Is it possible to give seeds to ducks and how to properly feed sunflower seeds
Novice poultry farmers are concerned about the question: is it possible to use seeds for feeding ducks? To answer it, you need to understand what the diet of poultry consists of. What elements, minerals does a duck need when growing? And only then proceed to the preparation of nutritional mixtures, to give the pure sunflower. The benefits of this approach will be undeniable.
Do ducks eat seeds?
Ducks, both domestic and wild, enjoy themselves with pleasure on seeds and cereals. But how exactly to give sunflower - whole, crushed, in husks, opinions differ. Considering that the most common oil, sunflower, is squeezed out of the seeds, their introduction into the duck's diet will be beneficial.
Even in the cake, a by-product of oil production, there are many useful substances. It is no coincidence that poultry mixers and cattle based on sunflower processing waste are so popular with farmers. The seed contains:
- Magnesium.
- Calcium.
- Zinc.
- Iron.
- Fluorine.
In addition, it contains vitamins of groups A, B, E, D. Such a set for a duck cannot be useless. Quite the opposite. It will help poultry, bred for slaughter, gain weight faster. In addition to sunflower, ducks can be fed pumpkin seeds (also rich in minerals and vitamins), cereals - wheat, corn, oats. AndThe main advantage of cereals is the content of a large amount of carbohydrates necessary for the growth of poultry, the development of young animals.
Pros and cons
In its natural habitat, the duck eats everything, not neglecting insects, larvae, and plant food. Therefore, many poultry breeders in the summer specifically try to feed their pets, releasing them to reservoirs, ponds, small creeks. Also, to create a balanced diet, it is a good idea to give duck cabbage, any greens.
Primary treatment takes place in a false goiter - a branch of the esophagus. There the feed begins to swell. Enzymes are triggered that break down fiber. The partially digested food is then dumped into the stomach. Seeds, grains in a coarse shell (for example, oats) break down worse. A duck cannot break the husk with its beak, and enzymes cannot break down the hard outer layer.
It turns out that it makes sense to crush, give peeled kernels to help the bird fully absorb the food. Although disputes between farmers do not subside.Someone thinks that the duck is able to normally digest sunflower in the husk. And someone prefers to cook a mash of crushed seeds, herbs, silage.
How to give seeds to duck?
Perhaps the most important question for every farmer is how to give the duck sunflower kernels. Peeled, crushed, or with husks. Often the seed is included in the mash, along with bone meal, bran, herbs, and chopped fish.
There is a reason for this: a balanced set of minerals and vitamins is obtained, which is readily eaten and quickly digested by the duck.
Proponents of the opposite point of view are sure that the bird can digest unpeeled sunflower seeds without any problems. As an argument, the argument is made that in natural conditions no one peels sunflower for ducks, while this option does not harm the digestive system, growth and weight gain.
In what cases should you not feed the birds with seeds?
A restriction on feeding with grain or seeds is established for young animals up to 11 days old. He is not yet able to fully eat due to the underdevelopment of the body. Do not feed grain to diseased ducks that have obvious digestive problems.
You can not use sunflower as the main component of the diet. It is better to add seed to other foods, alternate herbs and roughage.
