Throughout my dealings with ducks, I have compiled a huge list of good and bad treats you can feed your ducks and geese along with their feed.... This list has been throughly researched online, from books, etc. I don't make this stuff up! lol.
Diet Supplements: can be fed something from this list everyday, preferably fresh rather than the canned kind which can contain too much salt and sugar.
Romaine Lettuce (other dark lettuces, not iceberg. Iceberg fills the crop but has nearly no nutritional value)
Tomatoes (flesh only)
Worms
Nigh Crawlers
Cucumber
Cracked Corn/ scratch
Eggplant
Peas
Bell peppers
Carrots
Eggs (scrambled or hardboiled chopped with shells on)
Beans (overcooked)
Feeder goldfish/minows/guppies
Plain yogurt
Mealworms
Broccoli
Cabbage
Brussel sprouts
Cauliflower
Beets
Asparagus
Kale
Butternut Squash
Asparagus
Special Treats: Should only be fed on occasion, or in small amounts. Whgile your animal may loooove these, they can have negative health effects if fed in large quantities.
Floating Koi Food (they love this stuff in their bath or pond, good protein)
Cottage cheese
Apples (applesauce is easily to eat)
Bananas (no peel)
Marigolds, pansies, clover (from a florist or homegrown, no pesticides!)
Pears
Peaches
Cherries
Grapes
Melons (cantaloupe, watermelon, honey dew)
Pinapple
Squash
Pumpkin
Mango
Pomegranate
Turnips (cooked)
Raisins
Zucchini
Oatmeal (cooked)
Strawberries
rice (cooked, very small amount)
Beans (over cooked)
Here, I'll edit the No-No's list so you know why not to feed it too them: (this also applies to geese) If you feed your animals something from the bad list, you may want to reconsider. Even if it seems your animals suffer no outwardly effects form these foods, remember that ducks/geese are prey animals and can hide pain/symptoms well. If you love your animals, it's better to be safe than sorry....
Bread-
Bread, other than being packed with carbs and some fat, does not contain any vitamins or minerals in any sufficient amount for a duck. It will make your duck over weight if fed in large quantities. It also it tasty so ducks eat it up fast, which can result in the impaction of their crops, which usually requires surgery to fix. Since there are sooo many other wonderful and healthy treats to give your animals, why risk health problems and death for a treat?
Crackers-
The same as bread. And they have a alot of salt, which is very bad for ducks (you can see the first link i posted eariler). They are also harder than bread and ducks can easily choke on bits.
Spinach-
As i posted eariler, reduced the amount of calcium absorbed.
Onions-
Cause diarrhea, and sometimes vomiting in birds. It has been found that prolonged exposure can lead to a blood condition called hemolytic anemia, which is followed by respiratory distress and eventual death.
Potatoes-
Too many carbs, possible impaction, just as bread. Limited amounts i guess are okay, but again, why feed potatoes when there's such a large list of good treats?
Avocados-
TOXIC as i posted above.
Seeds of any kind-
While seeds can be used like grit, seeds do not digest well. too many seeds and the crop will fill with a material that can not be digested or passed. Then there's less more for good foods and digestive problems can occure. Some seeds, like apple and cherry seeds contain some cyanide. The flesh of the fruit is fine, but even small amounts of the seeds in ducks can cause death.
Chocolate-
Just as with many anaimals, chocolate is a fatal treat. It causes diarrhea and central nervous system problems, including ceisures.
Sugar and Junk food of any kind-
What happens when a human eats too much of these? they become overweight and have health problems with the hearts/blood pressure/ diabetes, etc. The same thing can happen to ducks, but they can not live with these conditions and die much younger. These are just plain NOT HEALTHY.
Nuts-
Contain too many fats and can cause choking. They can not be chewed by a duck and are often swallowed whole. This can impact their crops and get stuck in a number of other places in the digestion process.
Citrus (lemons, grapefruit, oranges, limes)-
Citrus contains a lot of acid our stomaches can handle. A duck's stomach however can not and digestive problems can occur. Some citrus may be okay, but i personally wouldn't not risk stomach pain and suffering for my poor little ducks.
Popcorn-
Other than carbs, salt, fat from butter, popcor is incredibly hard for a duck to swallow causing choking. The kernals can get snagged in the esophagus causing choking and abrasions.
Caffine and Alcohol-
I know it seems crazy that anyone would give their ducks this. but it's worth mentioning. Alcohol depresses the system and caffine causes cardiac problems.
Other intresting facts:
Only feed your ducks/geese the flesh part of a tomato, the leafs and vines are toxic. Also, if feeding beans, they MUST be cooked, preferably over cooked. Uncooked beans contain a poison called hemaglutin. Cat nip and Mistletoe berries are also toxic to birds.
If anyone has questions feel free to ask... Or if you have a food you normally feed your animals not on this list, please tell me about it and i'll do some research on it!
Diet Supplements: can be fed something from this list everyday, preferably fresh rather than the canned kind which can contain too much salt and sugar.
Romaine Lettuce (other dark lettuces, not iceberg. Iceberg fills the crop but has nearly no nutritional value)
Tomatoes (flesh only)
Worms
Nigh Crawlers
Cucumber
Cracked Corn/ scratch
Eggplant
Peas
Bell peppers
Carrots
Eggs (scrambled or hardboiled chopped with shells on)
Beans (overcooked)
Feeder goldfish/minows/guppies
Plain yogurt
Mealworms
Broccoli
Cabbage
Brussel sprouts
Cauliflower
Beets
Asparagus
Kale
Butternut Squash
Asparagus
Special Treats: Should only be fed on occasion, or in small amounts. Whgile your animal may loooove these, they can have negative health effects if fed in large quantities.
Floating Koi Food (they love this stuff in their bath or pond, good protein)
Cottage cheese
Apples (applesauce is easily to eat)
Bananas (no peel)
Marigolds, pansies, clover (from a florist or homegrown, no pesticides!)
Pears
Peaches
Cherries
Grapes
Melons (cantaloupe, watermelon, honey dew)
Pinapple
Squash
Pumpkin
Mango
Pomegranate
Turnips (cooked)
Raisins
Zucchini
Oatmeal (cooked)
Strawberries
rice (cooked, very small amount)
Beans (over cooked)
Here, I'll edit the No-No's list so you know why not to feed it too them: (this also applies to geese) If you feed your animals something from the bad list, you may want to reconsider. Even if it seems your animals suffer no outwardly effects form these foods, remember that ducks/geese are prey animals and can hide pain/symptoms well. If you love your animals, it's better to be safe than sorry....
Bread-
Bread, other than being packed with carbs and some fat, does not contain any vitamins or minerals in any sufficient amount for a duck. It will make your duck over weight if fed in large quantities. It also it tasty so ducks eat it up fast, which can result in the impaction of their crops, which usually requires surgery to fix. Since there are sooo many other wonderful and healthy treats to give your animals, why risk health problems and death for a treat?
Crackers-
The same as bread. And they have a alot of salt, which is very bad for ducks (you can see the first link i posted eariler). They are also harder than bread and ducks can easily choke on bits.
Spinach-
As i posted eariler, reduced the amount of calcium absorbed.
Onions-
Cause diarrhea, and sometimes vomiting in birds. It has been found that prolonged exposure can lead to a blood condition called hemolytic anemia, which is followed by respiratory distress and eventual death.
Potatoes-
Too many carbs, possible impaction, just as bread. Limited amounts i guess are okay, but again, why feed potatoes when there's such a large list of good treats?
Avocados-
TOXIC as i posted above.
Seeds of any kind-
While seeds can be used like grit, seeds do not digest well. too many seeds and the crop will fill with a material that can not be digested or passed. Then there's less more for good foods and digestive problems can occure. Some seeds, like apple and cherry seeds contain some cyanide. The flesh of the fruit is fine, but even small amounts of the seeds in ducks can cause death.
Chocolate-
Just as with many anaimals, chocolate is a fatal treat. It causes diarrhea and central nervous system problems, including ceisures.
Sugar and Junk food of any kind-
What happens when a human eats too much of these? they become overweight and have health problems with the hearts/blood pressure/ diabetes, etc. The same thing can happen to ducks, but they can not live with these conditions and die much younger. These are just plain NOT HEALTHY.
Nuts-
Contain too many fats and can cause choking. They can not be chewed by a duck and are often swallowed whole. This can impact their crops and get stuck in a number of other places in the digestion process.
Citrus (lemons, grapefruit, oranges, limes)-
Citrus contains a lot of acid our stomaches can handle. A duck's stomach however can not and digestive problems can occur. Some citrus may be okay, but i personally wouldn't not risk stomach pain and suffering for my poor little ducks.
Popcorn-
Other than carbs, salt, fat from butter, popcor is incredibly hard for a duck to swallow causing choking. The kernals can get snagged in the esophagus causing choking and abrasions.
Caffine and Alcohol-
I know it seems crazy that anyone would give their ducks this. but it's worth mentioning. Alcohol depresses the system and caffine causes cardiac problems.
Other intresting facts:
Only feed your ducks/geese the flesh part of a tomato, the leafs and vines are toxic. Also, if feeding beans, they MUST be cooked, preferably over cooked. Uncooked beans contain a poison called hemaglutin. Cat nip and Mistletoe berries are also toxic to birds.
If anyone has questions feel free to ask... Or if you have a food you normally feed your animals not on this list, please tell me about it and i'll do some research on it!
