Blindness in an old drake

[desertdarlene]

He especially loved birdseed which, I was told was very bad for ducks. But, he spit out the seeds he didn't like. It was kinda funny seeing him take a big beak full of seed and see him spitting most of it out. I tried to find out what, exactly, he was filtering out and favoring so I could just get what he liked, but couldn't figure it out. He hated eating things like cracked corn, but would eat bread sometimes. At the end, he mostly ate grasses and snails.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

My ducks (and chickens) love the bird seed that falls from our feeder! I don't think the ducks ever get much though because the seeds are so small, but it has never harmed them.

 

[GardenerGal]

Funny you both mention birdseed. I throw scoops of birdseed (mixed with layer pellets) out in the chicken run to give my chooks something to do, and I mix it into the waterfowl's feed bowls too, in small amounts to add interest to their diet. They could live on pelleted feed, but they get fresh grass hay, weeds and veggie scraps when available.

I have never seen a problem with ducks and geese eating seeds, though I have read about birdseed not being "good" for them. In the wild, waterfowl will eat seeds and eat the tops right off seeding grasses and wild grains. Maybe it's the old "foie gras" idea that they will get fat (fatty livers) in their instinctive quest to fatten up for winter's lean times and the rigors of migration. Since domestic fowl don't have to deal with either, too much grain is probably not good for them. But my motto is "everything in wise moderation," and I have never seen any health problems in my flock from eating birdseed. None of my other waterfowl have ever had eye problems. Just the one old drake, and he is doing just fine, thank goodness.

Here's the kicker -- when I look through their feed bowls at the end of the day, the bird seed has ALWAYS been picked out!! Those wacky ducks (and geese) use their bills like a sieve and filter the seeds out of the pellets. Of course they eat the pellets too, but there's usually only pellets left in the bowl in the evening, all the seeds are gone. How they can pick out even the tiniest grain with their broad bills is just amazing
.

 

[desertdarlene]

Someone told me that bird seed causes a condition in their intestines similar to diverticulitus (I don't think I am spelling it right), which can be painful. Still, so many ducks like to eat it. And, the old drake preferred eating it over anything else. He would even fight the other ducks for it.

 

[GardenerGal]

That's interesting. The small millet and milo grains may be a problem, that makes some sense. But my flock has been getting birdseed in their feed for years, and never have had any digestive problems. Their appetites are normal, they are active and healthy, and their poop is normal, so I guess it comes down to not giving them too much.

I wouldn't give my ducks and geese bowls of birdseed -- I think they would have trouble swallowing it! But a small amount mixed with their pellets seems to work fine. Although like I said, they have an unbelievable talent for filtering it out of the pellets. and they actively seek it out. Natural instinct might be attracting them to a food that they would likely see in the wild. Pellets don't grow on stalks and don't look natural. But I'm glad my flock eats them without complaint.

 

[desertdarlene]

I guess millet and sunflower seeds are OK, from what I'm told.

 

[GardenerGal]

My ducks eat all of the birdseed. I get whatever is cheap and comes in a 40 lb bag, so it can vary. Some have cracked corn, milo, small sunflower seeds, millet. Others have lots of millet and a smattering of the sunflower seeds and are heavier on millet and milo, some cracked corn. None of it ever gave any of the waterfowl a problem. Maybe it's just excessive amounts. Small amounts mixed with feed pellets seems to work great.

One thing I'm pretty sure of, is it doesn't cause cataracts. Those are more of an age/UV rays thing if I recall correctly. None of my other waterfowl have any symptoms, just this one ol' drake.

Thanks for the input -- I appreciate everyone's comments. The drake is doing fine so I won't spend my time worrying about that cataract.