I am a duck breeder who relocated from urban life in Tampa, FL, to a rural mountainous area outside of Radford, VA.
Ducks are omnivores, and they forage anything that will fit into their mouths. If you have a pet duck, you will notice that they are social creatures that love attention and treats! There is a lot of conflicting information out there about which foods to use as treats, so I am here to help.
Ducks require amino acids to produce the protein that is needed for their feathers and muscles. Much like other poultry, they do not require a lot of actual protein, just the amino acids contained within them. Too much protein causes "angel wings," a condition in which the bones grow faster than they are supposed to. Ducks shouldn’t eat bread or other carbohydrates because it leads to malnutrition and being overweight. In general, they should not have too many treats. No more than 10% of their diet should consist of snacks.
From my experience, ducks will eat anything new or anything that they don't get all the time as a treat. The good news is that they typically know when they're full, so they do not overeat. We stray from fatty snacks and stick with the healthier ones, and our ducks love them. In fact, you can share everything on this list with your little-feathered friends.
10 Healthy Duck Treats
1. Algae
2. Strawberries
3. Mealworms
4. Dandelions & Clovers
5. Scrambled Eggs
6. Crickets
7. Kale
8. Feeder Fish
9. Earthworms
10. Marigolds
What Do Ducks Eat in the Wild?
- Insects, including worms, grubs, mosquitoes, wasps, spiders, or any bug that they can grab.
- Algae
- Frogs, salamanders, newts, and other amphibians
- Fish, snails, mollusks, and crustaceans
- Berries, nuts, fruits, seeds, grain, and oats
- Dandelions, grass, weeds, and clovers
10 Healthy Duck Treats
1. Algae
Algae is a very easy snack to eat, and it is considered a superfood. In fact, it is one of the most nutrient-dense superfoods on the planet. Algae contains vitamins, proteins, nutrients, and amino acids, so it makes for a tasty and healthy treat.
People who use algae in their own diet boast about its ability to strengthen the immune system and boost energy levels. They also claim it improves cardiovascular, brain, and eye health. An article by the National Institute of Health about the health benefits of blue-green algae supports these claims.
I gather the algae from my pond with a colander and give it to my ducks in a water bowl. They go absolutely nuts over it! You can also feed them tablets, but they prefer fresh algae.
2. Strawberries
Ducks love strawberries. You can freeze-dry them and place them in a water bowl for feeding. Better yet, just feed it to them fresh. Strawberries contain high levels of antioxidants and minerals, and they offer plenty of vitamin C. The only thing that tops watching ducks devour strawberries is watching them dive into a melon, but that's a story for a later time.
3. Mealworms
They may be gross, but mealworms are easy to produce and are easier to handle than earthworms. More importantly, they are high in protein and fiber. My ducks go absolutely crazy for these creepy little things (maybe it's the texture that they like). They all shake their little tails when I feed them these treats. My ducks seem to prefer the live worms more than the freeze-dried ones.
4. Dandelions & Clovers
Dandelions help bones fight against age-related damage. They also protect against cancers, help the liver and bladder, increase blood quality, and stop constipation.1 Who knew there was so much packed into this weed?
