Can Ducks Eat Garlic? (Risks and Benefits)
Ducks can eat garlic, yes. Garlic offers several health benefits to them when consumed such as boosting their immune system. However, you should only feed ducks garlic in moderation because large amounts could result in health complications.
Is Garlic Good for Ducks?
Yes. Garlic is great for ducks. It has added benefits to the ducks which include:
Boosting the Immune System
When a duck seems under the weather, then garlic helps it heal and fortify itself. The duck could be having ruffling feathers, and not being able to properly eat or drink or go outside.
It Deters the Red Mites
The blood of chicken that consumes garlic may taste odd to the mites due to the presence of allicin. This keeps the mites off.
It Stimulates the Appetite of Underweight Duck
Garlic adds appetite to the duck, making it eat more and gain more weight. This helps the duck to rebalance its weight and remain healthy.
Protects Against Bacteria
Garlic is active against bacteria such as cholera, salmonellosis, and colibacillosis. In countries where antibiotics are not fed to ducks, the use of garlic is an excellent replacement for them.
Is Garlic Bad for Ducks?
Garlic may be bad for ducks when not used in moderation. It may lead to diarrhea or vomiting. Hemolytic anemia could occur which leads to respiratory failure and later on death.
Can Ducks Eat Wild Garlic?
Yes. Just like the other types of onion plants, wild garlic is safe for consumption by ducks. It has medicinal qualities that maintain a healthy cardiovascular, digestive, and respiratory system making it safe as long as it is consumed in moderation.
Do Ducks Like Eating Garlic?
Ducks may not enjoy eating garlic when they are not used to it. However, if the ducks are already used to the taste and smell of garlic since they were young, then they are most likely to like it. The ducks that are already older and had not been introduced to garlic earlier, may love it when it is mixed with the rest of the food or water.
How to Feed Garlic to Ducks
There are different ways to add garlic to the diet of your ducks. However, if it’s the first time to do this, then be ready to experiment until you find the best method for you and the ducks too. The best time to start incorporating garlic into ducks’ diet is when they are still young so that they get used to the flavor while growing.
Some of the ways to feed garlic to ducks include:
Mixing Garlic Powder With the Duck Feeds
Adding garlic powder to the feeds is the easiest way to get the ducks to consume garlic. Adding a small portion of garlic powder to the feed greatly increases the weight and overall health of the ducks.
Adding Freshly Crushed Garlic in Drinking Water
Crushing garlic releases allicin which is the amino acid responsible for most health benefits brought about by garlic. A clove of garlic should be squeezed into 4 gallons of water. You can then pour the water into the ducks’ drinker. If you don’t have one already, you can get this drinker on Amazon at a great price:
Freshly Crushed Garlic Free Choice
You can offer your ducks freshly crushed garlic and see if they will eat it. Garlic however loses its potency after 24 hours which means that the crushed garlic needs to be replaced every day when using this method of supplementing.
Can Baby Ducks Eat Garlic?
Yes, but in moderation. You can add garlic to drinking water or food for the baby ducks which helps to boost their immune system.
Can Ducks Eat Garlic Bread?
No. Bread is potentially dangerous for ducks since it offers very little nutritional value. It can be considered junk food which makes the ducks fat and unable to fly. It may also cause malnutrition, pollution, and diseases.
Can Ducks Eat Garlic Mustard?
Yes. Just like the rest of the onion plants, garlic mustard is safe for duck consumption as long as it is in moderation.
What Other Plants Can Ducks Eat?
Ducks can also eat the plants below:
- Parsley
- Spinach
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
Final Thoughts
Garlic has great health benefits not only to ducks but also to all poultry in general. It is a good solution when opting to not give your poultry antibiotics and can serve as a great appetizer at the same time. This however should be done in moderation since as they say, too much of anything could be poisonous!
