Can Ducks Eat Mint? (Benefits & Feeding Tips)

can ducks eat mint

Yes, ducks can eat mint in moderation. Mint adds variety to their diet and contains a range of nutrients that have positive effects on their health. The notable benefits include boosting their immune system, calming them down, and cooling them when the weather is hot.

Is Mint Safe for Ducks?

Mint is one of the most popular herbs around the globe. Almost every gardener you ask will tell you that it’s the easiest to grow and one of the sweet-smelling plants they enjoy having in their garden.

Mint can grow almost anywhere regardless of whether light is present or not but the ideal places are those with a bit of shade and deep wet soil. In addition, it grows fast and you’ll have plenty available to you.

We all know that ducks can eat almost anything they come across and so it’s good to know whether it’s safe for them or not.

The good news is that mint is perfectly safe for them. In fact, it offers a good number of benefits to them.

There is evidence to suggest that mint can keep insects and rodents away from your flock. Adding some to your duck’s nesting boxes and bedding as well as planting some around their houses will help protect your birds from rodents and insects.

Additionally, the aromatic smell of mint will help relieve stress and calm your ducks at the same time.

All duck owners know that ducks poop a lot and cleaning out the poop can be a challenging task. The fresh and sweet smell will help you have an easy time doing that.

We’ve discussed the external benefits that mint offers, how about the positive health effects they offer to your feathered friends when ingested? Here are some of you may not be aware of:

  • Boosting their immune system – Mint is rich in vitamins and antioxidants that help in strengthening their immune system.
  • Cooling them in hot weather – We all know that summer days can be a bit cruel to your waterfowl. I’ve heard of duck owners who add mint leaves and stems to their ice-cold water and the overall effect is a decrease in body temperature. This may be true but from a scientific standpoint, what happens is that menthol, a compound present in mint, stimulates their brain to make them think they’re cooler.
  • Relieving respiratory problems – Menthol which is an active ingredient in mint helps us clear up our nasal cavities when we have a cold. Think of the sweets, gums, and nasal sprays that we use occasionally. Feeding your ducks mint will also help reduce cold symptoms that your flock may have.
  • Aiding digestion – We’ve established that ducks can munch on almost anything they encounter. Mint has been proven to help alleviate digestive issues such as bloating and indigestion.
  • Improving egg production and quality – I’ve heard of owners who’ve fed their ducks peppermint leaves (dry & fresh) and seen an increase in the number of eggs and quality. Though I haven’t found scientific evidence to prove it.

Can Ducks Eat Chocolate, Peppermint, Spearmint, and Others?

Yes, ducks can eat chocolate, peppermint, spearmint, and most other kinds of mint. The only difference between them is the taste but the constituents are the same. The names shouldn’t worry you. For instance, Chocolate mint doesn’t have caffeine.

How to Feed Mint to Ducks

Feeding mint to your ducks is pretty easy. You can just chop them up and throw them out to them on a pallet for them to gobble up.

The other way to feed them is to crush the leaves and stems and add them to ice-cold water, especially in summer. The resulting mixture will have a cooling effect on them.

You can also make mint tea and offer it to your ducks – Of course, once it cools down. It’s sort of a treat to them and they’ll enjoy all the positive health effects it has to offer.

Do Ducks like Eating Mint?

Well, there isn’t a definite answer to this question. I’ve asked other duck parents about their experiences and the results was mixed.

It does seem that some ducks love eating mint whereas others don’t. If your birds show no interest in eating them, there’s nothing wrong with that. They have their own tastes and preferences as much as we do.

Can Baby Ducks Eat Mint?

Baby ducks can mint, yes. I haven’t found evidence to suggest otherwise. The only concern is that they may choke from ingesting large pieces. So, ensure you chop up the mint into very small pieces before attempting to feed them this herb.

What Other Herbs are good for ducks?

Many other herbs are good for ducks besides mint. Here are some that they’ll love:

  • Thyme
  • Rosemary
  • Oregano
  • Dill
  • Cilantro

Summary – Can Ducks Eat Mint?

Mint, like most herbs, is fine for ducks. It will cause them no harm when fed in small quantities. Mint has lots of health benefits for your feathered friends and most ducks like eating them.