Ducks are omnivores, feeding on plants, grains, insects, mollusks and pondweeds. Additionally, they swim in ponds in search of small fish, amphibians and crustaceans like crayfish.
Bread products should never be fed to wild ducks as they provide little or no nutritional value and may lead them to become overweight. Furthermore, leftover stale bread may contain mold toxins which are lethal for waterfowl.
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Greens
Wild ducks often feed off grass, weeds and green vegetables such as lettuce, dandelions and other plants when they’re hungry. This is an effective way to keep your yard looking tidy while keeping slugs and bugs at bay.
You can help your ducks stay healthy by providing them with vegetables like cabbage and kale. They will enjoy the refreshing taste of these veggies.
These foods will supply your ducks with essential vitamins and nutrients for happiness and good health. However, avoid giving them junk food like bread, chips and candy.
Fruits
Wild ducks can be fed a wide range of nutritious foods to support their growth, including greens, herbs and weeds as well as fruits.
Fruits are beneficial to wild ducks as they contain essential nutrients that promote their health. You can serve them as a treat or in small amounts as part of their regular diet.
Fresh fruits should be mashed or chopped before serving to keep them soft and easily digestible. Dried fruits tend to be hard to swallow and may cause suffocation.
While a little of everything can be beneficial, some foods should be avoided altogether. Citrus fruit interferes with calcium absorption in ducks and leads to thin-shelled eggs. Spinach also has been known to induce egg binding issues and cause diarrhoea.
Vegetables
When your ducks are hungry, you can feed them a variety of vegetable scraps. They enjoy carrot peelings, cucumber tops and lettuce trimmings.
Leafy greens make an excellent treat for your wild ducks, as they provide essential vitamins and minerals. Feed them cabbage, kale, Swiss chard, spinach raw or cooked.
Tomatoes make an ideal treat for your ducks when they’re red ripe and served in small pieces.
Most vegetables are safe for your ducks, though some can hinder their calcium absorption or cause eggs to have thin shells. Citrus fruits such as lemons and grapefruits, however, may hinder calcium absorption in ducks.
Weeds
Wild ducks tend to feed off of greens that grow naturally in their environment, which is why it’s essential for you to plant a variety of plants and weeds such as flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs and seeds in your pond.
Ducks will also eat insects and small fish, so providing them with some birdseed as a supplementary feeding option is beneficial.
Niacin is an essential nutrient for waterfowl such as ducks and chickens, yet they cannot produce it naturally. To supplement their diet with brewer’s yeast, you can provide them with this vital nutrient.
Calcium is also essential for growth and bone development in ducks, who require more of this mineral than other wild ducks in order to build strong eggshells.
Flowers
Wild ducks may eat a variety of flowers, but it is important to know which ones to avoid as some can be toxic. Examples include rose petals, lavender, hibiscus, marigold and nasturtium among others.
Other than flowers, you can feed your ducks other vegetables and fruits when they get hungry. Cut these items up into smaller pieces so they’re easier to consume.
Vegetables such as apples, grapes, bananas and melons can be offered to your ducks. Make sure they’re cut into small pieces so they can consume them without getting tangled up in peel or seeds.
