What are good things and bad things to feed wild ducks ?
Question by cool breeze: What are good things and bad things to feed wild ducks ?
I gave corn chips to a mallard duck couple and now they come every day for more. I’m kind of amazed when there are many people visiting that they pick me out of a crowd and follow me around until I give them some. What would be better for them ? I gave them corn based cereals also.
no,no park.. my apartment complex. I live near the river…the ducks are now coming to my door or follow me if I’m walking outside. I feel guilty if I don’t feed them but i don’t want to make them sick.
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2 Responses to What are good things and bad things to feed wild ducks ?
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Birds of any species can not tolerate salt because they don’t have kidney’s.
Sounds as if you are visiting a public park or pond and most of those ducks are use to being fed bread which is OK but it doesn’t really have any nutritional value for them. When I visit one of our city parks I do feed bread but I like to take some grains like the ones I feed to my ducks and chickens and that is called “Scratch”. It is a mixed of cracked corn and milo. The ducks at our park are so use to bread it takes them a minute to decide to pick up the “Scratch” but once they eat some they then begin to Gobble it up.
The ducks I have raised do not eat bread and even turn their noses up at it because they prefer the grains. I also take the time to dice up fruits and vegetables to toss out for them which is as good for them as the “Scratch”.
Normally you can find “Scratch” at a Feed Store or you can go to some place like Big Lots or Wal Mart and pick up some Bird Seed but the “Scratch” is only about $ 8.00 for 50 lbs.
Just Q
December 27, 2012 at 6:47 am
Do not feed them food intended for humans; too much salt and sugar can really harm them. Just get some cracked corn from your local wild bird supply, hardware store, or farm supply/ feed store.
Pepe Silvia
December 27, 2012 at 7:20 am