The ULTIMATE list of DUCK Treats and Supplements...

[AliciaDuckLady]

Hi e

Could you please explain why? An overdose of what chemical found in the plant? Kale and other brassicas are the healthiest of greens to give to chickens, so I'm wondering why ducks would be more affected?

Hi everyone, really sorry have not answered this earlier, started studying so have not had time to be on the site. Will refer to the text and get back to you this week. Will find out about the active constituents also. We now limit these foods and concentrate on treating with other leafy greens, the occasional tomato and handful of peas. Wheat is also a fun snack to forage for in the grass. Mind you not too much grass left in the pen

 

[LilyD]

Can ducks eat jalapeno peppers? I can't find anything saying they can't but not sure if I should give it a try. I know birds aren't affected by the capsacin (sp?) in the peppers but is there other stuff in them that can hurt them?

 

[andreacroyle]

Dear crazyaboutchickens,
I cant find your original post where you asked about kale, but I did a quick search and found this quote about livestock. I know that it doesnt answer your question but maybe it will head you in the right direction when you google it.

Before scientists were blinded by kale’s health food halo, they studied its horrific effect on livestock. Farmers had been mystified by the births of lambs that already had goiter. Researchers experimented with kale on sheep and rabbits with grisly results. Turns out kale does contain a goitrogen, thiocyanate, which is chemically very similar to deadly cyanide. Some young lambs were stillborn, their brain development stunted by their goiters. The consumption of kale had blocked their thyroid’s ability to function properly even in the presence of proper iodine consumption. With many Americans consuming little iodine, especially those obsessed with health foods who eschew iodized salt, the effects could be devastating.
http://huntgatherlove.com/content/j...habit-slowly-destroying-your-health-and-world
Here is the link.

 

[Jemmie]

Can ducks eat jalapeno peppers? I can't find anything saying they can't but not sure if I should give it a try. I know birds aren't affected by the capsacin (sp?) in the peppers but is there other stuff in them that can hurt them?

I'm curious. Why would you want to feed these kind of peppers to your ducks?

 

[LilyD]

I was processing them for myself and putting them in the dehydrator but I don't do the very tip and I don't do the pepper right by the stem so I cut those parts up into tiny pieces. I have fed them to my chooks before but this is my first year with ducks. I wanted to make sure it was okay for them to eat them before I tossed out the treats to the chickens since they are all loose together and the ducks would eat the peppers too.

 

[DuckLover1029]

Great list thanks

 

[KARy408]

Question about sunflower seeds as a treat:
Can I give them to my ducks with the shell on, or do they need to be seeded? I'm assuming shells are okay, but thought I'd ask.

This list is great BTW. It's been crazy hot and dry here all summer; I wish I knew about the Layered Ice Pop Treat idea earlier, that sounds perfect!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Question about sunflower seeds as a treat:
Can I give them to my ducks with the shell on, or do they need to be seeded? I'm assuming shells are okay, but thought I'd ask.

This list is great BTW. It's been crazy hot and dry here all summer; I wish I knew about the Layered Ice Pop Treat idea earlier, that sounds perfect!

Sunflower seeds with shell on is in the 7 way scratch I buy , and they eat them that way , but if I offer them on their own my ducks won't eat them, but my chickens love them.

 

[KARy408]

Sunflower seeds with shell on is in the 7 way scratch I buy , and they eat them that way , but if I offer them on their own my ducks won't eat them, but my chickens love them.

Oh yeah, totally! I forgot about the scratch! Thanks!

 

[hennible]

For ducks I'd avoid Swiss chard too. It's related to spinach and depending on why it blocks calcium absorption Swiss chard may do this too. Same possibly with beet greens, also related. Younger plants are usually lower in all mineral etc compared to mature versions so baby greens may be safer.
Double checked mid post, it's the oxalic acid that blocks calcium up take, its in the whole family of plants, but lower in younger greens. If I'm not mistaken it's what makes rhubarb leaves toxic. This actually makes me wonder about these foods with chickens, you'd think it would work on them the same way...

Awesome to see feeder fish on the list! Did live feeding with tadpoles (an accident) but they loved them!
Great list.