Can Ducks Eat Sage? 4 Benefits With Antibacterial Properties!
Greedy ducks always crave food so what if you have sage in your backyard? I think they won’t mind having some as a free treat!
But, can ducks eat sage? Yes, they can safely eat sage, but not too frequently. Sage is a herb with antibacterial properties and beta-carotene. Also, sage has various carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. All these nutrients can benefit ducks’ health in different ways.
Stick around to learn all the ins and outs of ducks and sage. You’ve to get into the discussion. So, keep on reading!
Table of Contents
Can Ducks Eat Sage? Is It Safe For Them?
Yes, ducks can eat sage. It is one of the safe herbs for ducks. This herb is a natural antibiotic for ducks. Its antibacterial properties help ducks to fight different diseases.
Moreover, sage has a strong aromatic flavor which can be helpful to keep the pests away from ducks. It contains vitamin K which can heal wounds and prevent infections.
Sage can be a nutritious treat for ducks as it has many nutrients like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and many more. These nutrients are essential for ducks’ growth.
But remember you can include sage in your ducks’ diet only as a treat, not a regular food.
Why Sage Shouldn’t Be Fed Regularly?
Sage contains 60% carbohydrates and 40% fiber. The amount is too much for ducks. Technically, ducks don’t need carbohydrates. They get energy from protein and vitamins. But slight consumption of carbohydrates doesn’t cause any harm. Carbohydrates can help ducks in winter to keep them warm.
It’s okay ducks need fiber for proper digestion, but overconsumption of fiber can reduce the ability to digest. That’s why it’s suggested to feed sage to ducks occasionally.
What About The Dried Sage?
Dried sage has more aromatic flavor than the sage. Ducks shouldn’t be fed this much aromatic food. It can change their natural dietary habit and can create dependency on this type of food. And this food won’t fulfill the nutritional requirements.
What About Sage Stems for Ducks?
Stems of sage contain more aroma compared to the leaves. And this can cause a behavioral change in ducks. They may get used to this type of aromatic food, which won’t meet their nutritional requirements. So, it’s recommended to avoid stems of sage.
What About The Baby Ducks? Can Ducklings Eat Sage?
According to me, baby ducks shouldn’t be fed sage. As sage contains too much carbohydrates and fiber, baby ducks won’t be able to digest this content. Besides, sage can’t fulfill the nutritional requirements for the growth of ducklings.
How To Serve Sage To Ducks?
To serve sage to ducks, you don’t need to follow any method actually. You just need to find fresh sage for your ducks. If you want, you can chop the leaves.
How Often Can Ducks Eat Sage?
Generally, it has been said that any treat shouldn’t be given to ducks more than twice a week. As you can serve sage to your ducks as a treat, you can give it twice a week.
How Much Sage Can Ducks Eat?
Sage has a strong aromatic flavor. Overeating aromatic, flavorful food can change ducks’ dietary habits. So, giving one tablespoon of sage leaves per duck is better.
Related Reads:
What Does Sage Contain? The Nutritional Fact!
Let’s take a look at the nutritional contents of sage:
| Nutrients | Amount (per 100 gm) |
|---|---|
| Water | 7.96 gm |
| Energy | 315 kcal |
| Protein | 10.6 gm |
| Lipid | 12.8 gm |
| Carbohydrate | 60.7 gm |
| Dietary fiber | 40.3 gm |
| Sugars | 1.71 g |
| Calcium | 1650 mg |
| Iron | 28.1 mg |
| Potassium | 1070 mg |
| Sodium | 11 mg |
| Vitamin C | 32.4 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.754 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.336 mg |
| Niacin | 5.72 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 2.69 mg |
| Folate | 274 µg |
| Choline | 43.6 mg |
| Vitamin A | 295 µg |
| Beta carotene | 3480 µg |
| Vitamin E | 7.48 mg |
| Vitamin K | 1710 µg |
4 Benefits Of Having Sage In Ducks’ Diet
Sage is rich in carbohydrates and fiber. Carbohydrates can provide ducks with energy, and fiber can help ducks with nutrient absorption. Besides these, sage contains various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and antibacterial properties. Let’s take a look at how they impact ducks.
1. Antibacterial Properties
As sage has antibacterial properties, it can stave off salmonella. It can be helpful for people who engage with poultry and their egg products.
2. Contributions Of Vitamins
Sage contains various vitamins. These are vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin K. These vitamins have a lot of contributions to ducks’ health and growth. For instance
- Good vision
- Strong immune system
- Healthy skin and feathers
- Energy metabolism
- Wound healing
3. Contributions Of Minerals
In sage, there are different kinds of minerals like Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, and many more. These can benefit ducks’ health. Like as
- Egg production and forming strong eggshells
- Strong bone
- Energy production
- Immune responses and enzyme activities
- Protect cells from oxidative stress
4. Contributions Of Antioxidants
Sage has vitamin C and vitamin E in it. These vitamins act as antioxidants. Besides these, sage contains selenium. These antioxidants have several contributions. For example
- Prevent damage to the cell membrane
- Protect cells from oxidative stress
- Help in healing
- Help to maintain healthy tissues
Drawbacks Of Having Sage In Ducks’ Diet
Sage is high in carbohydrates and fiber. If ducks overeat sage, it can cause harm to them. Let’s know the problems that can happen to ducks.
- Excessive fiber can reduce the ability of digestion.
- It also can reduce the availability of nutrients.
- Excessive carbohydrates can cause obesity in ducks.
- It can also reduce egg production.
FAQs
I have something more on ducks and sage. Just wait some moments.
Q. Can sage act as a mosquito repellent in ducks’ coop?
Yes, sage is believed to have natural mosquito-repellent properties due to its strong aroma and the presence of compounds such as camphor and rosmarinic acid.
Q: Is sage toxic to ducks?
No, sage is not toxic to ducks. Due to its high fiber and carbohydrate content, there is a recommendation to feed sage to ducks as a treat.
Recommended Reading: Herbs – A Natural Antibiotic For Ducks
Closure
After researching, I found that sage can be a nutritious treat for backyard pets. It has antibacterial properties, which can help ducks to improve their immune systems. Along with this, sage contains many essential nutrients.
Be careful about the fact that sage has a strong aromatic flavor. Be sure you don’t feed too frequently.
