Can Ducks eat Bird Seed? (Pros & Cons)

Be it humans or animals, we all need to consume various food items to survive. Similarly, a duck’s diet consists of a wide range of food. They are omnivores and consume both plants and meat. But have you ever thought that ducks eat birdseed? Do they like eating birdseed?

Well, this article will answer all your questions related to the topic. Let’s take a look.

Can ducks eat birdseed?

Yes, ducks do eat bird seed. Although bird seeds are specifically prepared to meet the nutrient demand of birds. But still, bird seed can be served as a snack to ducks in limited amounts. The nutrition in the bird seed makes it a healthier choice for ducks than other unhealthy snacks like bread and chips. 

Even ducklings can eat bird seeds like their parents. But make sure you feed them in minimal quantities with enough water to keep them hydrated. Duck’s diet consists of aquatic vegetation as they are water birds requiring plenty of water to maintain their overall health. Therefore, soaking bird seeds before serving ducks makes them easy and smooth to digest.

Bird seed has low protein content and high carbs. Hence, bird seeds cannot be fed solely as a primary diet to ducks because of their high protein demand.

Is bird seed healthy for Ducks?

Bird seeds are healthy from a lot of other unhealthy snacks that are fed to ducks. Therefore, you can feed your duck with bird seed in a limited amount. Bird seeds are loaded with nutrients and can be beneficial for ducks the way they are for birds. Some health benefits of birdseed are discussed below-

1-  High energy– Due to lots of carbohydrates in bird seed, they are good energy boosters for ducks to keep going all day.

2-  Improves cardiovascular health– Bird seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. And their consumption in sufficient amounts is linked with lower chances of cardiovascular diseases such as High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart diseases. Etc.

3-  Supports Immune System– Vitamins and minerals in Birdseed help stimulate duck’s immune system. Zinc helps maintain and develop immune cells and increases the body’s ability to fight various diseases in ducks. 

4-  Detoxification– Bird seeds are rich in fiber and antioxidants and help detoxify the body by removing toxins and germ cells from the duck’s body.

See Also: Ducks Eat Peanuts

What types of seeds are beneficial for ducks?

Ducks technically can eat any birdseed when offered. But some of the seeds are highly nutritious for ducks in sufficient amounts. Let’s read about some of those seeds.

a-  Canola seed– These seeds are rich in essential minerals and vitamins. They contain a high concentration of protein and a balanced amino acid profile. And canola meal shows excellent potential for duck nutrition for duck feed (Wickramasuriya et al. ).

b-  Sunflower seeds– Sunflower seeds are high in Thiamine, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E. They are known for boosting immunity and aids digestion in ducks.

c-   Millets– These are rich in fiber and nutrients. Millets promote healthy skin and bright eyes in ducks and are easily digestible.

d-  Sesame– seeds are Iron, fiber, Zinc, Magnesium, and protein-rich. Sesame seeds provide lots of energy to ducks because they are protein-rich.

e-  Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds have an Anti-Parasitic effect and are rich in carbs and essential nutrients.

f-  Melon seeds– contain a good amount of Vitamin A & C, Magnesium, Potassium, etc., essential for eye health and overall growth.

g-  Chia seeds– Ducks like eating chia seeds. These seeds are rich in protein and are suitable for ducks as they require a protein-rich diet. Chia seeds are easily digestible by birds.

Things to remember while feeding birdseed to ducks.

• Ensure that you only serve bird seed in a small proportion daily with enough water to the ducks. Don’t overfeed them.
• Avoid feeding large pieces, as ducks do not chew food. Rather they engulf it. Hence, the big pieces can chock their throats leading to suffocation and death.
• Don’t force your ducks to feed on birdseed if they are unwilling to do so.
• Offer clean and rodent-free bird seed to ducks. Otherwise, it would invite various diseases it.

Final words

Bird seed can be a perfect snack for ducks to munch on. Bird seeds and highly nutritious and offer several health benefits to ducks, only if served in moderation. Moreover, they do not have any significant side effects. But if fed excessively, they can harm the ducks in rare cases. So, next time you feed your duck’s bird seed, provide them with plenty of water and let them enjoy a worthy treat from their owners.