or flush free Niacin tablets. Which one do you use and how much do I give them? Oh and for how long do they need it? Thanks again!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Apparently there is flushing or flush free Niacin tablets. Which one do you use and how much do I give them? Oh and for how long do they need it? Thanks again!

You may find THIS useful. I did, when I was starting out.