ducks and seeds

[ChcknLady]

Can ducks eat seeds? Maybe sunflower seeds or anything of the sort. I believe the oils will help them but I'm not sure if they can digest seeds

 

[kawonu]

Ours do. They like wheat seeds and the little black sunflower seeds.

 

[Feathered Wings]

I have been wondering this myself i breed pigeons and thats all they eat it really helps their feathers have a sheen.
I had not given my ducks any because i saw somewhere on here once someone said to not feed them seeds.

I use a bird seed mix with added safflower would this be okay to give them??

 

[goosedragon]

If your birds are free ranging or otherwise have a method to get "grit" they can eat seeds. ( when I let mine out in the morning they race to see what the flying birds have dropped from the bird feeders) I usually give them a handfull of Black Oil Sunflower seeds if there is nothing from the table to give for treats.
Just about all feed is made from beans or grain which is 'seeds'. I think the old tale comes about because you will sometimes spot undigested seeds in their poop that has been caried through their system by food that is faster to digest.

 

[Feathered Wings]

Thanks I have always wanted to give mine seed i just thought they would enjoy it.
Mine are free range and eat the feed scattered by my doves and pigeons.
I will get them a bag of sunflower seeds when i go to the feed store.
Thanks again

Cayugas

Calls

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Your Cayugas are great! Pity about the long bills on the calls but they are qreat Pet Quality.

 

[Wifezilla]

I read that ducks shouldn't have seeds too but that didn't make any sense to me after reading this...

"Mallards are generalist feeders. They are known to eat insect larvae, aquatic invertebrates, earthworms, acorns, the seeds of wild millet, marsh smartweed, bulrushes, sedges, and pondweeds, corn, wheat, soybeans, barley, and oats."
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/wildlife/directory_show.cfm?species=mallard

 

[Feathered Wings]

Thanks for the link Wifezilla

Goose yes i know my calls are pet quality but i love them anyway

 

[Wifezilla]

Hey...I like pet quality call ducks. They look like REAL ducks and not some creepy Japanese cartoon ducks brought to life by an evil spell

 

[Feathered Wings]

Quote:

so do I