Can Ducks Eat Shrimp? Surely One of the Best Treat!
Ducks are fond of aquatic creatures when they swim. On the other hand, Shrimp, which basically is a crustacean, is often considered a sea bug. Let’s see if it’s a predator-prey game in between the water birds and the bug.
Can ducks eat shrimp? Yes, ducks will have no trouble eating shrimp. These sea creatures come with so many essential key nutrients like protein, lipid, ash, and calcium. But I reckon farming and frozen shrimps may do harm to your ducks. So, no to shrimps in those shapes.
Shrimp is simply a brilliant addition when it’s about providing essential nutrients. I’ll discuss how it is in this study. Just keep on reading.
Table of Contents
Can Ducks Eat Shrimp? Yes, Almost No Harm!
No issues with eating shrimp. It is a safe pick and brings benefits, actually. That’s it. Let’s see how well it fits to ducks’ diet.
What If My Ducks Eat Shrimp Every Day? Not A Good Idea!
Shrimp ain’t a bad snack for ducks once in a while. But feeding them shrimp every day probably won’t do them any favors. It might even mess with their health. I’d say don’t make shrimp a regular part of their diet.
Shrimp’s really high in protein. However, too much protein can cause some issues. Eating a whole lot of protein could make their wing bones grow too fast or even make them fat. So while protein’s important, you don’t wanna go overboard.
Consider shrimp more of a special treat and be careful with how much you give them. Feeding some shrimp to your ducks a couple of times a week is probably just fine.
What is Considered An Ideal Quantity of Shrimp?
See, it’s basically you who can determine that. While buying it, you know how many are in 1 kilogram of shrimp, for example. 20% of shrimp is protein approximately. According to experts, 16% of the total diet should be protein for adult ducks.
That means, for 100 grams of food intake, 16 grams sounds okay. Depending on the breed, the dietary needs may vary. So, it’s you at the end of the day who will determine how much is ideal. I hope this helps you.
Can Baby Ducks Eat Shrimp? Sure, But Boiled and Chopped
No problem. Your baby ducks can eat shrimp as well. Baby ducks and chickens can eat shrimp and it is good for them too. Because baby ducks require protein resources to grow faster, shrimp serve the same nutritional purpose.
But do chop them into small pieces. And give them boiled shrimp to avoid choking troubles.
Can Ducks Eat Shrimp in All Forms?
No, not all forms of shrimp is good for ducks. Let’s have a chat on this now.
- Raw Shrimps: Raw shrimps are good for adult ducks. This is nutritious, and won’t cause choking problems at all, in general. So, no problem with raw shrimp.
- Dried Shrimps: These aren’t really a big problem for ducks. Still has the same kind of nutritional significance when it’s dried. So, yes, nothing to worry about regarding dried shrimp.
- Frozen Shrimps: Here’s which form of shrink is supposed to be risky for them. Frozen shrimps might carry bacteria that are harmful, claimed North Carolina Sea Grant.
- Cooked Shrimps: Cooked shrimps also don’t cause any significant problems for them. Unlike many cooked stuff, the nutrients aren’t lessened while being cooked. Instead, it offers more than raw shrimp sometimes.
Why Shrimps are the Finest Nutritional Treat for Ducks?
First, let’s have a look at how nutritious shrimps are according to USDA.
100 grams of raw shrimp have the following nutrients to offer:
| Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
| Water | 78.4 g |
| Energy | 85 kcal |
| Protein | 20.1 g |
| Total Lipid (Fat) | 0.51 g |
| Ash | 1.23 g |
| Calcium (Ca) | 64 mg |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.52 mg |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 35 mg |
| Phosphorus (P) | 214 mg |
| Potassium (K) | 264 mg |
| Sodium (Na) | 119 mg |
| Zinc (Zn) | 1.34 mg |
Did you notice there’s no carbohydrate in shrimp? Carb is important for these quacking birds. So, make sure when you give them shrimp, give them some high-carb stuff like quinoa on that day as well, to meet the carb requirement.
Shrimp’s Nutrition isn’t Lessened Even If It is Cooked
I’ve said earlier that, cooked shrimp are fine for ducks as well as they won’t lose their nutritional value that much. Let’s see what USDA talks about raw shrimp and its nutrients.
| Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
| Water | 74.3 g |
| Energy | 99 kcal |
| Protein | 24 g |
| Total Lipid (Fat) | 0.28 g |
| Ash | 1.22 g |
| Carbohydrate | 0.2 g |
| Calcium | 70 mg |
| Iron | 0.51 mg |
| Magnesium | 39 mg |
| Phosphorus | 237 mg |
| Potassium | 259 mg |
| Sodium | 111 mg |
| Copper | 0.379 mg |
| Manganese | 0.033 mg |
| Fatty Acids (Saturated) | 0.056 g |
See, the nutritious value is almost the same. So, do feed them if you have some cooked shrimp left after your dinner. But remember, do not overfeed. Cause added salt, and seasonal spices might not be too friendly to their immune system.
Related Reads:
Benefits of Feeding Shrimp
A range of benefits that shrimps offer to your ducks are given below.
- It contributes to ducks’ better growth as it is a great resource of protein.
- It also provides calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium which offers greater bone health and development.
- B12 vitamins are found in shrimps. It offers a boost in nerve function and better metabolism. Although the amount might not be enough still it contributes at least.
- In addition to the nutritional advantages, shrimp can potentially help ducks enhance feather health. It will overall result in more appealing plumage.
One thing I want you to be aware of, please be aware of the quantity. Remember, for better health and mental well-being, moderation is the key.
A Few Matters of Concerns Regarding Ducks Eat Shrimps
Shrimps aren’t reported to be found toxic inherently. Then, are there any risks associated with it? The answer is slightly yes.
Frozen Shrimps Might Come With Harmful Bacteria
According to a news portal in Los Angeles, consumer reports found that 60% of frozen shrimp have harmful bacteria. The bacteria that are found are as follows:
- E. coli
- Vibrio
- Listeria
- Salmonella
These bacteria can cause illnesses such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and pain. So, I guess, it’s better to avoid frozen shrimps for your feathered friends.
PETA Express Anxiety on Farming Shrimps
PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) is an organization that works for animal well-being. However, they’ve raised their voice on farming shrimp which should be considered seriously. They claimed shrimp farmers use antibiotics which isn’t ideal for consumption.
In addition, where shrimps come from is another concern. Most of the resources are nonrestricted and are supposed to have illegal contaminants such as dioxins. It is highly discouraged to do shrimp production and buy shrimps raised in farming setups.
So, all in all, you have to choose only freshwater shrimp.
Do I Have to Follow Any Specific Feeding Method?
No. Not really. You can give them shrimp as per the expert suggestion. You can hand feed them, or you may just scatter the shrimps in the ground for them. Alternatively, you can chop them first and mix them with other regular food as well.
However, Do Baby Ducks Require a Special Feeding Approach?
Yes. For baby ducks, you have to be a little cautious about the quantity and the feeding approach.
- First, I recommend you boil it. Because it will make their ingesting easier and no choking trouble will happen.
- Then, you must have to chop them into small bite-sized pieces while giving them to baby ducks.
- Serving them on a plate, or in a bowl is smart.
Do not add any spice, or salt while boiling shrimp for your baby birds. It won’t be as lovely as it is without salt and other seasonal spices.
Recommended Reading: Feeding Habits For Ducks in Water
Summary of the Study
What my study summarizes is, that shrimps pose almost no harm to ducks. You can definitely feed them shrimp. Just be a little cautious while buying it from the market. Make sure these are freshwater shrimps.
Just one thing – I do not recommend you buy farming shrimp for your ducks. That’s it. Consider it a tasty treat and your ducks won’t suffer for consuming shrimp.
Sources and References:
- https://sentientmedia.org/shrimp-farming/
- https://abc7.com/shrimp-bacteria-consumer-reports-frozen-test/741368/
