Ducks are interesting creatures. They are able to fly, swim, and walk on land. What they eat depends on their environment. In the wild, ducks eat a variety of things including insects, small fish and aquatic plants. Domestic ducks are mostly raised on pellets, vegetables and fruits. However can ducks eat sesame seeds?
Yes, ducks can eat sesame seeds. They are very nutritious for ducks making them a perfect snack in addition to their regular diet. With the high amount of calcium they contain, sesame seeds can benefit ducks that are laying eggs.
Giving ducks treats should always be done in moderation to keep them healthy and giving them sesame seeds is no different. In this article we go over everything you need to know about ducks eating sesame seeds.
How Much Sesame Seeds Can a Duck Eat?
Sesame seeds should be feed in moderation because it’s high in fat and eating to much could lead to health issues for the duck. A good general guideline is to not, give ducks more treats than 10% of their overall diet. But I would recommend less that that when it comes to sesame seeds.
Never replace a meal with sesame seeds, it important that ducks eats a regular commercial duck diet to stay healthy. Always feed them treats after a meal.
Sesame Seeds Nutritional Value
Below is the nutritional value of a half-cup of dried sesame seeds.
- Calories: 412
- Protein: 12 grams
- Fat: 36 grams
- Carbohydrates: 16 grams
- Fiber: 8 grams
It’s also a good source for many minerals and vitamins.
- Calcium
- Phosphorous
- Magnesium
- manganese
- Iron
- Zinc
- Copper
- Molybdenum
- Selenium
- Vitamin B1
[Source]
Are Sesame Seeds Healthy for Ducks?
Sesame seeds can be very healthy when eaten in moderation for ducks. It’s high in fat and contains a good mix of carbs, protein and fiber. The calcium can help the duck with stronger bones and increasing the quality for the eggshells, so sesame seeds are very good for ducks laying eggs.
With so many different minerals and vitamins, sesame seeds can help ducks keeping their immune system strong, better hearth health and reduce inflammation.
Do Ducks Like Sesame Seeds?
Yes, ducks loves sesame seeds. They go crazy for sesame seeds and will devour a sizable portion in minutes. Ducks tends to like seeds overall, but sesame seeds is an extra tasty treat for them. Then again make sure to not let them overeat the seeds, because they will eat until there is nothing left.
How To Feed Sesame Seeds To Ducks
There are several ways you can feed your ducks sesame seeds. The first one being just throwing seeds on the grounds and then can pick them up, but this will probably make them eat dirt as well. So they will need water nearby. A better way to add the sesame seeds in a grain mix and then feed them that in a bowl with or without water in it.
The duck can filter out the water and eat the grain mix, without eating additional dirt. As for wild ducks, the same goes for them. It’s best to feed the duck, by throwing it in the water, it also makes it easier for them to reach the food.
Just remember when feeding wild ducks at the park, more people might have already fed them so always be restrictive in the amount of sesame seeds you give them. It’s easy for them to overeat if they get treats all day long and it will lead to health issues for the duck.
Foods Ducks Shouldn’t Eat
There are many foods that ducks should not eat and I thought I might share some of the most common treats to not give ducks.
Apple seeds should never be given to ducks. They contain amygdalin and when digested it turns into cyanide, which is toxic to ducks. If you decide to feed apples, always make sure to discard of the seeds.
Bread is still a popular for many people at the park to feed wild ducks. You are not doing them a favor by feeding them bread. It holds no nutritional value and the duck only get full. This can lead them to thinking they’ve eating enough and become malnourished.
Spinach is toxic to ducks, it contains oxalic acid, which can reduce the amount of calcium the duck can absorb, leading to weaker eggs and weaker bones.
Other Seeds Ducks Can Eat
It’s no secret that ducks loves to eat seeds and below are some more healthy seeds that ducks can safely eat.
A good tip is to always make your own research when feeding ducks new treats, to keep them healthy and strong.
For comprehensive insights on what to feed ducks, take a look at our extensive list of suitable grains and seeds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ducks can eat sesame seeds and they are very healthy, making sesame seeds a perfect snack for ducks in addition to their regular diet.
All the minerals and vitamins, can benefits ducks laying eggs and help them with get stronger bones and reduce inflammation.
Always feed in moderation to avoid the ducks getting to much fat in their diet, which could lead to fatty liver.
Thanks for reading, take care!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only. I'm not an expert or a veterinarian.
