Many people like to raise ducks as pets, for their rich eggs and sometimes for their meat. Raising ducks has a few differences from raising chickens, especially when brooding and their dietary needs.
What Is Niacin?
Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is an essential nutrient responsible for bone growth. It also helps the body convert carbohydrates, fat, and protein into energy. Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it is not stored in the body to be used as needed. Niacin must be consumed in sufficient quantities daily because any excess of the vitamin is excreted in the duck’s waste and not stored.
Signs Of A Niacin Deficiency
The symptoms of a niacin deficiency in ducklings may vary depending on the severity of the niacin deficiency. The early signs typically include bowed legs and/or enlarged hock joints or a pigeon-toed walk or stance. If the early signs are ignored, ducks may become so crippled and weak that they cannot walk.
Sources of Niacin For Ducks
Ducklings require at least 70 mg of niacin per kg of feed. Adult breeding ducks require 50 mg of niacin per kg of feed. The easiest way to ensure your ducks have enough niacin is to feed a high-quality feed formulated explicitly for ducks. Waterfowl feed does cost more than inexpensive chicken feed, but it’s worth the expense for the health of your ducks. Grain and grain by-products contain very little niacin, and that’s usually the main ingredient in chicken feeds.
Some other sources of niacin that you may give your ducks are brewers' yeast sprinkled on their feed, fresh fish, and green peas. There are also niacin tablets, liquids, and powders that you can mix with their feed or water to bring niacin levels up. But it is difficult to calculate how much each duck is consuming due to waste, especially when the supplement is added to the ducks’ water.
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.