Ducks’ favorite snacks are leafy greens, peas, melon, berries, cucumber, oats and live or dried mealworms. Most ducks will happily eat all of these, and they are healthy in small amounts. Bread, popcorn, avocado, chocolate and salty or sugary human snacks should stay off the menu.
The 10 percent rule
Snacks should make up no more than about 10 percent of what a duck eats in a day. The rest should be a balanced waterfowl or all-flock feed, plus access to water deep enough to dunk their whole bill. Ducks fill up fast on treats and then skip the feed that has the protein, niacin and calcium they actually need. If you are making your own mix, see our guide to homemade duck feed.
Best snacks for ducks
- Peas: Thawed frozen peas are a classic duck favorite and easy to scatter in water.
- Leafy greens: Romaine, kale, chard, dandelion greens and chopped cabbage. Ducks love to shred and dabble in them.
- Melon: Watermelon and cantaloupe are cooling summer treats. Offer chunks without a thick rind, and remove uneaten pieces so they do not rot.
- Cucumber and zucchini: Sliced or cut into sticks. Mostly water, so they are safe in generous amounts.
- Berries and grapes: Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are fine. Cut grapes in half so they cannot be swallowed whole.
- Whole grains: Oats, cooked rice and cracked corn make good low-cost treats. Soak oats in water to make them easy to swallow.
- Protein: Mealworms, earthworms, small slugs and scrambled egg (cooked, plain, with the shell crushed in) add protein, especially during molting.
Foods ducks should not eat
- Bread, crackers and chips: They fill ducks up with empty calories. In young ducks, too much bread is linked with leg and wing deformities (often called “angel wing”).
- Avocado: The skin, pit and flesh contain persin, which is toxic to birds.
- Chocolate, caffeine and alcohol: All are poisonous to birds.
- Onions and raw or dry beans: These can cause stomach upset or worse.
- Moldy or spoiled food: Mold toxins can kill ducks. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Popcorn and nuts: Unpopped kernels, whole nuts and anything salted, buttered or sweetened are choking and health risks.
- Green or raw potatoes and potato skins: These contain solanine. Plain cooked potato in small amounts is less risky, but it is not worth the trouble.
Mango flesh is not poisonous in small, bite-size pieces, but the pit is a choking hazard and the fruit is very sugary, so it is best left as a rare treat at most.
Tips for feeding snacks safely
- Cut food into pieces small enough to swallow easily.
- Scatter treats in shallow water, which helps ducks swallow and keeps them busy.
- Pick up leftovers within a few hours, especially in hot weather.
- Feed ducklings only starter feed and a few chopped greens. Treat guidance for babies is in our newly hatched duckling feeding guide.
- Looking for seeds and grains? See nutritious seeds for ducks.
Bottom Line
Peas, greens, melon, berries, oats and mealworms are safe, popular duck snacks as long as they stay under 10 percent of the diet. Skip bread, avocado, chocolate and salty snacks. If a duck seems sick after eating something, call an avian or poultry vet.
This article is general information and not veterinary advice. Call your vet if your duck shows signs of illness.
