What to feed ducks?

Do you know what to feed ducks?

When was the last time you went to feed the ducks, and how many times do you remember doing it as a child compared to with your own kids?

My childhood is full of memories of feeding the ducks. Wherever I have lived over the years hasn’t been too far from a local duck pond, river or waterfowl park. It is still something I love to do and is a great excuse to get some fresh air in the lungs of your family. However, it begs the question of what to feed ducks, as we are more aware these days of the not-so health benefits of processed white bread for ourselves AND the ducks.

Sadly, over the past few years, feeding ducks bread has gotten some bad press – bread in general seems to be getting a bad name in diets for all! Still, there isn’t much information out there on what to feed ducks.

Here are the reasons why bread is bad for ducks, and also some great alternatives of what to feed ducks so you can still get out of the house with the kids and appreciate the simpler (and cheaper) forms of family entertainment.

Diseases Feeding ducks bread can increase the spread of diseases in two ways. First, a carbohydrate-rich diet leads to more defecation, and bird feces harbors bacteria responsible for numerous diseases. Second, moldy bread can cause fatal lung infections that can decimate entire duck and waterfowl flocks – how guilty are we all of taking out stale bread to feed the ducks!?

Duckling Malnutrition In an area where ducks are regularly fed bread, ducklings will not receive adequate nutrition for proper growth and development. Furthermore, because ducks will naturally seek out an easy food source such as human handouts, ducklings will not learn to forage for natural foods as easily.

Loss of Natural Behavior The birds will become accustomed to handouts, and will lose their natural fear of humans and may become aggressive in order to get more food. Their loss of fear can also cause other dangers, such as a willingness to cross busy roads in order to reach picnickers and other likely sources of food.

Great Bread Alternatives – yes, you can still feed the ducks!

Wild ducks and waterfowl can live longer, healthier lives by relying on natural food sources such as aquatic plants, seeds, grasses and insects rather than taking handouts from well-meaning humans. If you still want to feed the ducks – and doing so can be a lovely experience – there are many healthier alternatives to offer them instead of bread.

Strange but true, ducks will eat these healthy foods.

What to feed ducks.

Grapes – cut in half

Peas – make sure they are defrosted first!

Oatmeal and Porridge Oats, as long as they are unsweetened and uncooked.

Or of course, you can invest in commercial duck pellets. Have fun!

Click the image for Chapelwood Swan & Duck feed – UK only.

Click the image for Gamebird Showbird Feed – USA only.

I hope this article has helped you with knowledge on what to feed ducks?