Can ducks eat figs? Will it be a laxative for them, or will it be harmful?
You see, slowly, it seems like harboring ducks in your backyard is becoming more popular, so questions about what they can eat keeps popping up daily on the internet.
Can ducks eat figs? Yes! Ducks can eat figs. Although, just like bread, figs should be incorporated into their diet as an occasional treat.
You probably don’t own one now, it could be that you have intentions of owning one, or you could come across some on your walk at the park, and you probably would want to feed them.
Now, knowing what to feed them is important, so you don’t feed them what will be harmful to them.
One important thing to note, and ensure that you get right when raising any animal is what food they can eat.
And in this article, we would be discussing about ducks and figs. Do you want to know if ducks can eat figs?
Then, ensure that you read this article to the end.
What is a fig?
A fig is basically a fruit, however, it’s a unique kind of fruit because of its shape and color.
The fig fruit takes the shape of a tear drop and its size is like that of a thumb.
Every part of the fig fruit is edible, from its purple/green peel to the flesh of the fruit.
When opened, you’d notice that the fruit houses hundreds of seeds in its tiny frame.
Nutritional benefits of figs to ducks
Asides housing so many seeds, the fig fruit is also endowed with a lot of nutritional values.
The fruit has proven to be good for both humans and animals such as ducks.
The fruit can help with digestion for those who experience increased constipation.
It could also help manage blood fat and blood sugar levels, and possibly cancer cells.
However, to make use of the fruit for all these and more in humans, intensive research is needed to be carried out.
What should I feed my ducks?
For ducks, just like humans and other animals, feeding them a balanced diet is important to ensure that they live a long, healthy and happy life.
We mean, only healthy people can truly be happy, and same applies to ducks.
Now, when a baby is born, feeding for him starts with milk, until his body has grown to the stage that I can tolerate solid food.
Ducks have that too. To ensure that your duck is healthy, you must feed it with the appropriate meal for its age.
Ducks are expected to be provided with suitable vegetables and fruits to supplement their diet.
When we say vegetables, we are talking about Zucchini, peas, leafy greens while for fruits, non-citrus fruit is just suitable.
Now, let’s talk about the different foods for ducks of various ages.
1. Up to three weeks of age
For these babies, the duck starter crumbles are essential for their growth.
The duck starter crumbles is a feed that is high in protein with about 18-20%. This is important because protein is ideal for growth as it helps in body building.
Note: it is important not to use chicken feed at this age, mainly because it is deficient in some nutrients that growing ducks need.
2. 3 – 20 weeks of age
At this age, you can now feed your ducklings with good quality grower foods that is suitable for ducks
At this stage, the ducklings will not be needing so much protein. Foods with protein level of about 15% is suitable for them.
Here is a comprehensive list I wrote on what do ducks eat
3. 20 weeks and older
At this age, your ducklings can now be considered as adults and can be fed with quality foods suitable for adult chickens and ducks.
You could introduce layer and breeder foods at this stage. Also, allowing them daily access to shell grit is essential at this stage.
This is because it is a source of calcium which the ducks need to produce strong shelled eggs.
Introducing vegetables and fruits at this stage is also not a bad idea.
You should also ensure that they have access to clean water for drinking, with water and food bowls placed side by side each other.
What you should not feed ducks
While we are thinking about what to feed ducks with, it is also important that we look into what you should not feed ducks with.
Please note and ensure that is not healthy to feed ducks with popcorn, chocolate, onion, garlic, avocado or any citrus fruit.
Although, somehow, bread is commonly given to ducks because it is one food that you can easily lay your hands on.
Of course, this isn’t a bad idea as long as they’re not excessive. Excessive amounts of bread for duck consumption is not good for them.
This is because bread has little nutritional value which can harm ducklings’ growth, and also pollute waterways which will end up attracting rodents and other pests.
Anyways, if you decide to feed your ducks with bread, you could incorporate it into their diet as a treat that comes occasionally.
How do ducks eat?
Ducks like to eat by grabbing a mouthful of food – mud, bugs and worms. They do this with basically all their foods.
After grabbing a mouthful of their food, they then dunk their bills into their water and swish it around.
This attitude of theirs makes it difficult to keep their drinking water clear and healthy.
Can ducks eat figs?
Yes! Ducks can eat figs. Although, just like bread, figs should be incorporated into their diet as an occasional treat.
Unlike bread, figs are not harmful for ducks instead, figs will offer your ducklings a lot of health benefits.
Tips for Feeding Ducks
Here are a few tips needed for feeding ducks and sea swans.
- You should stop feeding the ducks if they appear disinterested or are leaving the food uneaten.
- Try not to give them too much food because it can lead to health problems and leftovers.
- Ensure that you offer foods in bite-sized pieces, so that the birds can easily consume without choking or struggling, because ducks don’t chew.
Conclusion
It is important that you always check with your veterinary doctors or an experienced duck owner if you’re unsure about a particular food and its safety for your duck.
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