Water and Niacin for Ducklings

Are you thinking about adding some ducks to your flock or hobby farm? There are a couple of really important things that are good to know if you plan to take the plunge and try your hand at raising ducks. One has to do with water and the other has to do with Niacin.

ducklings eating with one food in water pan
Water and Niacin are important components in raising ducks.

Let’s tackle water first. We all know that ducks love water! Swimming is like second nature to a duckling. I think that they actually look more coordinated and graceful when swimming then they do when scurrying across land. A duckling can swim within a couple days of hatching and it is safe to do so under the supervision of a mama duck. A mama duck knows what to do and how to properly take care of her young. One of the ways that ducks are able to stay dry and buoyant in water is due to the oil that they spread over their feathers from an oil gland located near the top of their tails. The oil glands of baby ducks do not function at this early age and they rely on mama duck to share her oil and spread it on their feathers. Ducklings who are raised without a mama duck, are denied the benefits of this oil and swimming can create some hazards. A young duckling who goes into the water without this beneficial oil is subject to getting waterlogged and drowning, or getting chilled. It is important that ducks, even baby ducks, have an adequate supply of clean water and a waterer that allows enough room for a duck to wash off his beak. When you watch a duck eat, you will notice that they fill their mouth with food, then get a big drink of water, then sort of swish their beak around in the water. Ducks not only need the water to wash their food down, but they also need the water to keep food from clogging up their nostrils. For the first week or two it might be best to offer water in a waterer similar to what you would use for chicks, that has a trough big enough for the duck to get their bill into, yet not big enough for them to climb in, or accidentally fall in, and drown or get wet and cold.

When the ducklings are 2-3 weeks old, you can graduate to a shallow pan filled with water that they can drink and also play in. Some duck farmers believe that allowing ducks limited, supervised access to water to play or swim in actually helps in the development of their oil gland. Do make sure that ducklings have some way to get warm after playing in water such as a heat lamp. Once they get their big kid feathers, their oil gland will be functioning and becoming chilled will no longer be a problem. Because ducklings tend to dirty their water quickly, be prepared to change out their water several times a day. Although ducks and water seem synonymous, as caregivers we need to be diligent in keeping our ducklings safe.

ducklings drinking from watering pan
At 2-3 weeks old age you can graduate to a shallow pan for water.

Ducks and chickens are often raised together. In fact, they can often be found together for purchase at your local feed store early every spring. They can both be used for meat, eggs or merely as pets. They do, however, have some different nutritional requirements. One of the big differences is a duck’s need for more niacin in their diet than a chicken needs. Niacin or vitamin B3 as it is also referred to, is a water soluble vitamin that helps the body break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins into usable energy. Being water-soluble simply means that it breaks down in water and is flushed out of the body. Niacin is not stored in the body long-term. It is therefore necessary to replenish these vitamins everyday. Some symptoms of niacin deficiency in ducklings is abnormal leg development, bowed legs, failure to thrive, seizures and death. There are several ways to ensure that your ducklings are getting enough niacin in their diet. You can feed your ducklings a starter duck feed. Do not feed adult duck feed to your little ones. Duck feed is formulated specifically to take care of all the nutritional needs of ducks. Unfortunately, it is not always readily available or easy to find. For this reason, it is fine for ducklings to be fed a non-medicated chick starter feed with the addition of a niacin supplement. Niacin in powdered form (vitamin capsules) can be added to your ducks water at the rate of 500mg per 5 gallons of water. Or, you can add Brewers yeast to their feed at the rate of 1.5 tablespoons per cup of chick feed. Please note that active dry baking yeast and Brewers yeast are not the same thing and can not be used interchangeably. They do come from the same yeast source, but they have a different composition, different uses and different health factors. There are also many foods that are high in niacin such as tuna, lentils, and green peas. When your ducks are 2-3 weeks old, you can start introducing foods other than their.chick starter or duck starter. Remember that starter feed is ground up fine enough that grit it not needed for proper digestion.

chick grit bag and pan, and jar of herbs
Grit is essential to aid in digestion.

When you start adding other food items, it is time to make sure that your ducklings are offered grit. A commercially produced chick grit is available for young chicks and ducklings. You can offer it free-choice in a dish separate from their feed, or you can add it into their feed.

Peas (canned and frozen), lentils and canned tuna
Peas, sprouted lentils and tuna are good sources of niacin.

I feed my ducklings lentil sprouts that I sprinkle in their water pan. They seem to like yummy foods floating in their water. I think it gives them something to do as well as provide a delicious treat. Green peas in their water dish would also be fun. Tuna is one of the best sources of niacin for ducks as well as people. Generally, ducks who are allowed to free-range when old enough, will get enough niacin through all the yummy bugs, insects and greens they find to devour. I do give my older ducks some black oiled sunflower seeds on a regular basis as they are also a good source of niacin. Making sure that your ducklings get enough niacin in their diet will decrease their chances of developing health problems that could affect them throughout their lives. Prevention is the key here, and adding a niacin supplement to a ducks diet only takes an extra minute or two.

Ducks are such fun animals to have around and they do such a good job of taking care of bugs and insects. The least we can do is try to feed them a nutritionally sound diet, and keep them happy and healthy!

duckling spiking the camera
The goal is happy, healthy ducks!

Sources:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/418496-what-is-the-difference-between-brewers-yeast-bakers-yeast/
https://www.localharvest.org/blog/30404/entry/duckling_s_first_swim
http:// http://tiramarhomestead.com/2018/05/what-you-need-to-know-about-ducks-and-niacin/