What Do Ducks Eat? The Ultimate Guide to Feeding Your Feathered Friends!

What do ducks eat? It’s tough to answer in short. Because it varies based on the region, breed, environment, and numerous other things. For example, backyard ducks generally eat insects, aquatic plants, and veggies, whereas indoor ducks mostly eat fruits, veggies, and herbs. However, migratory ducks, who travel all across southern Europe, Central America, and Asia, usually take amphibians, aquatic plants, and small fish the most.

But that is not the end of the answer! There’s a lot to know about ducks, their different breed, and their food preferences. Some ducks even eat snakes! You will have so many surprising discussions like that in this study. So, don’t keep your eyes away!

What Do Ducks Eat? Understand the Study

Ducks are omnivores. So, they eat so many things. However, depending on the breeds, their eating habit may vary. Here’s my list of some duck types and their typical diet in a nutshell:

Types of Ducks	Typical Diet
Wild Ducks	– Aquatic plants
	– Insects (worms, mosquitoes, dragonflies, etc.)
	– Small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks
	– Seeds ( pumpkin, chia, sesame, sunflower)
	– Algae and aquatic vegetation
Backyard Ducks	– Cracked corn
	– Vegetables (lettuce, kale, peas, etc.)
	– Fruits (grapes, apples, berries)
	– Insects (earthworms, mealworms)
Indoor Ducks	-Vegetables
	-Fruits
	-Aquatic Plants
	-Small Fishes
Commercial Ducks	– Duck pellets (specifically formulated duck feed)
	– Grains (wheat, barley, corn)
	– Soybeans, canola, or other protein sources
Migrating Ducks	– Varies based on species and location
	– Similar diet to native wild ducks of their location
	– Need high-energy food sources for long flights

Look, these are the diets they usually take. I’ll be more specific later.

We will talk about all the duck types I’ve here. In addition, some parameters influence ducks’ diet. It can be environment-based or region-based. This should also be discussed.

However, this will be a brief study. So, I want you to have a good understanding of what this study is all about. Now, we will move into the main discussion.

What Do Ducks Eat in Backyard Settings?

Backyard ducks basically eat what they find naturally. These ducks eat a variety of foods. Apart from their natural diet, which consists of aquatic plants, insects, etc., they even eat bread or fries! 

Ducks basically aren’t very picky about choosing food. Let me share with you one of my personal experiences. I went to a village to join my cousin’s wedding ceremony. I saw some backyard ducks (probably raised by the bride’s grandmother) eating an entire jackfruit that was broken after falling from a tree! They were super fast, and I guess they finished almost half of the jackfruit in just a minute!

Here’s what can be in the typical diet of backyard ducks:

• Insects
• Aquatic plants
• Grain
• Small fishes

However, their dietary habits may vary a little based on region or environment. Writing this entirely will be an impossible thing. But all of the backyard ducks have the same diet.

Finding Dietary Similarities in Backyard Ducks in Different Regions

Here are my top 5 backyard duck picks, along with their typical diet.

Regardless of the region, backyard ducks remain the same when picking food.

Nourishing Your Pet Ducks Indoors: What’s on the Menu?

Pet ducks are called indoor ducks here. These ducks are friendly and require proper care. Let’s have a look at what to feed them in a nutshell.

Food Category	Top Picks	Special Note
Fruits	Apples	Avoid seeds and core
	Grapes	Avoid giving seeds to baby ducks
	Watermelon	High in Sugar
	The berry family	High in sugar
vegetables	Lettuce	Extremely Beneficial
	Kale	Good for baby ducks
	Peas	High in sugar
	Spinach	Extremely Beneficial
	Carrots	High in Sugar
Aquatic Plants	Water lilies	Part of a natural diet
	Algae	Part of a natural diet
Aquatic Creatures	Small Fish	Part of a natural diet
	Mosquito larvae	Part of a natural diet
	Snails	Part of a natural diet
Grains	Wheat	Follow precaution
	Barley	Follow precaution
Herbs	Parsley	Beneficial
	Cilantro	Beneficial
	Rosemary	Follow precaution
	Mint	Follow precaution
Insects	Mosquito	Part of a natural diet
	Worms	Part of a natural diet
	Spider	Part of a natural diet
	Grasshopper	Part of a natural diet

You may ask me, what about feeding commercial duck feed to indoor ducks? Well, you can feed them commercial feed as well.

However, ducks aren’t here to make good pets like cats or dogs. Anyway, no offense to the ones who have adorable pet ducks, they’re so damn cute!

Wild Duck and Their Diet: They Roam, And They Find Foods!

Wild ducks eat whatever’s available in their surroundings. It’s a pretty common thing because wild ducks are self-reliant.

They wander all over the place, not being domesticated ducks, and they’ll chow down on anything they come across—whether it’s fruit, herbs, green leaves on the ground, or minnows in the water. Wild ducks even eat snakes!

However, we already have a comprehensive study on what ducks can eat in the water. You may pay a visit to this article published on our website.

Wild Ducks in the Park: They Suffer in Urban Area

See, in the park, ducks will eat whatever they find. What will they find? Things people left unfinished. Sometimes fruits, sometimes processed foods like chips, french fries, and chocolates.

• Ducks in Urban Parks: In urban parks, such as Central Park in New York City or Hyde Park in London, ducks can often be seen swimming in ponds or lakes. You may see people eating ice cream, chocolates, sandwiches, salads, hot meals, etc.  Ducks eat those in leftover form.
• Ducks in Natural Parks: Ducks live in the park’s marshes and wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants and insects.

In natural parks, such as national parks or wildlife reserves, ducks can be found in their natural habitat. Many natural parks have lakes, wetlands, or rivers where ducks thrive.

As a part of the wetland ecosystem, ducks are seen there to roam comfortably. For instance, the Everglades National Park in Florida. This park is considered home to various species of ducks, including the colorful Wood Duck.

Related Reading: Feeding Ducks At The Park

The most common ones that are seen in the natural parks in the US are:

• Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
• Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
• American Wigeon (Anas americana)
• Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
• Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
• Gadwall (Mareca strepera)

10 Migratory Ducks And Their Diet: Navigating Borders With High-Carb Diets

Now, we talk about the ducks that travel a long way. From Southern Europe to North America – these birds travel a long way to find a warmer place, and food is easier to find for them. 

Ducks that migrate can fly a long way in a single attempt. For example, Mallard. They can fly 800 miles at a time. During flying, they do not take any breaks for that 800-mile travel. Hence, they do not have any food intake. 

However, they eat small fish, seeds, grains, and other plant foods high in carbs while migrating to have more energy. 

Let’s look closely at 10 migratory ducks that travel from North America to northern Europe, Africa, and Asia.

What to Feed Ducks? Commercial Ducks & Baby Ducks

In this section, I’ll discuss what to feed ducks. We’ll only cover ducklings and farming ducks here. This is because wild, migratory, or backyard ducks don’t always require feeding. They usually forage and locate food on their own. Let’s get started.

Nutritional Requirements of 10 Commercial Duck Breeds

Commercial ducks mean ducks that are for economic purposes. These ducks must have high meat value or good egg production.

Let’s have a look at their nutritional requirement and all that.

Duck Breed	Dietary Needs	Recommended Foods	Purpose
Pekin Duck	A balanced diet with high protein content	High-protein pellets, mixed grain	Meat production
Khaki Campbell	High-quality feed for egg production	Layer feed, supplemented with calcium	Egg production
Muscovy Duck	An omnivorous diet rich in Protein and energy with access to forage	Forage, grains, insects	Meat and egg production
Rouen Duck	Protein and Calcium diet for optimal growth	Duck grower pellets, grains	Meat production
Indian Runner Duck	Balanced feed for optimal egg production (Protein and Energy)	Layer feed, supplemented with calcium	Egg production
Aylesbury Duck	High-quality feed for meat production	High-protein feed, mixed grain	Meat production
Cayuga Duck	An omnivorous diet rich in Protein and energy with access to forage	Forage, grains, insects	Meat and egg production
Swedish Blue Duck	Nutritious feed for optimal meat quality (Protein, calcium, Energy and Vitamin)	High-protein pellets, mixed grain	Meat and egg production
Crested Duck	A balanced diet with good feed conversion	Duck grower pellets, mixed grain	Meat production
Saxony Duck	Nutritious feed for optimal meat quality (Protein, calcium, Energy, and Vitamin)	All-purpose duck feed, vegetable	Meat and egg production

See, some ducks pull double duty for meat and eggs, while others excel at just one of those roles. They mostly need a protein- and energy-based diet for optimal growth, egg production, and meat quality.

Alright, for the farming ducks, grab them some good quality layer or breeder. It will be good for adult birds, like ducks and chickens. I may suggest you mix grains and pellets for your ducks. 

Some Australian researchers suggest feeding your ducks shell grits to improve their egg shells. Shell grit is quite a good choice for providing calcium to poultry livestock and keeping their bone health stable. 

But if you’re in it for the money, I wouldn’t go with the veggies and fruits. Gotta keep things efficient, considering it’s a business and all. Time and cost matter when you’re running a business.

That’s why I recommend sticking to commercial duck feeds that match the purpose they’re meant for.

Recommended Reading: Protein Requirements For Ducks

What to Feed Baby Ducks? Prioritizing Protein And Calcium in Their Intake

Baby ducks, whether they’re raised indoors or part of a migrating duck family, have a common dietary habit. They need to grow upright and get their calcium for strong muscles. That’s the deal. For example, maize, lettuce, peas, or mealworm.

However, baby ducks in the wild eat insects and aquatic plants. They’ve got better immunity than those who are raised in-house.

To give a more clear picture, here’s a fun fact: Baby ducks are a bit like baby chickens in the food department. They don’t ask for much. They enjoy a mix of good stuff, some from the store and some fresh. This grub gives them all the important stuff they need to grow up strong and healthy.

Now, let’s have a look at the table below to get an idea of how you can plan to raise baby ducks, be it in the wild or the backyard.

Food Item	Nutritional Significance	Special Idea
Starter Feed	Balanced nutrition	Ducklings’ foundational diet
Dandelion Greens	Vitamins and minerals	A weekly treat
Chopped Grass and Weeds	Fiber and natural foraging	Foraging Adventure – Let them explore and find their food
Mealworms and Insects	Protein for muscle development	A daily boost for growth
Swiss Chard and Kale	Vitamins for bone health	Leafy Green Delight
Peas	Vitamins and fiber	A nutritious meal
Moistened Oatmeal	Carbohydrates and comfort	Warm and Fuzzy Breakfast – A cozy start to the day

Related Reading:

• What To Feed Baby Ducks
• Are Ducks Carnivores, Herbivores or Omnivores

What Do Ducks Eat During Mating Season? Plant Matters And Insects

In the United States, ducks typically mate in the winter season. It can be anytime between December and March. However, here’s what I’ve found ducks eat during their mating season the most:

• Plant matter: Ducks typically consume a significant amount of plant matter during the reproduction season. This can include aquatic plants, grasses, seeds, and grains.
• Insects: Insects are often an important protein source for ducks during the breeding season. They may actively seek out insects as supplementary food sources.
• Aquatic invertebrates: Some duck species, especially those that forage in water, may feed on aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans and mollusks.

What Do Ducks Eat Regardless of Breed? Every Possible Food!

In this section, we will thoroughly go through the foods that ducks can consume. No matter which breed it is or what is their usual diet. I’ll cover what’s good to eat and what’s a no-go. So, keep on reading!

Veggies are the Best Meal!

It is the top pick for ducks because it has nutrients that no other foods can provide. 

Do Ducks Eat All the Vegetables?

No. Ducks can’t eat all the vegetables. Although, it’s true that vegetables are the most reliable pick. But we know nothing is unparalleled. Even a star also falls from the sky!

However, let’s know the safe and unsafe vegetables for your feathered friends.

10 Safe Vegetables for Ducks

When I say it’s safe, I mean vegetables that won’t cause any trouble. Mainly, if the vegetables have enough water, carbohydrates, protein, lipids, and calcium, they are good for ducks.

Here’s a list of vegetables that provide the ideal amount of nutrients and are less likely to cause any trouble. 

See, this isn’t the end of the list. There are so many vegetables that ducks will eat. That is a modified list where I only put vegetables that are my pick based on their nutritional significance. 

6 Unsafe Vegetables: 2 Veggies Are Prohibited

Vegetables that are unsafe for having toxicity and harmful chemical compounds are given below:

1. Mushrooms (Toxic and deadly)
2. Onion (Contains harmful chemicals like Thiosulfate )
3. Garlic (Contains harmful chemicals like Thiosulfate )
4. Ruharb Leaves (Toxic and contain oxalic acid)

Now, vegetables that are completely prohibited are listed below:

1. Eggplant
2. Nightshade vegetables (such as tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers)

‘Why vegetables are the most eligible pick for a duck’s diet? You may have your answer here: What Vegetables Can Ducks Eat?

Fruits Complement the Diet: 7 Fruits That Stand Out!

Consider fruit as the dessert for your ducks so that it’ll complete their dietary needs. Just practice precautions while giving them fruits.

Now, let’s have a look at our top 7 fruit picks and how much key nutrition for ducks they provide:

Fruit(100g)	Carbohydrates	Fiber	Lipid (Fat)	Protein	Sugar
Apples	12g	1.3g	0.13g	0.27g	10g
Bananas	22.8g	2.6g	0.33g	1.09g	12.2g
Strawberries	7.68g	2g	0.3g	0.67	4.89g
Blueberries	85	4g	0.33g	0.74g	9.96g
Raspberries	11.9g	6.5g	0.65g	1.2g	4.42
Grapes	13.9g	3.9g	0.47g	0.81g	No sugar
Watermelon	7.55g	0.4g	0.15g	0.61g	6.2g

All data has been collected from the official database of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Here

• Fruits with red marked nutritions mean they have a few risks but won’t cause severe trouble.
• Green-marked fruits are completely safe. Just do not overfeed.

Note: This is not an absolute list. You can surely feed them other fruits. You may consider the fruits below as well: 

1. Mango
2. Papaya
3. Kiwi
4. Pears
5. Peaches
6. Plums

Just avoid seeds for most of the fruits and feed them the flesh part. Avoid fruits that are too sweet and contain a high sugar ratio. 

Which Fruits Are Unsafe for Ducks?

Citrus fruits are often said to avoid feeding ducks. Citrus family fruits may bother their calcium absorption. Plus, it also disturbs the reproduction of ducks. 

Due to the high citric acids, citrus fruits cause plenty of problems for ducks’ health. So just avoid them. Some of the prime examples of citrus fruits are:

1. Lemons
2. Limes 
3. Grapefruit
4. Oranges

Also, the big no is in the case of feeding avocados to ducks. Especially the skin, pit, and leaves.

‘You may spend 5 minutes reading our study here: ‘Can Ducks Eat Fruits?’

Nuts and Grains Are a Threat When Overfeeding!

Nuts and grains can be given to ducks carrying harmful pathogens, which can be quite risky. It’s what I found in research performed by the American Society for Microbiology. But some nuts and grains are safe and quite nutritious for your ducks. For example, in moderation, nuts like walnuts, peanuts, and pistachios and grains such as corn, wheat, barley, oats, and rice are safe.

Nuts And Grains are Fatty

In most cases, nuts and grains are extremely high in fat and carbohydrates. Excessive carb and nut consumption will lead your ducks to have various health problems, like heart attacks, being overweight, and obesity. But you can offer them a little. No worries. I am discouraging you, as I saw ducks enjoying nuts and grains when fed properly.

Why Nuts And Grains Despite Having Cheaper Substitutes?

There are cheaper substitutes available in the market, which will be so good as a nutritional pick for your ducks.

Adult ducks might be a little benefited as they are high in carbohydrates, so they will get some strength. For baby ducks, they may not be a good choice if you’re not grinding them properly, which will cause choking troubles for them.

Related Reads:

• Healthy Treats For Ducks
• Nuts diet for ducks
• Grain diet for ducks
• Different Seeds for Ducks

Herbs Are Gold! But Be Aware of 3 Herbs!

Herbs, in general, are one of the best picks for your ducks. Why? Because herbs are mainly leaves. They won’t cause any choking troubles, neither will they cause any digestion difficulties. 

So, what are the perfect herbs for ducks? To answer it, I guess knowing what not to pick will help you more to clear the picture.

Let’s have a look at a few unsafe herbs that should not be in ducks’ diet.

Herbs	Why Unsafe?	Difficulties	Moderation Allowed?
1. Bay Leaves	Has Tannin and essential oil	Digestive and registry problems	Yes. Once a week.
2. Chives	Thiosulphates	Can damage the red blood cells	Yes. It can help baby ducks grow faster. Once a week is preferred.
3. Garlic	Thiosulphates	Can be toxic in large quantities	Yes. Can help baby ducks grow faster. Once a week is preferred.

Look, the herbicides I marked unsafe can be given as well. But maintaining an ideal quantity would be fine. So, anything that is herb can be given to ducks, but be cautious about the quantity; that’s it.

Do Ducks Eat Cooked Or Processed Stuff?

Yes, ducks even eat processed foods like bread and rice. It is the wild ducks that eat human foods that are left over in the jungle or near a pond.

But ducks should not eat cooked food like cooked rice, oats, and even pasta. Do not exclude cooked corn, beans, fish, and chicken from this list as well. Ducks shouldn’t eat them all.

Cooked food that has added sugar and salt is always an unwise pick for the duck. These foods will cause digestive difficulties and other problems, like diarrhea and being overweight.

Related Reading: 14 Things Not To Feed Your Ducks

FAQs

Are you searching for something else? Have your eyes here!

Bottom Line

So, what do ducks eat? The summary is that ducks are the ultimate foodies! From veggies to aquatic snacks, they’ve got quite the menu. But beware of citrus fruits.  Whether they’re in a park or out in the wild, ducks know how to find a good meal. 

Let’s just ensure they get a healthy feast and keep exploring their tastes. Keep their plates colorful, and enjoy their adorable appearance!

Sources and References:

• https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-should-i-feed-my-ducks/
• https://poultry.ces.ncsu.edu/backyard-flocks-eggs/other-fowl/feeding-ducks/
• https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/food/vegetables.shtml
• https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/whywaterfowlmigrate_du.pdf
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15890236/