Treats for Ducks?

[Wifezilla]

I gave my ducks some apple peels yesterday and they got mad because it wasn't bok choy...LOL

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Thanks for the avocado links Nettie. If you read those carefully they talk about large amounts eaten. On the other critters listed they are eating the bark & leaves of the avocado tree, not the meat.

I peeled the avocado, took the seed out and fed 1 med. size fruit to about 20 + chickens. Checked today and everyone is just fine.
Free ranging critters are bound to eat peels,seeds and various other things that might not be the best for them. I've noticed my chooks have a tendancy to overeat greens, be it kale, collards or fresh grass, if I'm not careful then their egg production goes down and at least one will get sick for a few days till she gets it thru her system. Everything in moderation. For people as well as chooks. That said, I probably won't be giving them anymore avocado. THAT said, we need not overreact on every food item. Many reports that are out there concern large quantitiies of the item which make it toxic. I personally find tomatoes toxic. I can only tolerate small amounts or I will get a migraine for sure. I also have to be very careful on eating potatoes as they do the same to me. Potatoes and tomatoes are both related to the deadly nightshade family. I still feed my chickens tomatoes. I still eat them but in careful moderation.
Enough said, thanks again for the info & I do appreciate that you care enough to be careful of your birds and want to pass the info on to others.

 

[nettie]

Just remember a duck will gorge on whatever you can give it. One duck could snatch up most of the flesh and eat it and get sick. It;s not only the toxicity itself, but duck behavior too.

Different places say the flesh part is no good either. Since they are expensive, i'd stick to something cheaper and less risky

 

[Wifezilla]

I just saw my idiot drake eat a styrofoam packing peanut

 

[nettie]

Quote:
LOL

My ducks have eaten:

String, thread, yarn
cigarette butts,
poop
little pieces of paper
cardboard
puppy pads
plastic
rubber bands
anything made out of cotton (it's like a special treat, lol)


Ming mei once almost ate an ambien pill. lol. I dropped my bottle and they fell on the floor. Luckily i scooped her up before she could run up and get them.

 

[Southern Gardener]

Ok, so now that what you can feed them is established - what AGE can you start giving them treats?

 

[Wifezilla]

I started giving mine thawed out pieces of frozen french cut green beans in water at a couple of days old...maybe 3? At first it was more of a toy, then JJ discovered it had a flavor!

JJ is a little over a week in this pic...Bungie can't be older than 3 days...

 

[Southern Gardener]

Aw, very cute Wifezilla - I'll have to start mine on treats!

 

[cheapcheap_jeepjeep]

Quote:
Some packing peanuts are made from corn starch so they may have been ok.

 

[Wifezilla]

Jack (that big dummy) ate that quite a while ago. Apparently it did not lasting damage...LOL