Ducks are fascinating aquatic birds. Despite being generally smaller than them, they belong to the Anatidae family, known as swans and geese. These birds consume both vegetation and other animals as they are omnivorous.
Ducks can be found in different water habitats. Some are domestic and kept in poultry farms, ponds, and lakes, and some in the wild. As ducks live in various environmental conditions, their capacity to consume different food items also differs. So before we discuss what ducks eat, let us learn more about their gastrointestinal or digestive system.
1. Digestive System in Ducks
Ducks have a special digestive system. They have no or very few teeth, and the bottom of their mouths are not rigid, enabling them to move through the water faster and get more food. Firstly, food goes through their esophagus, and like other birds, ducks also have a special expansion of the esophagus, known as a crop, which temporarily helps store the food.
Then, the food enters a thin-walled glandular section of the stomach known as the proventriculus. The proventriculus connects to the ventricular, which is the gizzard. After that, the gizzard leads the food into the small intestine.
The small intestine transfers food to the large intestine, which then passes it to the rectum and colon. Lastly, the colon empties food into the cloaca, where waste is excreted. The digestive systems of all duck breeds are similar, but they can differ a little because of adaptation and different diets.
2. What are the Different Breeds of Ducks?
There are believed to be almost 120 different duck breeds worldwide. Let’s examine the most common duck breeds and what they eat.
2.01. Domestic Duck Breeds
2.01.01 Pekin Ducks
The Pekin duck, or White Pekin, is an American domestic duck breed from China. It is raised for its meat and is available worldwide. Pekin ducks have white feathers, orange bills, and legs. They are observed for their fast growth rate. The Pekin duck’s diet includes leafy greens, commercial duck feed, and grains.
2.01.02. Muscovy Ducks
Muscovy ducks were first found in South America. They are widely distributed for their meat and are famous for their unique flavor. They come in different colors and have red caruncles on their faces. Additionally, these ducks are kept as ornamental ducks. Muscovy ducks eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and aquatic plants.
2.01.03. Khaki Campbell
Campbell ducks originate from England and come in various colors: dark, khaki, white, and olive green. They can lay up to 300 eggs annually and eat snails, shellfish, sprouted grains, legumes, fish, and garden insects.
2.01.04. Indian Runner Ducks
Indian runner ducks are domestic ducks. They stand erect like penguins rather than wadding. The females usually lay 300-350 eggs yearly and have a tall and slim body. They also come in various colors and are demonstrated as ornamental ducks. Indian runner ducks eat grains, leafy vegetables, algae, and aquatic plants.
2.01.05. Rouen Ducks
Rouen ducks are heavyweight ducks and are raised for their meat. They have plump bodies and molted feathers. These ducks eat rice, vegetables, fruits, frozen peas, earthworms, and insects.
2.02 Wild Duck Breeds
2.02.01. Mallard Duck
Mallard ducks are known as dabbling ducks. They breed only at a certain temperature, which has caused their population to decrease daily. Males have purple and green patches; likewise, females have brown features. Their diet includes aquatic plants, seeds, grains, and small fish eggs.
2.02.02. Wood Ducks
Wood ducks originate from North America. They are very colorful. The males have a metallic green head and red eyes, whereas the females have neutral feathers that are greyish brown with white markings. Wood ducks eat corn, seeds, insects, and aquatic plants.
2.02.03. Mandarin ducks
Mandarin ducks are species of the East Palearctic or East Asia. They are known for their beautiful appearance. Males have orange, green, and purple patterns, and the females have grayish-brown feathers. These ducks eat plant matter, fresh grass, bird seeds, and insects.
2.02.04. Northern Pintail
Northern pintails originate from the northern regions of Europe and North America. They have a slender and elegant body shape. Males have brown heads and gray bodies, whereas female ducks have a brown molted color. Their diet includes agricultural waste, aquatic invertebrates, algae, and small microorganisms.
2.02.05. Northern Shoveler
The northern shovelers are medium-sized ducks and have spatula-shaped bills. They are found across Europe. Males have green heads, white breasts, and chestnut bodies; female ducks have molted brown feathers. Shoveler ducks eat plant seeds, tubers, insect eggs, snails, and larvae.
3. What do Pregnant and Baby Ducks Eat?
3.01 Pregnant Ducks
To maintain the health of pregnant ducks and their ducklings, you can feed high-quality commercial duck food, vegetables, protein-rich eggs, earthworms, and fish.
3.02 Baby Ducks
For baby ducks, you should choose supplemental greens and baby duck food. Grind the food finely and feed them in small quantities in short intervals.
4. What do Ducks Not Eat?
It would be best to be cautious about what you feed ducks since feeding them incorrectly might cause severe diseases. This is a list of things that are not appropriate for feeding ducks.
4.01 Food Items
4.01.01. White Bread
White bread does not contain the essential nutrients required for a duck to stay healthy, and feeding them bread regularly can lead to malnutrition and cause problems in the digestive system.
4.01.02. Potato chips
Potato chips are processed food that contains large amounts of salt, artificial flavors, and preservatives that can be harmful to ducks’ health.
4.01.03. Cookies
Cookies contain high levels of sugar, preservatives, additional flavors, and salted butter, which can lead to weight gain, diabetes, and other health issues in ducks.
4.01.04. Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine and added sugar in high amounts, which is toxic for ducks and can cause harmful infections.
4.01.05. Popcorn
Popcorn can be given in small amounts, but butter and salt should be avoided.
4.01.06. Caffeinated Beverages
Tea and coffee contain caffeine, harming a duck’s nervous system.
4.01.08. Dairy Products
Dairy products can cause stomach distress, diarrhea, and discomfort in ducks because they are lactose intolerant.
4.01.09. Raw Potatoes
Potatoes have a small amount of solanine, which can be poisonous and dangerous for ducks.
4.01.10. Citrus Fruits
Lemon, orange, and pineapple should be avoided because. They contain citrus acid, which is not good for ducks and causes irritation.
5. Tips For Duck Feeding
5.01. Small Portions
While feeding ducks, you should remember that ducks don’t have teeth. Give them bite-sized pieces to prevent choking. Moreover, they also have small stomachs.
5.02. Scatter The Food
It is said that scattering the food items helps distribute an equal amount of food for each duck. By doing this, you can avoid the aggressive behavior of ducks fighting for food.
5.03. Consider the Timing
Ducks are actively hungry in the morning and not in the afternoon. Feeding them over time can lead to obesity and an upset stomach.
5.04. Avoid Hand Feeding
It is always suggested that hand-feeding ducks should be avoided. This can result in injury to your hand, and ducks could get aggressive. It is better to scatter the food on the ground.
5.05. Feed an Appropriate Amount
You must feed an appropriate amount of food, starting with scattering a small amount. Then, see if they are still hungry and try to balance the food as per their behavior.
5.06. Consider Seasonal Change
During winter, ducks need warmer and protein-packed food like grains and seeds. Meanwhile, during summer, ducks love to eat insects and earthworms.
5.07. Watch for Signs
While feeding, you should notice their behavior towards food. If they don’t show interest in the food, this indicates they are full. Avoid feeding them in excess amounts because it can cause obesity and other health issues.
5.08. Enjoy From a Distance
After scattering the food, don’t go close to them as they need their own space; going near them can lead to aggressive behavior.
5.09. Follow Local Regulations
Before feeding the ducks, check out to ensure the location allows you to feed them.
6. In The End
Ducks are very sensitive aquatic birds but are also very charming and beautiful. Wildlife data shows that duck species are decreasing daily due to unhealthy habitats and polluted environmental conditions.
We need to feed them nutritious food carefully to keep them protected and save them from extinction in the future. Lastly, remember to change their water daily, scatter their food in equal quantities, and avoid human food items like bread, cookies, chips, etc.
Last Updated on by Japnit Singh