Can ducks have bread if ONLY given sometimes as a treat?

[casportpony]

Congrats on your new ducks!

The chickens love getting bread as a treat sometimes, and from what I’ve read, giving ducks bread is really hurtful? Is this true?

If it were true I would have dead ducks. but like most things, I think the key is moderation. Here, we waste nothing, so all stale bread gets fed to the chickens and ducks and it does not cause any harm. Of course moldy bread gets thrown in the trash.

 

[chickens really]

I tried feeding mine bread. They don't like it. My dogs ate it instead. Definitely give them what you like too. I'm sure that's not all your feeding...

 

[PirateGirl]

It's not going to harm them once in awhile just like ice cream won't harm you once in awhile, it just shouldn't be a staple in their diet and isn't all that nutritious. I do not throw any food/scraps away unless it's actually moldy (or known to be toxic to birds). Any food waste goes to the chickens and ducks and this includes the random slice of stale bread.

 

[casportpony]

I do not throw any food/scraps away unless it's actually moldy (or known to be toxic to birds).

Same here. Today I am going to thaw out some freezer burned steak, cook it, chop it up and feed it to the birds.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

We tried to "kill" our ducks so many times with "unhealthy" foods like bread, tortilla corn chips, french fries, cooked rice, sweet potatoes - you name it. Despite our best efforts they are all still alive and well. As @casportpony said the key is moderation!
One thing i would never feed to any bird however is pop-corn: The fragments of the exploded corn's hard shell can "glue" to the esophagus and can cause discomfort and even injuries. Let your birds decide what they want to eat…

 

[Miss Lydia]

In other word next time you go grocery shopping take them along!

 

[HuffleClaw]

In other word next time you go grocery shopping take them along!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

In other word next time you go grocery shopping take them along!

In that case we would not leave the bakery department until the ducks (and my wife!) had gulped down all those heart-attack pastries…
We often have our meals outside on the patio where we can see the ducks and they can see us and even grown up Runner Drakes can ask for a share of your food in such a sweet way that you become sooo weak…

 

[FT Chickens]

We have a self proclaimed “animal lover” and “protector” of wild animals in our neighborhood. She insists on feeding the wild ducks and geese at our local playground. The result is an unusable playground due to all the poo over everything! She shows up almost daily with armfuls of bread. Does not seem to harm them at all

 

[Miss Lydia]

I saw just recently it can cause angel wing if fed too much.