Monday, January 30, Ducks are charming, playful creatures that bring joy and life to any backyard or farm. Their curious nature and diverse diet make them easy to care for, but it's crucial to know what foods ducks can and can not safely eat. Some items are just not good for your ducks to ingest. We are sending out this PSA so that you can be aware of these toxic foods. Ducks should avoid the following foods for the sake of their general health.
Here are the top contenders: ONIONS Onions are toxic to ducks due to the presence of an inorganic compound called thiosulfate which is difficult for ducks to digest, and which can lead to several health issues when overfed to waterfowl.
Thiosulfate can destroy the red blood cells in birds and cause them to become anemic. Feeding garlic or onion to ducks is a bad idea. This includes coffee, tea, matcha, and coffee grounds. Caffeine contains a toxin called methylxanthine which has adverse effects on waterfowl.
Caffeine has been shown to cause lung and heart-related deaths in ducks. Chocolate also contains caffeine as well as a chemical called theobromine. Chocolate Toxicosis is the syndrome resulting from ingesting an excessive amount of methylxanthine-containing chocolate products. Clinical effects include agitation and hyperthermia to name a few. Severe cases result in seizures. Junk food for people is bad and it is likewise bad for ducks.
Crackers and other salty, sugar-laden fatty foods cause ducks to gain weight too quickly. This rapid accumulation of weight will cause a duck to develop leg problems because too much added strain is placed on their legs. Additionally, ducks can easily die of a salt overdose.
