If you’re enjoying a nice afternoon snack, a fresh bowl of blueberries, you might wonder if you can share the superfood with your pet duck or local ducks at the park. You know they are highly nutritious for humans, but is the same true for the adorable quacker?
Ducks can eat blueberries in moderation. They’re rich in vitamins C, K1, E, and B6, which benefit the duck. However, berries should only make up about 10% of a duck’s diet. That’s because ducks require a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet to stay happy and healthy. Consider blueberries a treat and opt for two or three every few days.
Knowing how to feed a duck properly is essential to its well-being. This article discusses whether or not ducks can eat blueberries (and other delicious berries), how often they should consume them, and how they can be a tremendous nutritional treat for little quackers.
Can Ducks Eat Blueberries?
Ducks can eat blueberries. In fact, many ducks love nibbling on this naturally sweet and decadent fruit. It is not harmful to ducks whatsoever, as long as consumption is kept in moderation.
Do Baby Ducks Eat Blueberries?
Much like their parents, baby ducklings thoroughly enjoy the juicy consistency and delicious flavor of blueberries. That said, you can safely feed blueberries to a baby duck. In fact, doing so can encourage healthy development.
Just make sure they are served mashed up so the duckling can have an easier time digesting it. Also, serve in moderation. A single blueberry every few days is more than enough!
Check out these Duck Feeders and Duck Pellets found on Amazon, along with a couple Toys for Ducks and you’ll have some very happy ducks. And happy ducks make for better tasting eggs.
How Often Can Ducks Eat Blueberries?
When it comes to feeding ducks blueberries, keep it in moderation. Berry consumption should only equate to about 10% of a duck’s diet. That’s because they require protein, fats, carbs, and other nutrients which they cannot obtain from a berry-packed diet.
That said, offering a couple of blueberries every few days is fine. Feeding your duck blueberries daily is not recommended, as this can lead to overconsumption of berries, resulting in a lack of other essential vitamins and minerals.
Think of blueberries as a dessert for your duck.
Here’s a video of some wild ducks eating wild blueberries:
How to Feed Blueberries to Ducks
Feeding blueberries to ducks is a relatively simple task. Whether feeding your pet or a duck in the wild, blueberries can be offered the same way you eat them – fresh, raw, and whole. They do not need to be cooked, mashed, or cut up to be served. Serve with other favorite fruits and vegetables for a nutrient-dense treat.
However, the same isn’t true for ducklings. When serving blueberries to a young duck, you must mash them. This will make it easier for the duckling to consume and digest.
Whatever you do, don’t try to serve your duck cooked blueberry treats, such as blueberry muffins or pies. While these desserts aren’t necessarily harmful or toxic, they’re typically loaded with sugar and other unhealthy ingredients that shouldn’t be a part of a duck’s diet.
Serving a small piece of blueberry muffin on your duck’s birthday? Fine. Serving blueberry pie as dessert every night? Not OK.
Benefits of Feeding Blueberries to a Duck
Blueberries are not only a delicious treat that your duck will enjoy feasting on; they’re also quite beneficial! Blueberries are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are highly advantageous to ducks.
- Vitamin C – It’s true that ducks – amongst most other animals – can synthesize their own Vitamin C (source). However, that doesn’t mean additional Vitamin C isn’t beneficial. Vitamin C can help birds under stress and encourage higher quality egg production.
- Vitamin K1 – Vitamin K1 (source) is one of many types of Vitamin K and can help improve a duck’s bone density.
- Vitamin E – Wry neck is common in ducks, resulting in a twisted neck or constantly looking upwards. One of the best ways to treat wry necks is with Vitamin E, which is found in blueberries.
- Vitamin B6 – Deter B6 deficiencies and encourage overall healthy growth and well-being with Vitamin B6 in a duck’s diet.
- Manganese – A diet rich in manganese can help deter thin-shelled egg production.
Can Ducks Eat Blueberries and Strawberries?
Ducks love strawberries as much as they love blueberries; ducks enjoy all kinds of super sweet fruits, including watermelon and pears. It is 100% safe to feed strawberries to ducks.
The same guidelines still apply, though: they must be served in moderation and not on a daily basis. Since strawberries tend to be larger than blueberries, consider cutting them up into small pieces and mashing them for easier digestion.
Check out these Duck Feeders and Duck Pellets found on Amazon, along with a couple Toys for Ducks and you’ll have some very happy ducks. And happy ducks make for better tasting eggs.
What Berries Can Ducks Have?
Almost all types of berries are safe for ducks to consume in moderation. This includes blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, huckleberries, salmonberries, and mulberries. The only berries that should be avoided are bitterberries and chokeberries.
What Fruits Are Toxic to Ducks?
As you may have noticed by now, ducks are big fruit lovers – especially when it comes to berries. However, that doesn’t mean that all fruits are OK for ducks to consume.
The fruit you need to avoid at all costs with ducks is citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, oranges, and lemons. Citrus fruits interfere with calcium absorption, leading to poor health and thin-shelled egg production.
The other thing you need to be aware of is pits and seeds. Pits of stone fruits, such as peaches and plums, contain minute amounts of cyanide. The same is true for some seeds, like those in apples and pears. Consumption of these pits and seeds can be harmful to ducks.
These fruits are safe to consume as long as the pits and seeds are removed, leaving only the flesh of the fruit for consumption.
Blueberries Can Be a Great Addition To A Duck’s Diet
Blueberries are packed with vitamins and minerals that are advantageous to ducks. However, they shouldn’t be a staple in a duck’s diet. Berries, like blueberries and strawberries, Berries should only make up about 10% of a duck’s diet.
They should be served fresh, raw, whole, and in moderation. Think of blueberries as a tasty, juicy treat, and don’t overdo it.