Can Geese Eat Sunflower Seeds?

We all know what ducks eat and what they avoid for good. However, geese are probably the only waterfowls who often go unnoticed.

They do have their preferences when it comes to food. Moreover, the said waterfowl need a nutritionally balanced diet as much as ducks do.

Like their fellow waterfowls, geese eat insects, aquatic vegetation, and some grains and seeds. It has recently been discovered that the seeds we used to think are unsafe for geese happen to be super healthy for geese. Those seeds are sunflower seeds.

Can Geese Eat Sunflower Seeds?

Yes, geese can eat sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are exceptionally healthy even their fellow waterfowl ducks can benefit from them as well.

Yes, geese love sunflower seeds. They have got a very mild, nutty flavor. A mild nutty flavor is not what makes the sunflower seeds more desirable; the firm yet the tender texture is as well.

There are a hundred more reasons to love sunflower seeds, how can an aquatic bird not like it?

The Right Way to Feed Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are just as safe as cracked corn, wheat, barley, oats, rice, milo, and bird seeds.

However, still, we need to be a little careful. All the grains and seeds geese can eat must be offered in moderation.

If the “feed-in-moderation” rule is neglected they would not face any serious health issues. However, the said waterfowls would gain weight.

Sunflower seeds can be offered as a meal mixed with other grains and seeds. However, it should never be fed more than once a week.

The sunflower seeds can be offered with shells. The shells, which are way too fibrous and indigestible for humans, do not harm these aquatic birds at all.

Try avoiding processed and salty sunflower seeds. The experts suggest not to feed duck and geese salty and sugar-laden foods. So, the sunflower seeds you should bring for your geese must not be treated with salt or sugar.

Nutritional Value of Sunflower Seeds for Geese

The sunflower seeds contain a good amount of iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, potassium, vitamin A, and E. Here’s how these nutrients boost the geese health:

• Iron: Iron is every living thing’s need. They need iron to produce enough hemoglobin to transport oxygen to the parts of the body. Moreover, they need it to produce energy and for healthy growth and wellness as well.
• Copper: Copper is not required in a great amount. However, the deficiency would lead to poor growth and metabolic issues. So, the amount of copper sunflower seeds contains assist in metabolic functions and healthy growth.
• Magnesium: Magnesium with other vitamins and mineral helps in growth and wellness. If the geese do not receive an adequate amount of magnesium it leads to a deficiency. Magnesium deficiency is breathtakingly common in ducks and geese. It leads to retarted growth, incoordination, convulsive attacks, and worse death.
• Zinc: Birds can not ingest a great amount of zinc as it can potentially harm or kill them. Sunflower does not contain enough zinc that it gets hard for the geese to digest. Since geese would get to eat sunflower seeds once a week, there are zero chances that zinc would harm or kill the aquatic bird. Feed Grapes to geese as an alternative.
• Potassium: Potassium is an important dietary mineral that helps poor aquatic birds in several ways; to regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, nerve signals. Moreover, an adequate amount of potassium in the geese’s diet also keeps these aquatic birds active and healthy.
• Vitamin A: Vitamin A, a crucial vitamin, is also demanded several purposes including eye health, eyesight, hearing, bones, and mucus membrane maintenance. Moreover, it plays a huge role in improving respiratory and immune issues.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E is not any less demanded. This rewarding vitamin is mainly needed to inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species in cells and tissues. Moreover, it assists in egg production, egg fertility, hatchability, postnatal growth, and conception rate.

Conclusion

Yes, geese can eat sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are super healthy as they contain a good amount of iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, potassium, vitamin A, and E. However to serve the geese in a good way, the sunflower seeds should not contain salt or sugar. It must be fed in moderation to maintain a healthy weight.