Niacin for ducklings

[mamato3monsters]

Hello. I have 5 ducklings that are about 4 weeks old. Four of them are walking around just fine. But one of them is a little wobbly and she tends to sit more. I noticed this just this afternoon when I put them outside to play. I had them out yesterday and they were all fine. I feed them Purina flock raiser that has 60 ppm of niacin in it. Could it be something else other than niacin deficiency? I know they can get too much niacin if I add a supplement along with their food, so I am wondering how I could add it but not add too much that they get too much? I know that peas and tuna is a good source but I'm sure it would take a lot of peas. How common would it be that it isn't niacin deficiency and maybe she just hurt her foot? Would all the other ducklings be wobbly too? Can you cure niacin deficiency with just other foods or now that she is wobbly should I use a supplement for sure? Sorry for all the questions and thank you.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

If she is not injured, it is likely a niacin deficiency. It seems to only strike one random bird per brood in my experience. I have given both geese and chickens with this issue Vit B drops 4 times a day with no overdose. It seems once they start walking normally again, the deficiency doesn't usually reappear. I would try the drops as I think it would take too much of any food to get caught up.

 

[KathiQuacks]

I’ve read it’s hard to give too much niacin, actually. There’s some feeds with high niacin that ducks do great on, like Mazuri at 154 ppm. The extra niacin just gets passed in their poop. 60 ppm could be too low depending on the breed or the individual.

Usually, people give extra in the form of nutritional yeast, but liquid vit B is recommended for niacin deficiencies.

 

[mamato3monsters]

If she is not injured, it is likely a niacin deficiency. It seems to only strike one random bird per brood in my experience. I have given both geese and chickens with this issue Vit B drops 4 times a day with no overdose. It seems once they start walking normally again, the deficiency doesn't usually reappear. I would try the drops as I think it would take too much of any food to get caught up.

How many drops and what brand do you use? Thank you

 

[mamato3monsters]

I’ve read it’s hard to give too much niacin, actually. There’s some feeds with high niacin that ducks do great on, like Mazuri at 154 ppm. The extra niacin just gets passed in their poop. 60 ppm could be too low depending on the breed or the individual.

Usually, people give extra in the form of nutritional yeast, but liquid vit B is recommended for niacin deficiencies.

Do you know what brand or how many drops to give? And how would I give them to her?

 

[mamato3monsters]

I am having a really hard time in our town to find vitamin b drops. I can find niacin capsules but they are 500 mg. Would I mix with 5 gallons of water or can I split the powder up and sprinkle it on their food? The drops won't be here for 3 to 4 days. Thanks

 

[KathiQuacks]

Do you know what brand or how many drops to give? And how would I give them to her?

I am having a really hard time in our town to find vitamin b drops. I can find niacin capsules but they are 500 mg. Would I mix with 5 gallons of water or can I split the powder up and sprinkle it on their food? The drops won't be here for 3 to 4 days. Thanks

I usually see Durvet liquid vit B complex recommended, but something similar should work, too. Give 1 ml / ~15-20 drops per day over top of some feed or a treat.

I’d do any niacin supplement orally or over food. Water typically gets spilled & wasted.

 

[mamato3monsters]

I usually see Durvet liquid vit B complex recommended, but something similar should work, too. Give 1 ml / ~15-20 drops per day over top of some feed or a treat.

I’d do any niacin supplement orally or over food. Water typically gets spilled & wasted.

All I can see from Durvet is the injectable high level vitamin b complex. Is that the same and just give it over food?

 

[KathiQuacks]

All I can see from Durvet is the injectable high level vitamin b complex. Is that the same and just give it over food?

Yes, that is it

 

[Jenbirdee]

Do you want the niacin to be niacinamide.
You do not want to use any niacin that is time released or flush free.
I would put 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast for every cup of Feed.
I would also supplement the weak leg one with liquid b complex because it has 100 mg of niacinamide per one ML of liquid. You can put it in a dish of treat like mealworms or peas or you can give it orally directly. I will post directions and pictures of the supplements that are really the ones that work the best for Ducks.
Even though the liquid bcomplex says injectable for cattle, we give it orally for over a treat to Ducks