Can Ducks Eat Mealworms? 3 Reasons Why They’re Superfood!
Mealworms for ducks are beneficial and tempting. But what if I give them every day? Are all forms of mealworms good for ducks?
Can Ducks eat mealworms? Yes, ducks can, but not every day. Mealworms come with a wide range of essential nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. However, they’re good for both canned and live consumption. But live mealworms are ahead of nutritional enrichment, at least by an edge.
How dried mealworms aren’t as good as live is a matter of discussion. Keep reading to learn interesting facts about duck, their diet, and how mealworms fit into it.
Table of Contents
Can Ducks Eat Mealworms? Certainly!
The answer is absolutely yes. Mealworms are fine, easy to find, comparatively cheap, and, of course, a nutritious treat for ducks. Here’s why I praise mealworms so much.
Do Ducks Like Mealworms? Doesn’t Matter!
Doesn’t matter. Ducks are omnivores and go crazy over anything that is given to them. So, it’s difficult to say whether or not they like it.
But mealworms are nutritious and can provide plenty of health benefits. So, do not worry. Give them mealworms and keep your duck’s health in a steady condition.
Do Baby Ducks Eat Mealworms? Sure Thing!
Baby ducks won’t have any problem with mealworms. Instead, mealworm consumption will benefit them by providing the necessary protein content. Protein is one of the key components that will boost the duckling’s healthy growth and development.
Just maintain an ideal quantity for them, and they’ll be perfectly alright, roaming around adorably, and who knows, their appearance might make your day after a busy office day.
Are Mealworms an Everyday Diet? Not a Wise Idea
Do not think like that. Duck feed is what should be your prime concern. Think of mealworms as a healthy treat since it is packed with plenty of nutrients. Mealworms are a high-protein food for ducks.
Giving them mealworms every day won’t be a good idea because protein overconsumption might cause malnutrition and other mobility problems.
According to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, excessive protein consumption will lead them to suffer from angel wings. It’s a disease defining the nutritional deficiency in waterfowl.
No mealworms in ducks’ everyday diet. Consider it a tasty snack for them. I guess giving mealworms to your ducks twice a week won’t cause any nutritional deficiency or troubles like that.
How Many Mealworms Are Considered Ideal? 2 Spoon for Baby Ducks
Not specific. It depends on the duck, their dietary habits, and their daily intake. Different duck breeds will have different daily intake amounts.
But here’s a general estimation: 100 mealworms per treat for an adult duck aged more than three months might be good.
But how much is ideal for ducklings? Well, for baby ducks, you should be specific. Do not overfeed them. Some duck raisers think two teaspoons of mealworms are enough for small ducks.
Related Reading: Can Ducks Eat Insects
Can Ducks Eat All Two Forms of Mealworms?
Mealworms are found in two forms only. These are live and dried forms. Both of the mealworm forms are fine for ducks to consume.
1. Live Mealworms
Considering their nutritional significance, live mealworms are surely one of the best picks for ducks. Plus, if your backyard ducks consume live mealworms, it will keep their foraging instinct alive.
According to Professor Abdalbasit Adam Mariod from King AbdulAziz University, more than 60% of live mealworms are water. It has around 20% protein, 13% natural fat, and 2% fiber. All the nutrients are reasonable in amount and can surely benefit ducks.
2. Dried Mealworms
Dried mealworms are a tempting treat for ducks as well. But, comparing dried mealworms to the live mealworms, I would have picked live mealworms any day. Dried mealworms might be tempting, but it isn’t nutritionally balanced.
Dan Gleason from the University of Oregon came up with nutritional data of dried mealworms. He said mealworms are extremely high in protein. More than 50% of dried mealworms are protein. Only 5 % water, 18% natural fat, and more than 8% is carbohydrate.
3 Benefits of Consuming Mealworms
Here are the nutritional benefits of ducks feeding mealworms.
1. Protein is a Super Nutrient
You already know mealworms have plenty of protein. Protein helps ducks grow healthy and develop fast. It’s like their building blocks for a strong body.
2. Healthy Skin And Feathers
Mealworms are packed with special fats called omega three and omega 6. I guess you’ll love to see your ducks look cute with healthy skin and feathers. Well, mealworms come up with every nutrient your duck will need.
3. Contributes to a Strong Immune System And Development
Mealworms come with some vital vitamins and minerals as well. These vitamins and minerals will keep on boosting their health and developing a strong immune system. They also have minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc, which are like little helpers for a duck’s body.
3 Serving Tips on How Can Ducks Eat Mealworms
Actually, there’s no specific mealworm serving approach for ducks. Here are three personalized tips for you.
- Do not buy molded mealworms. Buy fresh mealworms from reputed sellers so that you’re less likely to have been cheated.
- Give in the ideal quantity. Consider it like 1/10 of their daily intake. Serve it on a plate or in a bowl.
- You can combine mealworms with other foods, such as grains and seeds. Contact a vet for the appropriability of mealworms for your particular duck breed and know how much should be an ideal amount.
Are There Any Risky Mealworms for Ducks? Dried mealworms Might be Avoided!
Yes, there are some unsafe mealworms. However, the name isn’t specific. But you may avoid some dried mealworms that are raised in China.
Because in China, styrofoam might be fed to mealworms as well. According to an argument between some duck raisers on the internet, styrofoam is harmful and can have harmful chemical reactions in ducks. It might cause lead poisoning.
Hence, dried mealworms have to be avoided feeding ducks unless you’re sure the seller is trustworthy and renowned.
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Bottom Line
Ducks can eat mealworms, and that too, in any form, be it dried or live. Mealworms are highly nutritious and unlikely to cause any harm to your quacking birds. Plus, You can feed them plenty of mealworms as they’re lightweight. All in all, it’s a perfect weekly treat for ducks.
However, be a little aware of dried mealworms. Dried mealworm overconsumption can cause nutritional deficiency and, in some cases, might lead to suffering from angel wings. Just be aware of a few things, and mealworms will be perfect for them.
Sources and References:
- https://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/blog/nutritional-needs-of-ducks-and-geese/
- https://eugene.wbu.com/mealworms-article#
- https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/meal-worms-are-expensive-tips-for-growing-my-own.1299249/
