Feeding Your Ducks The WRONG Treats?

Here at FLYGRUBS HQ we sure love spoiling our ducks and chickens with great treats. We write a lot about chickens, so today we must focus on our other feathered friends. When giving your ducks treats you have to be mindful of what to and what not to give them. Below is a list of the best treats to give and not to give your ducks. We hope you find this helpful, and your duck's lives get a little bit healthier! When it comes to green, like weeds, cut grass, kale, and chard, your ducks can eat an unlimited amount. As for all other treats, they should not be more than 10% of their daily diet. 

Please note that if you have ducklings, be sure to cut up all their treats into small pieces or puree them. This will prevent choking. Also be mindful to provide plenty of drinking water and grit, as that will help them to digest the treats. 

Fruits 

Ducks love fruits. Our favorites are Strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, sliced tomatoes, and watermelon. In the summertime, we often freeze the fruits and give them to our ducks once they've softened. 

Vegetables  

Peas, canned or frozen are ok. 

Corn that is raw, cooked or on the cob

Or ducks love raw or cooked broccoli florets, leaves and grated stalks (easier to eat).  

Whole Grains 

Cooked pasta without salt and butter

Cooked brown rice 

Raw or cooked oats  

Protein & Calcium

Scrambled eggs are a favorite high protein treat, but others we give to our ducks are FLYGRUBS, earthworms, slugs, minnows or feeder fish and shrimp shells.

Treats to avoid

Avoid the treats listed below like the plague. They are all toxic or hazardous for your ducks and can cause health problems or death. Please keep in mind that because ducks are prey animals their instinct is to hide their illness and symptoms, so simply take our word for it and avoid these foods. 

Crackers: They are too salty and typically have loads of sugar 

Citrus fruits & Spinach: They cause acid reflux but most importantly interfere with calcium absorption and contribute to thin eggshells. 

Bread: Will make your ducks overweight 

Mangoes can make your ducks throat itchy. Keep an eye on it. 

Iceberg lettuce: very little nutritional value and can cause diarrhea, stick with cabbage, kale and collard greens. 

Large whole seeds and whole nuts: They don’t digest well and can be a choking hazard.

Apple & cherry seed + peach and apricot pits are toxic. AVOID!

That’s all folks! We hope this inspires you to think twice before giving your ducks the wrong treats as it will make a huge difference!

All the best, 

Emily