Yes, chickens and ducks can benefit from eating various snacks and treats in addition to their layer feed, but only in moderation as too many carbohydrates could make them fatten. Eating too many carbs at one time could impair their ability to obtain all of the necessary vitamins from other parts of their diet.
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Greens
Ducks love an assortment of treats just as chickens do; fresh peas floating in their water and green leafy snacks such as dandelion greens or kale particularly excite them, though they can also enjoy meat, pasta or whole grains from time to time!
Your ducks will love snacking on any vegetable in your garden, from broccoli stalks and leaves (cooked or raw) to cauliflower and beets or turnips; though whole uncooked beets might prove challenging. Grating or cooking these plants might provide better results.
Make sure that all treats account for no more than 10% of your duck’s daily diet, as giving too many treats could cause them to become overweight, leading to problems like egg binding and yolk peritonitis as well as inhibiting foraging for treats like insects, which would otherwise benefit their health.
Fruits
Ducks enjoy snacking on fruits and vegetables as snacks or treats, from weeds and flowers to berries, melons, seeds and pit fruits. Some ducks also seem to like mango as a treat but should only be given sparingly due to it causing itching in their throats. It is best to avoid foods from the nightshade family which interfere with calcium absorption resulting in sluggishness or egg binding.
Frozen bananas make an irresistibly delicious treat for both chickens and ducks alike. Plus, their nutritional qualities can also provide additional protein boost during molting season!
Fresh papaya is another rich source of Vitamin C and other vital nutrients for poultry, so make sure to remove the seeds and skin prior to feeding to your flock.
Meat
Many are familiar with chicken as an excellent source of lean protein, but there are other meats you could add as snacks for your flock.
Ducks require high protein intakes during key developmental stages. To meet their requirements, duck feed must contain high levels of niacin–a water-soluble amino acid which must be continually replenished because it cannot be stored.
As part of their daily diet of commercial duck food, ducks also enjoy treats and snacks high in niacin such as dried or live mealworms, earthworms, earthworm larvae, earthworm nymphs, crickets, minnows, feeder fish (canned or live), cooked meat or poultry leftovers and lobster or shrimp shells. Ducks also love scrambled eggs floating in water as well as scrambled eggs with fresh peas floating. Nuts or large seeds should be avoided as these could potentially choke them while swallowing entire.
Fish
Ducks love fish as it provides them with protein and Omega-3. Omega-3 contributes to increased egg production and is reported by many chicken keepers to make their eggs taste better when their flock consumes fish. Instead of giving your ducks fried or salted seafood options, opt for canned tuna or salmon.
Mealworms, freeze dried bugs, feeder goldfish or minnows and fresh crayfish are also great protein-rich treats for ducks; just make sure that any pits and seeds from fruits such as apricots, cherries, peaches or plums that may contain trace amounts of cyanide are removed before giving these treats to your ducks!
Scatter-feeding foods is an effective way to encourage ducks’ natural foraging behavior, yet be wary not to overdo it; too much protein for an extended period can lead to obesity and health problems; as a general guideline, try not providing more than 10% of daily nutritional requirements in snacks.
