Feed waterfowl starter feed with adequate niacin

Provide commercial waterfowl starter feed (18–20% protein) with adequate niacin levels as the primary diet from day one. If waterfowl-specific feed is unavailable, use non-medicated chick starter supplemented with brewer's yeast at 1 tablespoon per cup of feed. Never use medicated chick starter — ducklings eat 2–3 times more feed than chicks and can overdose on the coccidiostat (amprolium).

Why It Works

Ducklings grow at an extraordinary rate — a day-old Pekin duckling weighing 2 ounces reaches 5–7 pounds in just 7–8 weeks. This growth demands high-quality, protein-rich nutrition. Niacin (vitamin B3) is critical for leg development; ducklings need roughly 55 mg/kg in their feed compared to 27 mg/kg for chicks. Niacin deficiency causes bowed legs, swollen hock joints, and inability to walk — symptoms appear as early as 2–3 weeks and become permanent if not corrected.

Tips

• Provide feed free-choice (available at all times) for the first 4 weeks
• Switch from starter (20% protein) to grower (16–18% protein) at 3–4 weeks to moderate growth rate and prevent angel wing
• Always keep water next to the feeder — ducklings cannot swallow dry food and will choke without water
• Brewer's yeast (not baker's yeast) provides roughly 50 mg niacin per tablespoon — the cheapest, easiest supplement