What do ducks eat? - Feeding ducks

We designate as a duck various species belonging to the Anatidae family They are omnivorous animals, with flat beak, short neck and rounded body.They have fine and strong fingers on their palmiped legs , which means they are completely flat.The wings of the ducks are not very long and they remain mostly collected, giving these animals an elegant appearance.

But, what do the ducks eat? In this Animals and Pets Online article we will do a general review about feeding of the ducks , so you know what their diet is and what these popular birds can eat.Keep reading!

What do wild ducks eat?

We will start talking about the feeding of wild ducks .We should know that when the ducks are in the wild they live and develop in small river beds, lakes or swamps , so they usually feed on everything around them to meet their needs.

In this sense, wild ducks feed on plants, insects, seeds , algae or fish of the habitat that they catch while they move on the surface of the waters.As a curiosity we can mention that, sometimes, they ingest sand that is on the shore or at the bottom of the rivers, small stones that they serve to grind your food and digest it better.

What do domestic ducks eat?

When we talk about the possession of this bird as a company animal, we should know that the feeding of domestic ducks should be as balanced and nutritious as possible.We must take into account that they are omnivorous animals, so the range of foods we can offer is wider than in other species.

Cereals, legumes and seeds for ducks

Cereals are an important part of the feeding of ducks.Most commercial feed contains them, but if we have decided to bet on the balanced feed formulas for ducks at home we can use the following:

Oatmeal
Rice
Corn
Wheat
Green beans
Beans
Millet
Sunflower
Etc.

Fruits and vegetables for ducks

Fresh and natural foods are a source of vitamins, so you should never miss the diet of our duck.We can offer the following duck vegetables :

Beet
Peas
Corn
Cabbage
Alfafa
Lettuce
Fresh sprouts
Carrot
Cauliflower
Peppers
Cucumber
Etc.

In a much more moderate way, due to its sugar content, we can also include the following fruits for ducks :

Apple
Pear
Banana
Melon
Watermelon
Grapes
Pineapple
Peaches
Peach
Etc.

We advise to clean the fruit and vegetables well before offering it, as well as chop it into small portions.

Insects for ducks and other foods of animal origin

Remember that in the wild Ducks also feed on other living things, such as insects.Some examples of insects, crustaceans and more edible for ducks can be worms, crickets, mealybugs, snails or slugs.However, we can also provide your protein dose by fish , always removing the bones and offering it in small portions.

Other food of origin An indispensable animal is the eggshell or conchillas , which provide protein and calcium.We can crush it and include it in your diet with other foods.Another option that can help with the contribution of calcium and protein source animal is the natural yogurt without sugars .

I think for ducks

Finally we will talk about commercial feed "for ornamental ducks ", which is what those ducks considered domestic animals are called.We must differentiate these foods from those that are intended for farm animals, since the latter are formulated to the fattening process.

We must review the composition to ensure that it is a quality product.It must include some of the foods mentioned above.It will be properly compensated and will be rich in vitamins.We will offer the quantity indicated by the manufacturer in the container, according to the weight of the animal and other factors.If we have doubts we can always consult with a specialized veterinarian.

Advice for Feeding the ducks

However, it is essential to emphasize that the feeding of the domestic duck should not be based solely on feed , because we must also include fruits and vegetables, unprocessed cereals and food live or fish.You should also include duck grit , essential for them to grind the food.

Also, don't forget that the duck should always have a container of fresh and clean water .We recommend renewing it once or twice at least a day.

You may want to know more about the duck as a pet.

What do baby ducks eat?

If you have a family of ducks and the eggs of these small birds have just hatched, it is very important to pay attention to their feeding, since it will depend on the correct development of the chicks.

In this sense, the first days after birth should be fed with feed soaked in water , so that they can ingest it more easily.It must be specific for developing ducks.As they grow, you can start introducing into your diet some foods that will be present as adults, such as peas, worms, corn, cooked vegetables or crickets, among others.

ideal is to provide a diet as varied, natural and complete as possible.

Can ducks eat bread?

In most towns and cities, whether in rivers, parks or zoos, it is common to find these animals living peacefully with the human being.Unfortunately, it is also common to see people feeding them bread and even with treats.You may have done it yourself.If so, stop doing it! Although ducks love to eat bread, it is a very harmful food for them.

As you should know, bread is a high carb food , hence it is harmful to ducks, because the excessive intake of them causes the well-known "angel wings".What is it? It is a condition in which the last row of feathers folds to the sides, causing the animal to have serious difficulties to take flight .

If you are in a park or zoo and want feed the ducks, there are other options that will not harm your health.You can choose, for example, to give them the food that is sold in the zoo for the consumption of ducks.You can also offer pieces of fish, fruit or vegetables , because in general they eat a lot of things.

In all these cases you should make sure that the pieces are not excessively large.Similarly, do not forget that it is better to let the ducks be fed by those responsible instead of giving them treats or other food on your own.

Also discover in Animals and Pets Online how is the reproduction of the mandarin duck.

Prohibited food for ducks

As you have already seen the bread is considered one of the prohibited foods for ducks, however, are there any others? The truth is that yes, we must completely avoid the following foods:

Bread
Pastries
Potato
Sweet potato
Popcorn
Chocolate
Soft drink
Alcohol
Sweets
Espinaca
Aguacate
Onion
Garlic
New
Limon
Orange
Grapefruit
Lima
Etc.

Now you know what ducks eat! Would you add any more food to the lists in this article? If so, leave us your comment and we'll add it! Do not forget to share your experiences so that other users can Be inspired and know how to feed your ducks correctly.

If you want to read more articles similar to What do ducks eat?-Food of ducks , we recommend that you enter our Homemade Diets section.

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