Ducks being omnivores eat both plant and animals. Wild ducks tends to eat aquatic plants, fishes and mollusks. Duck don’t chew their food, but rather grab the food in the water and then filter the water away to eat what’s left. Domestic ducks however eat mostly pellets, grains and mealworms. They also love treats such as fruit and vegetables, but can ducks eat cabbage?
Yes, ducks can eat cabbage both raw and cooked. Cabbage contains several healthy vitamins and minerals, making it a very healthy snack for ducks.
Eating vegetables can be very beneficial for ducks and cabbage is not different. In this article we will explore ducks eating cabbage and learn more about it’s nutritional impact it can have on ducks.
How Much Cabbage Can a Duck Eat?
When ducks eats a treat like cabbage it should not be more than 10% of their overall diet. So giving cabbage to ducks in moderation is the best option for the ducks to stay healthy. Cabbage should not be given to ducks every day, but rather once a week.
If you are raising ducks, then giving them regular duck feed is important to give them all the nutrients that they need. That being said, serving ducks cabbage should only be done after they have eating their meal. Think of it as a dessert.
Wild ducks on the other hand can be a bit more difficult, because chances are that they already received a treat from someone else visiting their pond or park where they live. So be restrictive in feeding wild ducks treats to lower the chance of causing health issues for the duck.
Cabbage Nutritional Value
Cabbage contains many great nutrients. Below is the nutritional value of one cup cabbage:
- Calories: 22
- Protein: 1 gram
- Fiber: 2 grams
It also contains several vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin C
- Folate
- Manganese
- Vitamin B6
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
[Source]
Are Cabbage Healthy for Ducks?
Yes, cabbage is very healthy for ducks. They contain many vitamins and minerals, making it a super healthy snack for ducks. Cabbage may help ducks reduce inflammation and keep their heart healthy. Cabbage is low in calories, which means ducks can eat much of it, in addition to their regular diet.
Cabbage is rich in vitamin K and C, which has some great health benefits for ducks. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that can help ducks keeping their immune systems strong and it can also help them reduce stress in hot weather.
Do Ducks Like Cabbage?
Yes, ducks tend to love cabbage. It’s low in calories, enabling the ducks to eat more of than many other vegetables. Whenever I feed ducks cabbage, they eat everything I give them. Make sure the cabbage is fresh so it tastes better.
How To Feed Cabbage To Ducks
Feeding domestic ducks or wild ducks is pretty much the same and it’s good to know how to serve cabbage to ducks. You can either cook the cabbage or serve it raw. Start with chopping it to smaller pieces to avoid the risk of ducks choking.
You can them either feed it to them in a bowl or place it water to make it easier for the ducks to reach and eat it since they can filter the water and eat the tasty cabbage. If you are feeding the ducks at the park make sure to feed them in moderation to avoid the risk of the ducks become unhealthy for overeating treats.
Foods Ducks Shouldn’t Eat
Ducks tends to love eating fruits and vegetables, but there are several fruits and vegetables that ducks should not eat. So you should always research the treat you want to give to ducks to make sure it’s healthy for them and not cause any health issues. Below are some foods that ducks should not eat.
Fruits containing seeds can be unhealthy for ducks. One example are apples, where the seeds contains amygdalin that becomes cyanide when digested. The apple it self is okay for ducks to eat, but it needs to cut in small pieces to avoid choking the duck.
Bread should always be avoided because it contains low nutritional value. Bread can make the duck full and lead to the duck becoming malnourished since they might not eat their regular diet. Plants and animals is ducks natural diet, which gives them the nutrition they need.
Popcorn should avoid eating popcorn. It also hold no nutritional value, butter, salt and can be hard for them to swallow.
Citrus fruits should also not be fed to ducks. It’s thought to impact their calcium absorption very negatively, that could make their egg shells thin and fragile.
Other Vegetables Ducks Can Eat
Vegetables are a great treat for wild and domestic ducks, below is a small list of some good veggies they can eat.
Always make sure that the vegetables you want to feed ducks are okay, if you want to can check our list of vegetables ducks can eat.
Conclusion
Cabbage is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals making it a very healthy treat for ducks. They can eat a lot of it, but not more than 10% of their overall diet. Overfeeding ducks on cabbage is hard, making it a good treat to start feeding your ducks.
Domestic ducks are mostly fed commercial duck feed pellets and giving them treats, will give them new taste experiences and make them happy. Wild ducks on the other hand, can be given treats often at ponds and parks by different people visiting, so make sure to feed them in moderation.
Avoid feeding them bread, citrus fruits, popcorn and avocados. These are just some of many foods that ducks should or can’t eat, so always make your research before feeding ducks.
Thanks for reading, take care!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only. I'm not an expert or a veterinarian.
