Stop mowing your lawns??

[nao57]

So I have had an interesting observation I wanted to discuss with you guys.

Earlier I had brought up the idea about fowl eating grass. Many people corrected me that ducks don't really go for grass. And they are right. It was important for me to understand what they like better. And I'm grateful for that or I would have made some feed budgeting mistakes.

However, I did discover something that falls into a gray area that is worth discussing.

I'd been taking both the ducks and the ducklings out on the back grass. This is fun to watch and well worth it.

I had already been under the observation that it seems like all ducks like seed.

Well while I'm playing with them I was giving them the grass seed.

AND they do eat it!

I was quite surprised by this. They don't eat the blades of the grass well. But they still do fish around in the grass. And at first I wasn't sure about this because I have enough trust with them, if I give them something in my hand they'll take it in their bills anyway just because of the farmer is the boss brainwashing. But it does look like they do swallow the grass seed.

And if that's the case I will be able to continue to observe it. Plus, it may mean that I can save a bit from feed costs by letting them continue to go after the grass seed, and even encourage it.

I'm also interested in what other people think too.

Thanks.

PS I am not going to stop all other feed to go to extremes.

 

[Mylied]

My ducks eat grass. I hadn't heard they didn't. I don't think it hurts to let them forage.

 

[Ratchnick]

I wonder if they would get enough to impact your feed bill. You could of course plant stuff for the ducks to eat. I'm doing cabbage this year.

 

[Zan]

My ducks like the dandelion seeds. They go after them specifically. It's hilarious to watch them run all over the yard eating only the dandelion fluff!

 

[nao57]

My ducks like the dandelion seeds. They go after them specifically. It's hilarious to watch them run all over the yard eating only the dandelion fluff!

Wow. That's amazing! XD It sounds interesting.

 

[DucksOhio]

We had to keep our ducks inside for a few days last year because our neighbor planted treated grass seed that may have been toxic to birds. We were grateful that he told us this after he read the seed bag, because my ducks wander into his yard.

since most of my neighbors have pets, we all avoid lawn and garden fertilizers that may be harmful.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I've got a big run that we made last fall. It's about 40' x 40'. When we had to auger for the many, and I mean a lot, of 4 x 4's to hold up the roof we pretty much destroyed every blade of grass that was in the run.

This winter I closed off about 1/3 of it and put some grass seed down. The grass grew and since then the ducks are allowed back in there. I've blocked off another 1/3 on the other side and will keep them out of there until that grass gets a good foothold. They are only allowed in the first grassy part and the middle now. The middle has no grass and I'll block that off as soon when I let them have access to the other side.

The part of the run now that has good grass and all 10 ducks in it all day still has grass and it's growing well so I don't think they are eating it at all. I have noticed though that when I cut the grass outside the run and some of the cuttings shoot into their run from the mower they really go for it so maybe they only will eat grass if it's cut up nicely for them? They also go crazy for it when I weed wack inside the run.

 

[Mylied]

I've got a big run that we made last fall. It's about 40' x 40'. When we had to auger for the many, and I mean a lot, of 4 x 4's to hold up the roof we pretty much destroyed every blade of grass that was in the run.

This winter I closed off about 1/3 of it and put some grass seed down. The grass grew and since then the ducks are allowed back in there. I've blocked off another 1/3 on the other side and will keep them out of there until that grass gets a good foothold. They are only allowed in the first grassy part and the middle now. The middle has no grass and I'll block that off as soon when I let them have access to the other side.

The part of the run now that has good grass and all 10 ducks in it all day still has grass and it's growing well so I don't think they are eating it at all. I have noticed though that when I cut the grass outside the run and some of the cuttings shoot into their run from the mower they really go for it so maybe they only will eat grass if it's cut up nicely for them? They also go crazy for it when I weed wack inside the run.

Mine will eat it out of the ground. Maybe I have weird ducks.

 

[Isaac 0]

So I have had an interesting observation I wanted to discuss with you guys.

Earlier I had brought up the idea about fowl eating grass. Many people corrected me that ducks don't really go for grass. And they are right. It was important for me to understand what they like better. And I'm grateful for that or I would have made some feed budgeting mistakes.

However, I did discover something that falls into a gray area that is worth discussing.

I'd been taking both the ducks and the ducklings out on the back grass. This is fun to watch and well worth it.

I had already been under the observation that it seems like all ducks like seed.

Well while I'm playing with them I was giving them the grass seed.

AND they do eat it!

I was quite surprised by this. They don't eat the blades of the grass well. But they still do fish around in the grass. And at first I wasn't sure about this because I have enough trust with them, if I give them something in my hand they'll take it in their bills anyway just because of the farmer is the boss brainwashing. But it does look like they do swallow the grass seed.

And if that's the case I will be able to continue to observe it. Plus, it may mean that I can save a bit from feed costs by letting them continue to go after the grass seed, and even encourage it.

I'm also interested in what other people think too.

Thanks.

PS I am not going to stop all other feed to go to extremes.

I think whether your birds will forage on grass depends on a few factors. In my experience, nutritionally derived birds will often scrounge on grass for vitamins and minerals, I see this a lot with broodies who are very underweight. Space is another possible factor, birds that are kept in a smaller enclosure will often destroy any grass they can, I feel this is due to boredom. I notice ducklings will eat grass, but as they age grass becomes less desirable to them.

My ducks are allowed to free-range during the day, they are fed an all flock diet. They do not eat grass, mainly just the seed heads on occasions .

 

[quackiemama]

My ducks actually love eating grass. They go crazy when I pull grass out and throw it in the run for them to eat. And when I let them out to free range (with supervision) they go straight for the grass. And my ducks are definitely not malnourished. Correction, it is some grass but mostly weeds. Dandelions are gold to them.