Ducks adore green leafy vegetables such as lettuce and dandelion greens. These plants are packed with essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients that can keep your pet duck healthy and vibrant.
Ducks lack teeth, so to feed them properly they must be given food that has been chopped into small pieces. This includes vegetables, salad greens, fruit peels and nuts.
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Cat and Dog Food
If you’re uncertain what to feed your pet duck, it’s essential to understand their dietary needs. This will enable you to select food that’s species-appropriate and help ensure your duck stays healthy and contented.
A quality cat and dog food should contain a blend of animal proteins, such as fish and poultry. Furthermore, it should only include minimal plant ingredients with no vaguely named by-products or artificial additives.
For optimal nutritional results, duck cat foods should include duck meat as their primary protein source and also contain duck broth to increase moisture and supply additional essential vitamins.
Dairy
Cheese, an excellent source of calcium, is an ideal way to support your duck’s bone health. Plus, it provides proteins and nutrients essential for optimal body functioning.
Dairy can be a nutritious food for your pet duck, but it should never replace leafy greens or dried river shrimp. Dairy isn’t balanced and may have excessive fat content.
It’s best to feed your duck a commercially prepared diet that contains all essential nutrients. Furthermore, supplement it with worms, insects or other treats they enjoy.
Greens
Greens are an ideal food to feed your pet duck, as they contain essential vitamins and nutrients that will keep him healthy. With so many varieties of greens to choose from – weeds, lettuce, herbs, cut grass or fresh peas floating in the water – there’s sure to be something perfect for everyone’s taste buds!
As a treat for your ducks, you can offer sprouts from alfalfa, buckwheat, yellow peas, lentils and mung beans as a source of protein. These foods will give them an added energy boost as well.
Fruits
Ducks enjoy eating fruits such as tomatoes, berries and watermelon; they may even enjoy grapes if you take away their seeds and pits before feeding them.
Avoid citrus fruits and avocados, as these contain cyanide which can be lethal to ducks.
Other fruits and vegetables beneficial to your ducks include carrots, corn, peas, beans, cucumber and lettuce. When providing them with food options it’s important that they are served in bite-sized portions.
Protein is another essential dietary requirement for healthy ducks, alongside fruits and vegetables. Brine shrimp, frozen fish, cooked or leftover meat all make excellent sources of this vital nutrient.
Grains
Grains such as corn and oats provide pet ducks with essential protein and energy, while crackers and frozen peas make great snacks.
Wild ducks are omnivores, meaning they will forage for food on their own and will eat a variety of grasses, weeds and vegetables. If you want to treat them to something special, fresh lettuce, chopped kale, Swiss chard or spinach make great treats.
If you want to supplement their diet with extra calcium, crushed oyster shell can be provided in a separate free-choice bowl for ducks that lay thin-shelled eggs. This supplement is especially important for female ducks.
