Ducks make wonderful pets, but knowing what to feed them is important for their health. While ducks can eat a diverse diet, there are some foods that should be avoided.
Bread
Bread is one of the most common foods people feed ducks. However, bread provides little nutritional value. Ducks that fill up on bread may ignore more nutritious foods they need. Bread can also cause digestive issues if ducks eat too much of it.
Bread that gets wet and soggy can grow mold, which can make ducks sick. Soggy bread can also clog up a duck’s esophagus, preventing them from swallowing properly. So it’s best to avoid feeding bread to ducks.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains toxic compounds called theobromine and caffeine. Ducks cannot metabolize these substances efficiently. Eating chocolate can cause ducks to experience:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased heart rate
- Seizures
- Heart attacks
- Death
Even just a few bites of chocolate can be fatal to a duck. So chocolate should never be fed to ducks.
Raw Dry Beans
Raw dry beans contain lectin, a protein that is highly toxic to ducks. Eating raw dry beans can cause:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Death
Cooked beans are safe for ducks in moderation. But always avoid feeding them raw dry beans or products made with raw dry beans.
Salty Foods
Ducks should not consume high amounts of salt. Eating too much sodium can lead to kidney damage, heart issues, and salt poisoning in ducks. Avoid feeding ducks:
- Salty crackers
- Pretzels
- Salted chips
- Seasoned popcorn
- Salted nuts
- Fast food
- Processed meats like bacon, sausage, ham
Some natural salts are okay in moderation. But anything heavily seasoned or processed should be kept away from ducks.
Spoiled Food
Ducks have sensitive digestive systems. Eating rotten, moldy, or contaminated foods can cause:
- Food poisoning
- Tummy aches
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Never feed ducks spoiled produce, rotten bread, or things that have been sitting out too long. Stick to fresh, crisp foods only.
Alcohol
Alcohol has similar effects on ducks as it does in humans. The ethanol in alcoholic beverages can cause:
- Liver damage
- Coordination issues
- Central nervous system depression
- Respiratory failure
Avoid letting ducks ingest products like beer, wine, liquor, and foods cooked with alcohol like rum cakes or beer batter. Alcohol poisoning can easily kill ducks.
Processed Sugars
Foods high in processed sugars like cake, cookies, candies, soda, flavored yogurt, or syrups have little nutritional value for ducks. Too much sugar causes problems like:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Fatty liver disease
- Tooth decay
Natural sugars found in fruit are fine for ducks in moderation. But high amounts of added or processed sugars should be avoided.
Caffeine
Caffeine works as a stimulant in ducks, leading to symptoms like:
- Hyperactivity
- Elevated heart rate
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
Foods containing caffeine like coffee, tea leaves, energy drinks, and chocolate should not be given to ducks.
Onions & Garlic
Onions and garlic contain compounds called thiosulfates. Ducks cannot digest these properly. Eating onions and garlic can cause:
- Gastrointestinal irritation
- Diarrhea
- Anemia
- Weakness
- Breathing issues
Avoid feeding ducks any foods that contain onions or garlic, like pizza, seasoned rice, or stir fry.
Rhubarb Leaves
While rhubarb stalks are okay for ducks, the leaves contain oxalic acid, which is highly toxic. Symptoms of rhubarb leaf poisoning include:
- Kidney failure
- Seizures
- Weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Coma
- Death
Make sure to remove all leaves from rhubarb stalks before feeding them to ducks.
Moldy Foods
Mold contains toxins that can make ducks very sick. Feeding moldy foods like bread, produce, compost, or decaying plants can cause:
- Digestive upset
- Neurological issues
- Respiratory distress
- Liver damage
- Kidney failure
- Death
Always discard moldy foods. Even if you remove the moldy parts, toxins likely contaminate the entire food.
Dog & Cat Food
Dog and cat food often contains additives and preservatives that are harmful to ducks, including:
- Ethoxyquin
- BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole)
- BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene)
These compounds can cause liver and kidney damage. The protein content is also too high for ducks. Avoid feeding any commercial pet foods designed for cats or dogs.
Citrus Peels & Rinds
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit contain oils in their peels that are toxic to ducks. Eating the peels can cause:
- Digestive upset
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Respiratory distress
Only feed ducks the flesh of citrus fruits, not the peels, rinds, or leaves which contain the volatile oils.
Raw Meat & Fish
Raw meat and fish may harbor bacteria like salmonella and E. coli that can make ducks sick. Symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Dehydration
Cook any meat and fish fully before feeding to ducks. Also avoid uncooked eggs, as they can contain salmonella.
Avocados
Avocados contain a toxin called persin, found in the pit, leaves, and peel. It can have toxic effects in birds, causing:
- Breathing difficulty
- Congestion
- Fluid accumulation around the heart
- Death
The flesh of avocados may be safe in small amounts. But it’s best to avoid feeding avocados to ducks entirely.
Raw Green Potatoes
Raw green potato skins and sprouts contain solanine and chaconine, two compounds toxic to ducks. Eating them can cause:
- Digestive upset
- Neurological symptoms
- Paralysis
- Death
Cook potatoes fully and remove sprouts and green skins before feeding to ducks. Sweet potatoes and yams are safer.
Dry Seeds & Grains
Feeding dry seeds and grains whole can cause digestive issues for ducks if they eat too much. It’s better to soak or sprout them first before feeding. Avoid problems by not feeding:
- Dry beans
- Corn
- Wheat
- Barley
- Peas
- Oats
Soaking makes them easier to digest and unlocks key nutrients. Even better, sprout seeds for the most nutritional benefits.
Rutabagas
Rutabagas contain compounds called glucosinolates that can cause thyroid problems in ducks if overconsumed. Symptoms of glucosinolate poisoning include:
- Lethargy
- Weight gain
- Decreased egg production
- Impaired growth (in ducklings)
A small amount of rutabaga is probably okay. But it’s better to avoid feeding them at all.
Dry Cracked Corn
While corn is okay for ducks when properly soaked, raw dried corn kernels can pose issues. The sharp edges may lacerate a duck’s digestive tract, causing:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Esophageal blockages
Also avoid feeding baby ducks dried cracked corn, as their digestive systems can’t handle it. Soak or grind corn fully before feeding.
Dried Beans
Feeding uncooked dry beans can be deadly, as mentioned. But even cooked dry beans pose risks due to:
- Digestive upset
- Gas
- Nutritional imbalances
Beans lack key amino acids ducks need. They should never form a substantial part of a duck’s diet. Feed beans sparingly as a treat.
Oily Foods
High fat foods like chips, fried foods, bacon grease, and vegetable oils can cause obesity and other health issues. Too much fat can lead to:
- Pancreatitis
- Liver disease
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal inflammation
Avoid feeding ducks more than trace amounts of high fat, greasy human foods whenever possible.
Wild Bird Seed Mix
Wild bird seed mixes for songbirds often contain:
- Millet
- Cracked corn
- Safflower seeds
- Nyjer
While these are nutritious for smaller birds, most ingredients are inappropriate and potentially dangerous for ducks. Stick to proper duck feed.
Conclusion
In summary, here are the main things to avoid feeding ducks:
- Bread
- Chocolate
- Raw beans
- Salty foods
- Spoiled foods
- Alcohol
- Processed sugar
- Caffeine
- Onions/garlic
- Rhubarb leaves
- Moldy food
- Pet food
- Citrus peels
- Raw meat/fish
- Avocados
- Green potato parts
- Dry grains/seeds
- Rutabagas
- Dry cracked corn
- Beans
- Oily foods
- Bird seed mixes
There are many foods that can be potentially dangerous and even fatal to ducks. Stick with quality poultry feed, supplemented with fresh produce, sprouted seeds, and cooked proteins. When in doubt if a food is safe, avoid feeding it. With some basic precautions, you can help keep your ducks happy and healthy.