Do Ducks Eat Snails? Surely As A Forager!
Do ducks eat snails? Yes, surely they do! Consuming snails or other backyard bugs or insects may offer protein, calcium, carbs, fiber, and some other nutrients. Additionally, eating snails ensures pest control on the plants and in the garden.
If you go a little further, you’ll find how they eat snails and what are the essential facts you should know. Besides that, we have some precious advice for you!
Table of Contents
Do Ducks Eat Snails? Why Do They Eat Snails?
This is pretty clear ducks will swallow snails wherever they find them. Ducks are the predators of slugs, snails, and other insects. So, if you question do ducks eat snails and slugs? The answer would be the same! Yes, waterfowl or backyard ducks attack such creatures to consume them. Notably, ducks eat in the wild.
Ducks usually eat snails to have some nutrients to grow. Farmers and gardeners also allow the ducks to work as ecological pest controllers.
North American Wild: Do Mallards Eat Snails?
Yes, for having a large appetite, mallards will jump over the snails or other bugs. North American Mallards love to forage in wetlands where they find snails. Even if it’s other insects or worms, they’ll eat them too. However, snails can be part of their regular diet as well.
Duckling As Eater: Can Baby Duck Eat Snails?
No, I think baby ducks shouldn’t eat snails as their bills are not strong enough to break the shells. But as omnivores and opportunists, ducks or ducklings will eat snails without worrying.
However, it’s advice for the backyard duck owner to not let them eat until they become an adult. Also, bear in mind that ducklings’ primary food sources are small insects, invertebrates, and plants. But not the snails with shells!
Jumping Into The Pond: Will Ducks Eat Water Snails?
Yes, ducks will eat water snails. Rather, it seems awkward as we’re talking about whether waterfowl will eat water snails or not. Ducks, as voracious eaters, will eat what they confront. So, they’ll encounter water snails from the wetlands, ponds, or lakes.
If ducks don’t get available foods to fulfill their daily need, they’ll eat plenty of snails without any doubt. However, whether it’s wild or domestic, ducks won’t let the water snails go!
Take a look at the video on how ducks are consuming snails comfortably.
Snails As Food: Do Ducks Digest Snail Shells?
Yes, they’ll eat snail shells when the beak becomes strong enough what we mean is during adulthood. Usually, such mollusks swallow any sort of food too fast. But some of them avoid eating shells; rather what they do is eat the soft body and take off the shells.
Should Ducks Eat Cooked Snails? They Are Safe!
Yes, it’s completely fine if ducks eat snails raw or cooked. Cooked snails are safer since the parasites may be removed while cooking. However, ensure you don’t add spices or other additives to snails.
Notable Nutritional Value Of Snails: USDA Data
You may have seen ducks grabbing snails for eating. But can you tell what the nutritional properties of snails are?
According to USDA, we’re bringing the ESCARGOT snail nutritional value per 100 grams. Then you decide how snails can be a part of ducks’ food.
| Nutrients | Quantity |
| Energy | 85 kcal |
| Protein | 16.95 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.85 g |
| Carbohydrate | 1.69 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 169 mg |
| Vitamin A, IU | 169 IU |
| Cholesterol | 227 mg |
Are Snails Good For Ducks? 4 Beneficial Facts!
Yes, snails are safe for waterfowl. Snails usually don’t have any toxic chemicals that can cause harm. Ducks and even farmers and gardeners get a lot of benefits when we lessen snails from the yard or land. However, let’s see the benefits!
1. High Protein Intake
You’ll be surprised to know that snails and slugs have rich proteins nearly the same as pork or beef. Whereas Pekin ducks require 20-22% protein in the first two or three weeks, According to the National Library of Medicine. Therefore, snails or even slugs can be a good option for ducks!
2. Ducks Natural Foraging
In the wild, ducks do love to forage. So, if they get habituated to eating snails, the forging behavior will be more visible. It helps the duck to get different foods in nature.
3. Ecological Pest Control
Snails are an enemy of garden plants and crops. But when ducks eat them, it controls the snail growth, ensuring an eco-friendly pest control process.
4. Improved Overall Health
In a nutshell, ducks eating snails ensures better overall health. Such as:
- Snails have low fat, which is good for ducks to remain in ideal weight.
- Calcium helps better egg production, bone, feather, and muscle condition.
- Vitamin A improves the immune system and eyesight.
- Iron in snails helps benefit the ducks’ red blood cells and ensures oxygen is processed in the blood.
- Your ducks will also get minerals like magnesium with anti-inflammatory properties and selenium as antioxidants.
- For reducing inflammation, Fatty Acids (Omega-3) are there as developing blocks of cell membranes.
Potential Risks: What Are Unwelcoming About Eating Snails?
Ducks eat snails with calmness since it’s soft-body Invertebrates. But there are a few potential drawbacks we shouldn’t overlook.
Infection Of Parasites
There is a parasitic nematode worm called gapeworm. It can possibly infect the tracheas of birds, may cause asphyxiation, or obstruct the airway.So, prevent the residual infection by tilling the soil in the duck’s pen. Furthermore, deworming the duck every 15 to 30 days is important!
Pesticides Are Harmful
In the garden, sometimes we apply pesticides which is toxic. Although we use pesticides to remove snails, it’s a negative sign for ducks because ducks may get infected when they eat snails.
So, be a little conscious about this fact and keep the fowl away from the garden, particularly when you’re following the pest control method!
Related Reads: Shrimp for Ducks Diet
Ideal Advice: How Often Ducks Should Eat Snails?
As an opportunist in the wild, whenever ducks find snails, they’ll eat them. So, in the case of backyard ducks, we cannot say how often and how many snails should they eat.
If you decide to feed snails to ducks, experts’ advice is important. However, poultry experts or veterinarians nearby can help you out!
So, if the goal is to control snails, take vet advice, and hire some worker ducks to do the job. Here is the video of how they clean off the snails that are ruining your plants and crops.
FAQs
To give you more knowledge, we added some frequently asked questions. Check them out!
Q. Do Runner Ducks Work As A Pest Controller In Gardens?
Yes, for snails and pest control in the garden, Indian runner ducks are the best worker. It’s because of having outstanding hunting abilities and natural foraging behavior that ensures the snail growth is in control.
Q. How do Ducks Catch Snails?
Whether it’s ground or water, ducks will use their bills to catch the snails.
Q. Do Pekin Ducks Eat Snails?
Yes, for having an omnivore nature and large appetite, Pekin ducks will eat snails as their food source.
Recommended Readings: Ducks Diet in the Water – What You Should Know
Bottom Line: Do Ducks Eat Snails?
Certainly, ducks do eat snails for nutrients like protein and others. They can even work to control snails in the garden that are enemies of the plants. But be careful when you use pesticides, or there might be some parasites in mollusks.
Overall, letting the duck eat snails is a good move. But don’t let the baby waterfowl eat such creatures with hard shells because their beaks may not develop. And don’t forget to call the vet before authorizing the duck to eat snails from the wetland or in the ground.
Sources And References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7553845/
- https://www.scielo.br/j/asas/a/bqnxncGQ4Hk3sKJhpR7HQ7N/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/gapeworm
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc/chem-effects-db/R_TuckerCrabtree70.pdf
