Yes, Ducks can indeed have sunflower seeds as part of their diet. Whether roasted or unroasted and with or without shells, ducks can safely consume sunflower seeds. It’s essential, however, to ensure that the sunflower seeds are not salted, as added salt can be harmful to ducks. Sunflower seeds, both black oil and striped varieties, are suitable for ducks to eat.
Sunflower seeds have a good amount of vitamin B1, thiamine, and vitamin E which works wonders for the duck’s health.
So, let’s get to know the advantages of feeding sunflower seeds and the types that you can feed the ducks.
Benefits of Feeding Sunflower Seeds to Ducks
Here are the benefits of feeding sunflower seeds to ducks:
- Sunflower seeds are high in vitamin A which helps in the production of antibodies and has an impact on the production and quality of eggs.
- Vitamin B helps in promoting joint muscles and maintains their ability to walk and swim.
- Vitamin B6 in sunflowers maintains the red blood cell balance in the body, keeps the nervous system functional, and also supports the ducks in laying large and heavy eggs.
- Sunflower seeds have Vitamin B 5 which metabolizes carbohydrate protein and fat
- Vitamin E helps to boost the immune system of a duck and also protects it against muscular disorders.
- It has minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium which help to promote good health content, so it should be fed in moderation otherwise the duck can become overweight, leading to leg problems, fatty liver, and muscular disorders such as Wry Neck disease.
- Sunflower seeds also have Omega 3 fatty acid which helps in maintaining healthy feathers making them stronger, shiner and more resilient to environmental stressors.
What are the Types of Sunflower Seeds that Ducks Can Eat?
Sunflower seeds can be either fed roasted or unroasted to the ducks. It can be of black oil and striped sunflower seeds. Also, you can provide the ducks with or without shells. However, when you are buying sunflower seeds ensure that it does not have any additives, such as salt in them.
Here’s how different sunflower seeds provide the benefit:
- You can feed the ducks black oil sunflower seed which is commonly available. It is small in size, easy to digest, and ideal for ducks of all ages. These have high nutritional value and are easy to afford.
- Striped sunflower seeds are a little larger when compared with black oil sunflower seeds and have an outer shell. These are also safe for the ducks to consume but ducklings might fail to crack them open.
- Sunflower heart is the inner portion of the sunflower seed with high protein content. These are easy to digest and ducks with beak problems can easily feed on them. These are a little expensive and you need to consider the age and strength of the duck while feeding them hulled sunflower seeds.
Alternative Seeds that You Can Feed Duck
Other than sunflower seed, you can also provide the ducks with quash, cucumber, sesame, pumpkin, squash, watermelon, bird seed, and rice.
How Can You Feed Sunflower Seeds to the Duck?
The quantity of flower seeds that should be given to a duck depends on their age, size, activity level, and whether you are treating the sunflower seeds as a treat supplement. When you are feeding sunflower seeds to the duck you can either mix the seed into wet treats such as chopped fruit and yogurt, or you can put them on the ground for the ducks to pick and eat.
Are Sunflower Seeds Risky for Ducks?
You must understand the appetite of the duck and never overfeed them sunflower seeds as over time it can become less appealing. Salted sunflower seeds are high in sodium content which increases the chances of arterial hypotension or blood pressure, so it should be avoided. It can also lead to deficiency in certain nutrients due to daily feeding of the same food items. Sunflower seeds also get easily contaminated by fungi, mold, and other harmful substances, so you should be very careful before you feed sunflower seeds to ducks.
How to Check the Quality of Sunflower Seed?
You must throw away the sunflower seeds that have become clamped and the ones that break with little effort. If the sunflower seed is infested with moths, worms, flies, or spiders, then it is a sign that it is spoiled and you need to discard them. Also, discoloration of sunflower seeds with slimy and musty smell indicates that it has mold which produces mycotoxin, a chemical fatal for ducks, so these seeds should be thrown away immediately.
How to Store Sunflower Seeds?
To avoid the sunflower seeds from getting spoiled, you need to keep them away from humidity and moisture, always store them in cool, dry glass jars, and seal the jars properly without the presence of any water content.
