Ducks are known to consume petty much anything that they can come across, from plants and flowers, fruits and insects.
But what about slugs? Ducks do eat slugs, they will get rid of any infestation problem that you might have in your garden or pond.
Ducks will consume slugs and destroy any that are crawling around in your garden.
There will be a small hole where the slug used to be, but it will not harm the grass or plants at all. Ducks tend to dig into the ground looking for more slugs and worms, which can sometimes cause a little damage to your garden.
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Is It Safe For Ducks To Eat Slugs?
It is largely safe for them to consume slugs.
Sometimes, however, they will ingest a slug that carries a parasite called lungworm, which can cause pneumonia in the animal, but it can be considered a rare event.
Other than that slugs are perfectly fine for ducks, it has good nutritional values, it is a high source of protein and minerals, they will enjoy this treat, and it is a good way of getting rid of any infestation that you might have.
Are Ducks Good For Pest Control?
Ducks are exceptional natural pest control. They will consume any unwanted plant or insect infestation that you might have in your garden.
They have an incredible sense of smell and they can crawl in the soil and find any insects that are hidden there. Ducks will search for these bugs with their eyes closed as well as with their ears up and they can sniff out any insect hiding in your garden.
Unlike other pets that would leave a visible trail for pests to follow, ducks will not leave a trail of evidence behind them, which means that you need to put in some extra effort when you are trying to find them some slugs or any other small creatures.
Ducks will eat the infestation that has been found on your plants or in your garden as well as the eggs of certain insects so this method also works great for pest control.
What Insects Can Ducks Eat?
As said, ducks are considered great pest control, but what insect can they eat?
These are the most common insect that they will consume daily:
Dragonflies: another common food source for ducks is dragonflies, which require a pond or a stream in order to drink or hunt for food.
Flies: while flies can be annoying to people, they are one of the most common foods which ducks eat. They are found all over the world as they are able to live just about anywhere that people do.
Mosquitoes: yet again another well known bug that ducks enjoy eating, especially during their breeding season in which mosquitoes are at their peak and cause the most harm.
June Bugs: another favorite food of ducks is June bugs, which are short, round, and dark in color.
Crickets: cricket is another popular bug that ducks eat for their protein. They can’t be seen because their color blends in with their surroundings but you can feel them moving around if you put your hand over a crickets’ hiding place.
Japanese beetle: it is a small, brown insect that is often mistaken for a cricket. It can be found in the spring when it emerges from its winter hibernation.
Scale insects: this insect can be found on plants and trees and can cause damage to the leaves and branches of plants. It is most often a nuisance to anyone who wants to keep their garden looking attractive by growing plants that are attractive too.
Grasshoppers: commonly known as crickets or bush crickets because they like to live under bushes in moist environments such as fields, lawns, or gardens. They are also known as cricket jerky because they are sometimes dried out by humans and stored for later consumption by predators. Grasshoppers have been shown to have high protein levels, but not much fat (about 10%).
Lacewing: This insect is the size of a sesame seed and can be seen flying around flowers during the spring. They are important pollinators of wildflowers.
Ladybug: Ladybugs are often enjoyed by people because they keep their garden free from aphids but they can move to unwanted plants as well causing damage. Ladybugs also eat other insects including aphids, which are found at the base of trees, shrubs, and bushes. Ladybugs come in many different colors and are often found at stores selling bug control products.
Flea: this small insect is about ¼” long with noticeable wings with a black body on top and white scales underneath, usually found on dogs or cats it is a small parasite that eats blood from its host to survive. A flea life cycle is 3–5 days depending on temperature. Fleas have been shown to have low protein levels, but high fat levels (about 40%).
The biggest danger to ducks and birds, in general, is the risk of contracting parasites (ringworm, roundworm) so if you notice a stomach or digestive problem that might be caused by this.
Conclusion
Ducks can be fantastic if you want to control slugs in your home or garden.
They eat these slimy pests like candy and will help you maintain a healthy environment for yourself and your family by eating all of the insects that plague you on a daily basis.
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Photo by Marcus Ganahl on Unsplash
