What Do Mallard Ducks Eat? 4-Star Pick While They’re Captivated

What do mallard ducks eat? Mallard ducks have a preference for plant stuff like seeds, stems, and roots. They’re also into water bugs, small fish, and tiny sea creatures. When winter comes and they’re off to the northern US, grains become their go-to meal. However, interestingly, Mallard ducks as pets can also be fed fruits, herbs, and veggies! 

Even though these versatile ducks usually live in the wild, they can also be awesome pets! I’m coming up with more details on what they chew on in different conditions. Keep reading!

What Do Mallard Ducks Eat? Water Plants and Creatures

Mostly, they eat plants like smartweed and pondweed. They also like chewing on plant parts like stems, roots, and seeds. Oh, and don’t forget about insects, squishy mollusks, and tiny fish too. Let’s keep on exploring!

How Do Mallard Ducks Eat?

Mallard ducks are called dabbling ducks. Personally, Mallard ducks and their hunting method seem to be a very cool method. Instead of diving in the water, they lean forward in the water.

Sometimes they even flip their bodies upside down in shallow water to grab underwater plants and small fishes. They do it all while their tails and backends are above the water. Fascinating, isn’t it?

What Do Baby Mallards Eat? Aquatic Plants, Insects, and Larvae

Baby ducks, in general, have a premature digestive system. Plus, they aren’t highly expert in foraging in the water like the adults. So, they often eat plants and insects. 

Here’s a list of foods that are part of Mallard ducklings. Depending on the season, their food preference and availability may vary.

6 Common Foods Mallard Ducks Eat in Park

In parks in the United States, Mallard ducks are often seen no whether it’s a public park or a wildlife reserve. In there, Mallard ducks mostly eat aquatic plants and insects. But do not exclude grains, bread, and other leftover foods from the list as well. 

Here’s a short description of what Mallard ducks eat in the Park:

1. Aquatic Plants: Mallards often eat aquatic plants such as duckweed and pondweed that are available in the ponds or similar water resources in the park. 
2. Insects: Aquatic insects particularly. For example, mosquito larvae and water beetles. They do find crickets and caterpillars while foraging in the park as well. 
3. Grains: Since the place is a park, especially if it is in an urban area, people come around and often feed mallards. In that consideration, grains are one of the key sources of consumption while in the park setting. For instance, corn, wheat, and oats.
4. Seeds: Seeds of fruits aren’t widely recommended for ducks, we know. But mallards do consume seeds while in the park. It is mostly aquatic plant seeds such as smartweed and sedges.
5. Small fish: Small fish that are available in the nearest pond basically. Although, fishes aren’t known to be consumed a lot by the Mallards. But they do eat small aquatic creatures like minnows and tadpoles.
6. Bread: Mallard ducks might ingest bread, but it’s not good for them. Research in the UK figured out that bread isn’t a healthy snack for ducks. Will County discourages feeding bread to ducks, as excessive bread consumption can even lead them to death.

Remember, their food habit and preferences may vary depending on the place, region, and environment. In the park, they may consume what is given by humans the most. 

What to Feed Mallard Ducks While in Backyard? 4 Top Choices!

See, Mallard ducks are wild duck variants. So, what they eat in the wild isn’t the same, while it is about what to feed them in the backyard. However, if the duck is captivated or in a backyard setting, the feeding is kind of the same. You may feed them both fruits, veggies, grains, and herbs. 

Here’s why I suggest those to feed.

1. Fruits: When it comes to fruits, it’s better to give them the juicy parts and skip the skin, seeds, and stems. Fruits are packed with stuff like fiber, protein, fat, and sugar – all the nutrients boost their health and overall well-being.
2. Veggies: Absolutely fine for ducks. These are packed with all essential nutrients such as fiber, carbohydrates, and lipids and can potentially contribute to a duck’s overall well-being, digestion, and immunity. 
3. Grains: A pretty good choice when the duck is in captivated condition. Grains are common in our homes and can easily be given to the ducks. Plus, grains are pretty nutritious for ducks and don’t create any massive trouble if given in ideal quantity. 
4. Herbs: Herbs are the star pick for ducks. These are easily digestible and come with plenty of nutrients. 

Here are my top picks for Mallard ducks while it is a pet or in the backyard.

Let Them Forage For a While

Do consider that they need to forage daily even though they’re currently your pets. Doing so will keep their natural instinct alive. They will also hunt insects and bugs or take aquatic plants and other creatures that will provide them with essential nutrients like protein and fiber.

What Should I Give Them Every Day?

In this case, I always advise you to keep things moderate. That is the key to keeping your ducks healthy and in a good state of health. Be it fruits, veggies, or herbs –  do not cross the limit which is ideal for them. Doing so will make them all suffer from various health problems. 

How much is their daily intake? That’s not specific. But you may understand it yourself while feeding them. In general, ducks consume 170g – 180g of food. So, just be assured how much is comfortable for them. 

Experts suggest feeding them grains because these are available and do not overfeed fruits to them. Oh one more thing, Mallards are good for both egg and meat production. So, make sure they’re taking enough nutrients like protein and energy to stay strong, grow fast, and reproduce well.

What Do Mallard Ducks Eat While Nesting? Female Mallards Consume Less

During nesting, Mallards usually rely on their fat reserves. They do not overeat at that time. Lady Mallards are the ones mainly in charge of nesting. They mostly stay put, except for specific times like mornings or late afternoons for snacks.

In these times, they leave the nest for a short while and forage. What do they eat? They eat whatever they find. She may have some insects, aquatic vegetation, or crustaceans at that time because these are vastly available. 

According to the Wildlife Center in Virginia,  the lady mallard doesn’t start keeping her eggs warm until they’re all laid out. So, she pretty much stays put and doesn’t bother with snacks while she’s busy laying her eggs.

During the incubation, she left the eggs only for a short time and foraged for food. They mostly find snails, mosquito larvae, water shrimps, midges, and dragonflies. 

Are There Any Seasonal Variations on the Mallard Diet? Winter Diet is Kind of Specific

Actually, the question should be like this – What do mallards Eat in the winter? Because their diet may get a little specified during that season. Mallards do have incredible flying ability. In the winter, they migrate and look for a place that is cooler compared to the current area. 

In general, the Northern US and Canada are where they migrate. In the winter, they often consume aquatic vegetation, seeds, and grains like acorn, corn, wheat, and rice. It is because the area they’re flying above is mostly agricultural, and they find leftover grains and all that. 

Eating grains and seeds could actually help them out. See, they need that high-carb stuff when they’re gearing up for winter flights. Grains and seeds pack the right fuel.

But this is mainly a winter deal. Except for that cold time, mallards pretty much stick to their usual diet.

Bottom Line

Mallard ducks are pretty versatile. They’re good for both meat and egg production. Even though they’re wild, you can raise them in your backyard. They’re not picky eaters, being more like all-you-can-eat buffet fans. They like water plants and insects, basically.

If you want to have them as pets, there is no need to follow any fancy trick. Mallard ducks are cool and eat whatever you offer. So, chop off some veggies and herbs, give them fruity treats now and then, and they’ll stay happy and healthy.

Sources and References:

• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/lifehistory
• https://www.wildlifecenter.org/mallard-duck-nests
• https://www.wildthingsfood.co.uk/news/5-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-feed-ducks-bread/
• https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/dont-feed-ducks-geese-bread/