Chia seeds are used in making Chia pudding and they are rich in Omega 3 fatty acid.
If you have chia seeds in abundance at your disposal, you might be wondering if you can serve the seeds to the ducks.
In this blog post, you are going to discover if it is good to serve chia seeds to the ducks and ducklings.
Can ducks eat chia seeds? Ducks can eat chia seeds. You can soak the chia seeds in the water for a while to gain weight before you serve the ducks. Chia seeds are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acid for ducks.
You can feed the ducks with chia seeds. Chia seeds also provide the ducks with calcium and potassium.
Table of Contents
Are chia seeds safe for ducks?
Chia seeds are safe for the ducks. You can serve chia seeds to the ducks as a treat with other grains you serve the ducks.
It is good to soak chia seeds in water for a while before you serve them to the ducks. You can also mix the chia seeds together with the feed you serve the ducks.
You should always serve chia seed and any other grains to the ducks in moderation. This will prevent building up of grains in their digestive systems.
Ducks may develop bladder stones which can cause a serious problem for the ducks if they eat chia seeds and other grains in excess.
There is no point in raising ducks and other birds in the yard only to harm them with the things you feed them.
This is the reason why it is very important to make a little inquiry about the new treats you want to introduce to your pets.
You must know the level of toxicity and the right amounts to serve them so as not to harm their well-being.
To be more certain about this, I also asked other pet owners around me about feeding chia seeds to the ducks.
While some of them have not tried it out, others told me that they usually mix chia seeds together with the feed they serve the ducks.
How do I introduce chia seeds to the ducks?
Introducing chia seeds to the ducks should not be something difficult. it’ll be pretty much easier if you have been feeding your ducks with grains in the past.
At first you need to go slow whenever you want to introduce chia seeds to the ducks.
There are two ways to go about it when you want to serve chia seeds for the ducks.
You can mix chia seeds together with the feed you serve the ducks regularly. This will help them to get familiar with the chia seed and they will continue to eat it.
Once the ducks accept the chia seeds you serve with their regular feed, you can then start serving the seed to the ducks directly.
The ducks I’m going to finish everything yourself if they find it palatable and we always look out for more.
How often do I feed my ducks with chia seeds?
Now it is clear to you that you can serve chia seed to the ducks, that does not mean that you always serve them the seeds regularly.
Chia seeds should be considered as one of the treats you can serve the ducks and chickens in the yard.
Therefore, it is good to only serve chia seeds to the ducks seldomly. It is good to serve it once a week and it should not be more than three times in a month.
Can ducks survive on chia seeds alone?
It is not advisable for you to feed only chia seeds to the ducks. Chia seeds only have fewer essential nutrients in them.
It is a bad practice to let your pets rely on a type of treat for a long time. Your pets need balanced diets that will provide all vital nutrients for the ducks.
Chia seeds lack some essential nutrients like vitamin A. Vitamin A boosts the vision of the ducks. It enhances their ability to see clearly when it is dark.
The proteins in chia seeds are not much. It’s about 17g for every 100g of chia seed served. And this shows that ducks and ducklings can only derive a small amount of protein from eating chia seeds.
Can ducklings eat chia seeds?
You should not serve chia seeds to the ducklings if they are yet to reach 4 weeks old.
Ducklings at the early stages need more proteins in their feeds so as to grow faster. Protein is also essential for growing feathers in ducklings and other birds in the yard.
You can only mix a small portion of chia seeds to medicated feed you want to serve the ducklings and should not always.
Why are my ducks not eating chia seeds?
Ducks are going to reject the chia seeds you serve them if they have never tasted any other grains except the feed you serve them.
Ducks can also be selective in things they eat. If the chia seeds you serve them are not palatable enough for them, they are going to reject it anytime you serve it.
Health benefits of chia seeds to the ducks
Ducks and ducklings are going to derive enough calcium from when they consume chia seeds. Calcium helps the ducks to maintain healthy bones and tissues in their bodies.
Chia seeds are a good source of fibre for the ducks. Fibre helps to improve the digestion in ducks and other birds in the yard.
Chia seeds have a little vitamin C in their nutritional value. Other nutrients that are found in chia seeds are iron, magnesium,sodium and potassium.
Other treats you can serve the ducks.
These are some other healthy treats which you can serve ducks.
Lettuce
Lettuce is one of the healthy vegetables you can serve the ducks as a treat. Lettuce is a good source of antioxidants for the ducks and ducklings.
Carrots
Carrots are another good treat which you can serve the ducks. Ducklings can also have carrots but you have to slice them into smaller pieces before you serve the ducks.
Kale
Kale is another good treat you can serve the ducks. You can serve Kale directly into the feeders for the ducks or you put it in the water they drink.
Tomatoes
Ducks can eat tomatoes. Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family. As a result, you should serve the flesh of tomatoes only to the ducks. Other parts of tomatoes contain toxic substances.
Conclusion
Chia seeds are safe for the ducks. You can serve chia seed alone or together with the feed you give them regularly. Chia seeds are a good source of fibre and calcium for the ducks. You should always serve chia seeds to the ducks in moderation.
