General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFeed Ducks Frozen (thawed) Peas, Not Bread, Wildlife Organization Urges
Still, humans love feeding ducks. It brings us joy to be able to connect and interact with wildlife in such a way.
Luckily, the Canal and River Trust says we can still feed the ducks, in moderation, with healthier foods that are closer to their natural diet.
The charity even conducted a taste test to see which healthy foods ducks like best. Heres the list:
1. Frozen peas and pea shoots (dont cook the peas, but let them thaw)
2. Sweet corn (canned, frozen or fresh)
3. Lettuce or cabbage (kale is their favorite!)
4. Oats (rolled, steel-cut, or instant, theyll love this treat in moderation)
5. Seeds (bird seed or seeds from the health food market)
6. Rice (cooked or uncooked, in moderation)
https://returntonow.net/2020/07/26/feed-ducks-frozen-peas-not-bread-wildlife-organization-urges/
Disaffected
(4,507 posts)Bread should not be fed to any birds. It can also plug up their crops (esp white bread).
Arne
(1,968 posts)One of them has angel wing.
She is however happy, in a good environment, and reproducing prolifically.
ProfessorGAC
(64,425 posts)Good suggestions, I'd say.
We hardly ever see ducks around here anymore. Lots of geese & wild turkets, but ducks are super rare.
They must be nesting & feeding in different spots than they used to.
Lars39
(26,093 posts)Raw rice will swell in water. Birds can choke in their gizzard and stomach.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)It does not seem like it would be easily digestible.
mopinko
(69,806 posts)doesnt hurt them. that's an urban legend.
FakeNoose
(32,351 posts)I'll probably share this on Facebook. It looks like good info.
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)Throck
(2,520 posts)I use to raise domestic ducks as a kid. All grain but we use to let them run the garden with the chickens to clean out the bugs. They never really bothered the vegetables and we never had to use pesticides. They would eat sprouting weeds but mature vegetables they would leave alone. Higher level organic gardening.
IcyPeas
(21,747 posts)this would, no doubt, be interesting to that group too.
NOTE: my name is IcyPeas. Please do not feed me to the birds.
Grokenstein
(5,707 posts)a pair of rolled-up paper bags some dickweasel dropped in a parking space. I was stuck waiting for a crosswalk light, so I ripped open the bags for them so they could get to whatever goodies were inside. Turned out to be ranch dressing and ground red pepper bits from a pizza place. Now I have questions:
(1) Is spicy/hot stuff like red pepper safe for crows and other birds? Do they LIKE it?
(2) Ranch dressing probably isn't good for them, but same question.
(3) What's best to give to crows?
Not a crow, but adorable:
gladium et scutum
(803 posts)I feed birds suet cakes impregnated with cayenne pepper. The squirrels will not touch the stuff, but various species of birds eat it up without problems. A friend of mine told me she feeds her parrot habanero peppers without any ill effect. I guess birds digestive systems react different to capsicums than us mammals.
mopinko
(69,806 posts)that's why a lot of parrot seed mixes contain peppers. otherwise very healthy.
ranch dressing wont hurt them.
Arne
(1,968 posts)farmbo
(3,120 posts)I have a 100 or so ducks (mostly mallards with a few Woodies) that have been over-wintering on my pond for the past 20 years... and I have yet to hear a single complaint.