The diet for ducks is very important to keep their bones and feathers healthy. Wild ducks eats whatever they can find in and near the water, this often concludes aquatic plants, insects and small fish. Domestic ducks tends to be fed a commercial duck feed, together with grains, seeds, mealworms, vegetables and fruits. But, can ducks eat papaya?
Yes, ducks can eat papaya. They can eat the flesh and the seeds. It’s a super food that contains many vitamins and minerals, making it a very healthy snack for ducks in addition to their regular diet.
It’s no secret that ducks love to eat fruit because of it’s sweet taste. In this article we will explore the topic of ducks eating papaya and why it could be a good snack for them.
How Much Papaya Can a Duck Eat?
It’s very important that ducks don’t over papaya because it could have a negative impact on their health. A good guideline is to not give ducks treats that exceeds 10% of their overall diet and that is true when it comes to papaya as well.
Papaya Nutritional Value
Below is the nutritional value of a smaller papaya.
- Calories: 59
- Carbohydrates: 15 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
It also contains several vitamins and minerals as listed below.
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Folate (vitamin B9)
- Potassium
[Source]
Are Papaya Healthy for Ducks?
Papaya is healthy for ducks because it contains vitamins and mineral that can benefit the ducks health. It contains a high amount of antioxidants and can help the duck reduce inflammation as well as improve their heart health.
Papaya contains a high amount of vitamin C, which also can reduce stress in hot weather. The vitamin A can help the duck with stronger bones and keeping their immune system strong.
Do Ducks Like Papaya?
Ducks tends to like papaya, but as always some ducks will not like papaya so don’t be disappointed. It has a very sweet taste, which most ducks will love.
How To Feed Papaya To Ducks
A good way to feed ducks papaya is to chop into smaller pieces and serve it in a bowl with water. This makes it easier for the duck to reach the papaya and eat it, because ducks can just filter out the water leaving only the food in it’s beak.
The same rule also applies to wild ducks. So if you want to feed wild ducks at the park, remember that they might have been fed treats already, so always feed them in moderation to not cause them health issues.
More Fruit Ducks Can Eat
There are several more fruits that ducks can eat and below are some more that you can safely feed ducks.
Making your own research when it comes to new treats is important, because there are several fruits that ducks really should not eat.
Don’t forget to take a look at our detailed list of fruits that are safe for ducks.
Conclusion
To sum up, ducks can eat papaya and it would be a health snack for them. It’s for good reason that papaya is called a super fruit because of the many vitamins and minerals it contains.
One thing important thing to remember is to feed the ducks treats after their regular meals, because if they would eat treats before they could be full, rejecting their important regular meal. It’s important that the ducks have a nutritious diet and that a treat like papaya never should replace a normal meal.
Thanks for reading, take care!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only. I'm not an expert or a veterinarian.
