Can Ducks Eat Maggots? Readily They Forage For It!
Can ducks eat maggots? Yes, ducks eat maggots and other worms. They consume such worms while foraging for protein sources. You can even make it their cheap supplementary treat. But maggot larva carries myiasis infection, and studies say birds consume maggots from carcasses and avian botulism outbreaks. So, you must let them eat in a better environment.
I found maggots can provide some nutrition, so make it their occasional treat. To know how it benefits ducks, spend some extra minutes here.
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Can Ducks Eat Maggots? Are maggots good for ducks?
The opportunist ducks try to interrupt the fly life cycle so maggots won’t be safe. A flock of ducks will surely eat maggots, but I cannot assure you ducks are 100% safe when they eat such worms.
You may not know consuming some toxic maggots, like 3 or 4 maggots can even kill the ducks. The bacterial poisoning of Escherichia coli and salmonella are the things researchers have found. If ducks consume, they’ll have gastrointestinal trouble or other health issues.
And Avian Botulism is quite common! Here, a natural toxin affects the birds, most notably waterfowls.
Another notable fact is maggots potentially have pathogens if sourced from contaminated environments such as decaying animal carcasses. So, I don’t think maggots are anything to prioritize rather than any other food sources.
But, wait! Ducks usually eat maggots or flies. It’s their natural food source. Here is a video!
It’s okay if they consume some but monitor if they have any serious reactions in the yard. If I were there, I would get immediate attention from a veterinarian.
What About Live Maggot? Indeed, They Eat!
Yeap! Ducks or even chickens can eat live maggots. But there are some facts you must hear. According to IOP Science, the conversion of organic waste into biomass for use as fertilizers and poultry feed is a mess. And it can be resolved by black soldier fly (BSF) maggots.
The inexpensive feeding concept is to enhance ducks’ functions with live maggots. However, there is a great impact where you may notice egg quality changes, changes in flavor, and odor as well.
Baby Ducks: Will Ducklings Eat Maggots Too?
Ducks and ducklings prefer to eat worms, so maggots are no different. As far as I know, baby ducks are going to have some protein needed from maggots. And it’s what ducklings need the most at a young age.
But I talked about some disadvantages, right? It’s okay if you just monitor whether they’re consuming maggots too much. Because they have sensitivity in digestion. Therefore, feed a few pieces of maggots when it’s time to feed.
Surprising Fact: Maggots Can Eat Ducks Too!
Maggots are actually the larvae of flies, so I don’t think they’re gonna eat ducks. But if flies lay eggs on the carcass of weak, injured, or dead ducks’ bodies, maggots will feed on the dead tissue. It’s actually a decomposition process.
The more surprising fact is maggots can also eat dead human bodies! Here flies become attracted by the dead bodies, specifically in humid or warm conditions. And maggots just decompose flesh and tissues. It’s actually a natural part of the decomposition process and ecosystem recycling.
Is There Any Nutritional Value In Maggot? Let’s Check!
According to NCBI, maggot protein can be used for poultry business. Maggots usually have 60% crude protein and 20% crude fat.
It’s even beneficial as a poultry feed and it will ensure lowering disease transmission to humans. And amino acids will also contribute to the duck’s health.
However, let me show you an estimated chart of maggots’ nutritional value.
| Nutrients (Black Soldier Larvae) | Quantity |
| Protein | 50% |
| Fat | 35% |
| Calcium | 6% |
| Phosphorus | 1.2% |
| Magnesium | 1% |
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How Does Eating Maggots Benefit the Ducks? 6 Facts I Found!
As I said, maggots usually carry protein and fat the most. Besides, maggots as larvae provide essential amino acids. However, let’s see how it’s gonna benefit the ducks.
- Poultry Production: Ducks or chickens eat maggots so comfortably. You can add such worms as their nutritious occasional treat. It will ensure their better growth.
- Protein Source: Protein intake in maggots can give essential amino acids for the ducks better health, muscle development, and feather condition.
Protein also contributes to immune function and egg production. Ducks usually eat mealworms or earthworms, but such worms give more benefits.
- Beneficial Fat: Fat in maggots is a concentrated energy source. It can be an insulating layer to maintain the body temperature. Besides, fat can contribute to cell membrane upkeep and hormone production. So, let them eat some maggots or fly maggots from nature.
- Calcium For Bone: The presence of calcium and phosphorus will keep the skeleton and bone healthy for sure.
- Chitin In Maggots: Chitin is a natural polymer from the husks of fly larvae that contributes to the immunity system of poultry. Such components in exoskeletons in maggots can also contribute to digestion health or gut health.
- Controls Fly In Yard: Ducks are going to eat bugs or flies along with such worms. When they consume, they unintentionally control the population of fly growth in the yard.
How Can Ducks Maggot Worms? 4 Serving Tips
Although you can feed, I don’t prefer this since they naturally forage and eat such worms. And there is a problem with feeding.
Ducks cannot eat excessively, and polluted sources have toxic maggots since they spread bacterial contamination or obesity.
But still, if you prefer to feed, no worries! Follow the tips I am bringing!
- Tip 1. Always feed maggots in moderation. It should be their occasional treat.
- Tip 2. Pre-washed and pre-packed maggots are recommended! Don’t feed the maggots from any contaminated place. It is better if you ask any commercial supplier.
- Tip 3. You can give freeze-dried maggots and ensure the maggots are white or cream-colored. And avoid the brown one since it won’t carry any nutrients.
- Tip 4. You can scatter them in the ground, pond, or in the garden but don’t feed them in your hand. Ducks are going to hurt you mistakenly as they eat insanely. However, a shallow dish won’t be a bad idea.
Recommended Reads: Do Ducks Eat Insects
Final Words: Can Ducks Eat Maggots?
In short, maggots as worms can be ducks’ favorite occasional treat, but follow some precautions in this case. I mean, don’t let the duck eat fly larvae from any contaminated environment due to the bacteria and pathogens presence.
It’s your backyard duck, so the responsibility is yours. I suggest giving any other healthy nutritious treat. Or if they consume maggots from nature while foraging, it’s okay. But in the case of ducklings, feeding maggots is a good idea to bring from any fresh area or from the store.
Sources And References:
- https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/1001/1/012035/pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8983407/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8831830/
