Wild ducks are omnivores, feeding on a variety of plants and animals in their natural environment. Common food sources for them include grasses, earthworms, frogs, snails, slugs and small fish.
They also consume seeds, nuts and fruit; however it’s important to note that certain fruits contain cyanide which may be hazardous if consumed.
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Vegetable Scraps
Ducks are omnivores and can eat from grasses, weeds, worms, small fish, insects and snails. To ensure a balanced diet for them it’s important to provide them with a variety of foods in their diet.
One way to provide ducks with a nutritious, natural diet is by giving them scraps from your kitchen. Save carrot and cucumber peelings, radish tops and lettuce trimmings for them to feed on.
Make vegetable stock from scraps to use in soups, stews and risotto dishes. It’s an economical way to save money, reduce waste and reuse expiring produce in refrigerator or pantry.
Make vegetable broth: Gather scraps throughout the week and thoroughly wash them. You should collect around 4 cups of vegetables to make 2 quarts of stock; freeze it for later use or store in an airtight freezer bag or container until you need to cook with it.
Mealworms
When a wild duck is hungry, it may try to make its way to your garden, pond or nearby beach. In such cases, you could feed it an assortment of vegetables, fruits and seeds to nourish its body.
You could also feed them dried mealworms. These are an excellent source of protein for ducks and will give them a boost of energy.
However, you should exercise caution when giving your duck mealworm treats. Although they are nutritious, too much of a mealworm diet could lead to digestive issues for your duck.
Additionally, avoid giving them too many leafy vegetables like spinach, chard or arugula since their oxalic acid can bind calcium which is detrimental for ducks. Furthermore, avoid giving them foods with high acid content like citrus fruit or avocados.
Seeds
Wild ducks enjoy a variety of edible seeds that they will happily munch on. You can add these seeds to their regular food or treat them to treats like yogurt, chopped fruit and wet foods.
Seeds can provide your ducks with healthy fat and protein, but it’s essential that they remain balanced in their diet in relation to other components of their diet.
Safflower seeds: Commonly included in birdseed mixes, these small seeds can be fed to ducks as a treat or nutritional addition to their feed. Plus, they’re an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E.
Milo Seed: Milo is a type of grass seed similar to safflower that ducks can safely consume as dietary supplements.
You can feed your wild ducks a variety of greens, herbs and weeds that you tear up and throw into their water dish or pool. Dandelion greens, wheat grass and fresh herbs make great treats for wild ducks to enjoy!
Rice
Wild ducks are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of foods such as seeds, insects, worms and small water snails. Additionally they consume aquatic plants like pondweed or crayfish which provide essential nutrients that keep them healthy.
When visiting a pond, scatter the wild duck food into the water instead of on the ground. This is more sanitary and helps the birds digest their meals more easily.
When offering wild duck food, chop it up into smaller pieces to make it more manageable. Smaller portions are more likely to be eaten by your birdie friends.
Wild ducks prefer rolled, quick or steel-cut oats to bread as it’s easier for them to digest. You may also feed your ducks wheat, barley or other grains that they enjoy.
