Ducks love and can eat radishes and radish leaves.
Radishes are totally good and healthy for ducks. They are one of those vegetables most people do not really like and this is because of the taste.
Radishes have an odd, kind of spicy taste, and doesn’t even taste like pepper or anything related to chilies.
With a zesty and crispy taste, it can pass as a very unique vegetable.
There’s no denying how healthy radishes are and they are super good for ducks to munch on.
Join me in this article as I discuss all you need to know about radishes and ducks.
What Are The Health Benefits of Radishes For Ducks?
According to Well_and_good, radishes are packed with lots of healthy nutrients for your ducks, such as vitamins, potassium, riboflavin, and zinc, to mention but a few.
These healthy root veggies also contain lots of water, making them a good veggie treat to give your ducks during the hot summer season.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of this root vegetable for ducks:
- Saves the red blood cells:
Radishes are known to control and prevent the red blood cells from damage. They also increase oxygen supply to the blood.
Feeding your ducks radishes would make them healthy and even regulate their blood flow.
- A good source of fiber:
Ducks need a generous intake of fiber to improve their digestion process. Thankfully, you won’t have to go extra miles looking for a source of fiber when radishes are there.
Radishes are high on fiber, thus, improving your ducks digestion. They also regulate production of bile, protects the liver and gall bladder, and retains water too!
- Controls blood pressure:
Radishes provide ducks with potassium, which can lower their blood pressure and keep blood flow in control.
In addition, radishes are a good source of anthocyanins, which keeps the heart functioning well. They are also a great source of vitamin C, folic acids and flavanoids too.
- Boosts their immunity:
Radishes are high in vitamin C, which makes it a healthy choice for your ducks.
Radish improves their basic immunity system and protects them from flu. Feeding radishes to ducks can as well, control the development of harmful free radicals and inflammation.
- Good for hydration:
Feeding radishes to ducks in summer keeps their body hydrated because of the high water content in them.
Other benefits of feeding radishes to ducks are to improve their metabolism, to fortify their blood cells, and even make their plumage shiny and healthy.
Check out this complete list of foods for ducks that I wrote
How Often Should I Feed Them Radishes?
Like other vegetables, radish should be moderately fed to ducks. Since it is not part of their staple food, it should be given to them only as treats.
Too much intake of radishes can affect ducks digestive tracts. Therefore, it should be given to them few times in a week.
You can also rotate radishes with other vegetables to make feeding fun and healthy for your ducks too.
Can Baby Ducks Eat Radish?
Yes, ducklings can eat radish. However, it is advisable to wait until they are about 3 weeks old.
This is because ducks understand the age of 3 weeks would still have a gender digestive tract, and would not be able to properly digest the vegetable.
They should still be fed a regular diet of starter feed instead.
Once they have reached 3 weeks or older, you can begin to introduce radish to them. Start by giving them little pieces of radishes, so that it would be easier for them to digest.
Can Ducks Eat Radish Leaves?
Ducks can eat radish leaves and you can feed your ducks radish leaves too.
Most people often throw the leaves of radishes away because of the bitter taste and prickly nature.
Instead of just throwing them away, you can feed them to your ducks.
Radish leaves are rich in nutrition. They contain a generous amount of calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, B6 and C.
This means feeding your ducks radish leaves would make them strong and healthy.
You can give them the entire leaves, or better still, chop them first before giving them. They will happily eat them all.
Also here is an article I wrote on feeding ducks with pineapples
Can Ducks Eat Radish Skin?
Ducks can eat the skin of radishes. It is very healthy and equally contains vitamin C, zinc and phosphorus.
Radishes do not really have to be peeled actually. They can be eaten together with the skin.
Just wash and cut them into smaller pieces for your ducks to enjoy.
Can Ducks Eat Radish Greens?
Yes, ducks can eat radish greens. Also known as the leaves, these greens add variety and wholesomeness to the birds die and can even be fun to eat.
Radish greens offers ducks different nutrients including antioxidants, folate, magnesium, vitamin B7, vitamin B3, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and even vitamin K.
It is a very healthy treat for your ducks.
However, not all your ducks would love radish greens. While some may eagerly peck away at the greens, others would avoid eating the greens.
This is because radish green have a bitter taste.
Things To Consider When Feeding Ducks Radish.
There are quite a few things you should look out for when feeding radishes to your ducks.
First, radishes are treats are should always be considered as one. This means you should mostly feed radishes to your ducks.
Second, note that just like humans, some ducks also have preferences for food and are most likely to avoid eating radishes.
This doesn’t not mean something is wrong with such duck so don’t be scared, the bird just don’t want to eat the treat.
In addition, makes sure that you give them healthy radishes, free from any spots or damage from veggies pests.
What Are The Ways of Feeding Radish To Ducks?
Feeding ducks is not a difficult job actually. Preparing their food is very easy.
Some of the ways you can feed radish to ducks are:
- Chop the radish, slice or grate to make it easier for them to eat.
- Slice the leaves or green for them.
- You can also give them some cooked radish meal.
- During summer, try soaking the radish to give them more water content. This way, your ducks would stay hydrated.
Conclusion.
Radishes are great and healthy treats which your ducks would love. If you are looking for how to add variation to your ducks diet, radishes are definitely a good choice.
They are packed with good nutritional content and contains quite a good level of water, making them a wonderful addition to their diet and a great choice for them during the summer months.
As part of the root vegetables, other awesome veggies foe your ducks are broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, kale and cabbage.
Now that you know how healthy radishes are for your ducks, I hope you have some spare for them next time you consume or grow them yourself!
