As a general rule, ducks will eat almost anything they come across, as long as they can get it into their beaks. Ducks do not chew, tear, or grind their food. Instead, they gulp everything up and swallow it whole. So, you are probably contemplating a couple of things. Can ducks eat watermelon? Are watermelon seeds and rinds good for ducks?
Ducks find watermelon a tasty treat because of the fruit’s small amount of natural sugars. The waterfowl are more than able to eat the main section of the watermelon, the red area, and the rind and seeds. All the parts of the watermelon are good for ducks to eat.
Ducks are not too picky about what they eat. In the wild, they became accustomed to eating a wide variety of food, including fruits and vegetables left out in parks and backyards. Although many fruits are OK to feed your duck, some things are not so good for them to ingest, so let’s look into this subject a little more.
Do Ducks Eat Watermelon?
Luckily, ducks have a considerable appetite for fruit, so they are not too picky about the condition of the melons. The amount of fruit that can be fed to your ducks will depend upon the rest of the food that they eat.
Never give a duck more than 10% of its diet in fruit because it can cause some medical issues to appear that you may not notice until it is too late.
Ducks can eat watermelon in the following preparations:
- Frozen watermelon and fruit can be fed to your ducks
- Canned fruits cannot be fed to your ducks
- Over-ripe and under-ripe melons can be fed to your ducks
- Processed fruit and watermelon should never be used for duck food
These simple rules to follow will allow you to offer ducks one of their favorite treats. Watermelon is not something they typically find while scavenging for food, so whenever they can indulge in some melon, they will do so without hesitation.
Here’s video proof ducks love eating watermelon:
Watermelon and Other Fruits for Ducks
Watermelon, and many other fruits, are very nutritious for your duck. Not only does it give them some needed vitamins, but a sweet treat for them because of the natural sugars (never feed ducks any fruit that has been canned or processed for sale.) Remember that even though these fruits are great for ducks (source) to include in their diets, they should only be given to them sparingly to prevent an excess of sugar.
Here are some other fruits ducks can have:
- Watermelon
- Berries
- Bananas
- Grapes
- Plums
- Pears
- Peaches
The general rule to follow is that if you feed something to your chickens, it is perfectly fine to let your ducks indulge in it. That is, if it is a fruit or vegetable.
Things such as bread and rice are commonly fed to birds, but they are bad for their stomachs and gizzards. As with everything good, some fruit you do not want to ever feed to your duck. Let’s take a look.
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.
Fruits Bad for Your Duck
You may not think that fruit could possibly be bad for your birds, but you would be wrong. Numerous fruits should be kept away from your ducks. The best thing to do is follow the thought that if you are in doubt, do not feed it to your waterfowl.
These are fruits that are bad for your duck:
- Citrous fruits—They can cause stomach aches and acid reflux and have been attributed to thin-shelled eggs because the citrus keeps calcium from being absorbed.
- Mangoes – Your duck could have a slight allergy to this fruit, causing a sore and itchy throat.
- Avocados – Every part of the avocado, including the plant and the skin, can be toxic to your bird.
- Stone fruit – These pieces of fruit can have cyanide embedded into the pits. A low amount should be acceptable if you feed your ducks stone fruit.
Mangoes and stone fruit can be an acceptable snack for your ducks, but they must be used sparingly. Your flock may not even have any birds allergic to mangoes, so if you want to find out, give them a small amount and keep a close eye on them. The best course of action to take is to play on the safe side and avoid these fruits at all times.
How to Prepare Watermelon for Ducks
As you can imagine, an entire melon would be extremely hard for a duck to get down. Ducks do not have teeth to tear the melon apart, so even though they may try to peck at it, the meal may become harder than it is worth.
Cut Into Quarters or Eighths
If the melon is being fed to the duck right away, you can cut it into quarters or eighths and place the red sections facing up. The center of the melons is much softer for the ducks to munch on, just make sure you do not put the skin and rinds up.
Cut Into Small Cubes
If you are saving the fruit for later, it would be a good idea to cut it up into small cubes and place them in the fridge for a couple of days. If you plan to freeze it, put the watermelon cubes in a freezer-safe container or baggie, and pull them back out before they are ready to be fed to the waterfowls.
Conclusion
Ducks are birds that can be fed many scraps from the meals you prepare. Fruits and vegetables, such as watermelons, would typically go into the garbage after eating. That is a ton of wasted food if you take the time to add the amounts. Wasted food that could be put to good use.
Instead of wasting good food, put it in a bowl and give it to your ducks as a great snack or even an evening meal. Be careful of what is put into the bowl, though. As you have learned, some things can cause negative responses from your ducks, so remember, if you are in doubt about something, play it safe and keep from feeding it to your flock.