![]() ![]() Ron suspected that the damage could have been caused by being hooked in the mouth with a fishing lure and perhaps damaged himself trying to flee. Not only that, the other ducks picked on him and chased him away. There was a mass of something sticking out on the side of his mouth (turned out it was his shriveled-up tongue). Ron noticed something wrong with that duck and thought it had a broken beak and had trouble moving its mouth. Two summers ago, a male mallard duck (drake) came up on their shore. He made one exception to the “no feeding” rule. He and his wife, Jan, live on the shores of Onota Lake in Pittsfield and have close encounters with ducks and geese daily. They’ll be more likely to develop dietary problems and become more dependent on humans for food.Ron Smith, a well-known area outdoor sportsman, knows the general rule of avoiding the feeding of wild ducks and geese. But you should remember that ducks need variety to stay healthy, so don’t feed them the same food every day. Some ducks even eat vegetables like lettuce and raddish tops. You can give wild mallard ducks other types of food that they can easily forage for. But don’t forget to check the labels on these products to avoid poisoning them. You can also give them the old bread that you have lying around the house and garden. Make sure to choose non-pesticide varieties of these foods. Fresh herbs and dandelion greens are great treats for ducks. Other types of food that you can give your ducks include fruits and vegetables. To avoid boredom, give them some of these types of food. They also enjoy pecking through leaves and other plant matter. Most mallards digest around 70% of the seeds they consume. Although they typically eat plant matter, they will also take fish, including fish eggs, if you can provide them with them. Other types of food can be used to feed wild mallard ducksīesides seeds, you can also feed wild mallard ducks other types of food. Also, avocados contain cyanide and are toxic to birds. These fruits and vegetables are highly toxic for ducks and can affect the crops. Other fruits and vegetables which should be avoided include avocados and spinach. Additionally, citrus fruits are difficult for ducks to digest and can cause stomach pain. However, it is not recommended to give your ducks any other foods.Ĭitrus fruits interfere with the absorption of calcium and lead to thin shelled eggs. If you want to keep your pet ducks healthy, you should give them plenty of fresh food and water. Food that contains high acid content and contains mold can lead to a range of illnesses and even death. In addition to the above mentioned dangers, it is also important to know how to prevent the contamination of ducks by human food. In addition to fresh vegetables and fruits, ducks also love grain-based foods. This way, you can avoid causing these birds any harm. Instead, opt for low-acid fruit and vegetable mixtures. It can cause them to develop kidney stones or die. Despite their namesake, this food is dangerous for ducks. Try these out: Avoid feeding high-acid fruits and vegetables to wild mallard ducksĪ common mistake made by pet owners is feeding their ducks high-acid fruits and vegetables. However, there are alternatives that can satisfy their cravings for bread. They’re unlikely to appreciate the nutrients in bread, which is why a high bread diet has been linked to many diseases and problems in waterfowl. Besides, when fed bread, ducks don’t have much energy to forage.īread also lacks the necessary vitamins and minerals for ducks. Additionally, ducks don’t chew their food, so bread tends to deteriorate and attract insects and worms. Bread is full of calories but lacks important nutrients that ducks get from foraging in the wild. Wild mallards eat a mixture of plants, insects, and snails. ![]() ![]() The natural diet of ducks varies between species. In contrast, most other wild duck species are shy and don’t readily approach humans. Indeed, populations of wild Mallard ducks are doing well in North America. However, it’s likely that this hasn’t affected the wild Mallard population. It’s not a new practice, and probably has been done for generations. It’s common to see people feed bread to wild Mallard ducks. Avoid feeding bread to wild mallard ducks ![]()
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