Blochers Djur & Natur

Vitamin B3

Also known as Niacin

To often I see people wondering why their ducks or geese suddenly have issues walking. While this can have many causes, the most common issue is a deficincy in the vitamin Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3.
Niacin is used to break down fat, cabrohydrates and protein in the body but also keeping the the nervous system and skin healthy. 
It is a water soluble. Meaning it is not stored in the body for later use. An excess of any B vitamin supplemented to your birds will come out as expensive poop.
Deficincies in other vitamins or minerals can also lead to an niacin deficincy.
In chickens a niacin deficincy is mostly seen when fed an inproper diet, that lacks niacin on the aminoacid tryptophan.


Why tryptophan you may ask?
Tryptophan is a crucial function of the production of niacin. This is an amino acid, that has several functions in the body. Such as making melatonin, serotonin and also the liver use this amino acid to produce niacin to the body.

Niacin deficiency in Waterfowl 

Niacin deficincy in waterfowl is much more common than any other poultry.

They requier about twice the amount of niacin than chickens do. This is due to their inability to synthesize niacin from the amino acid tryptophan in a efficent way. This stems from a high pressence of an enzyme picolinic acid carboxylase in the liver.

The deficiency is mostly seen in ducklings. Since they most of the time are fed chick starter. Chick starter do not contain enough niacin for ducklings. 

Adult ducks are good foragers and most likley will find their niacin out in nature, if they are being fed a chicken feed diet. 
This make confined ducks, that are fed a chicken feed diet running a higher chance for niacin deficiency. 

Waterfowl Feed

Waterfowl feeds are hard to get your hands on. The market is not that big for Waterfowl feed and this also makes them more expensive. 

To keep your waterfowl healthy its important to have a feed suited for Waterfowl. If you feed a natural grain diet or a chick feed diet, its important to supplement niacin in some way. 

Versele-Laga Duck Pellet series:
For us in Europe its harder to get a waterfowl specfic feed. I got my hands on this feed thrue amazon but also the website Cyberzoo.se is willing to custom order it for you. While it does not says niacin on the label I did contact the company who promise that it do contain the right amount of niacin for waterfowl. 

Mazuri Duck Feed:
This is one of the waterfowl feed you can get your hands on. Unfortantly it only seems to be available in the States. 

What are the symptoms of niacin deficiency?

  • Enlargment of the hock joint. This can make the bird walk in with bowed legs, a pigeon walk or not wanting to walk at all. The leg can be swollen and warm. 
  • Poor feathering
  • Dermatitis of the feet and head
  • Metabolic disorder in the skin and digestive organs.
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weakness
  • Digestive disorders, like diarrhea.

If a deficiency in niacin does not get treated it can lead to the loss of the birds legs and not being aviable to walk. 


What are some good sources for niacin?

  • Brewers yeast: This is the most popular supplement world around for waterfowl. Its made from the process of beer. Its a good source of protein, with the content being 52% protein, but why its use for its high conent of B vitamins.
Other good natural sources of niacin are:
  • Peas
  • Beets
  • Fish
  • Sunflowerseeds 

Good supplement for niacin

Nekton-B
A water soluble powder you have in their water source. I always recommended having this supplement on hand or something alike it if you own waterfowl. The best owner can still get a bird with niacin deficincy. 

VISPUMIN 
This one is a multivitamin, thats most likley only available in Europe. Its a powder multivitamin you sprinkle on their feed. Compared to other supplement vitamins this one do contain Niacin under the name nicotinic acid. 

Sources:

Poultry DVM - Niacin Deficiency 

Meyer Hatchery - Why ducks need extra niacin

Niacin Deficiency in Ducks

Livsmedelverket - Niacin

Brewers Yeast 

Tryptophan 

Dela