Apples are a popular fruit due to their taste, nutrition, and versatile uses. These fruits can be eaten fresh, used in a fruit salad, make delicious apple pie, or smoothies. If you own a flock of ducks, you may wonder if you can feed them apples.
So can ducks eat apples? Yes, ducks can eat apples. All part of the apples can be fed to the ducks, except for the seeds. Avoid the seeds as they contain cyanide and this is toxic for the ducks, even in a small amount.
Is It Safe For Ducks To Eat Apples?
Apples are safe for ducks to eat, except for the seeds. The seeds contain cyanide which is toxic for the ducks.
The flesh and skin of the apple are very nutritious and it doesn’t contain any toxins.
However, apples do contain a high amount of sugar and water. Too much of both of these can be harmful to the ducks.
Sugar in high amounts will cause the ducks to become obese. Too much water will cause the ducks to have digestive issues such as diarrhea and an upset stomach.
Health Benefits of Apples for Ducks
Apple is a fruit packed with vitamins, minerals, and many other nutrients. This makes apples a great treat for the ducks as they can benefit a lot from them.
One medium apple — 6.4 ounces or 182 grams — offers the following nutrients:
- Calories: 95
- Carbs: 25 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Vitamin C: 14% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
- Potassium: 6% of the RDI
- Vitamin K: 5% of the RDI
The above data is from the USDA
Below are some of the health benefits of feeding apples to the ducks:
Improve Digestion
Apple is high in fiber, which makes them great for the digestive system. Fiber helps regulate regular bowel movement so food will move smoothly through the digestive tract.
Also, ducks that are fed plenty of fiber will have a lesser chance of having constipation.
Prevent Cell Damage
Apples are high in antioxidants. This compound helps prevent cell damage due to free radicals.
Free radicals are molecules that can damage and the cells in the body. This is caused by natural metabolism in the duck, foods that they eat, cigarette smoke, and radiation.
By feeding the ducks food like apples that are high in antioxidants, they will have a lesser chance of cell damage and developing cancer.
Prevent Illness
Apples are a good source of vitamin C. This vitamin helps protect the ducks from becoming ill.
By feeding them plenty of food high in vitamin C like apples, the duck will less likely to become sick. If they do become ill, feeding them plenty of apples will help the duck recover from the illness quickly.
Can Duckling Eat Apples?
Yes, duckling can eat apples. Before feeding them, make sure to remove the seeds first.
Unlike adult ducks, the duckling will need the apples to be mashed first. They are unable to eat apples in small pieces. By mashing the apples first, it will make it easier for them to eat and digest them.
Can Ducks Eat Apple Skin?
Yes, ducks can eat apple skin. The skin of the apple is rich in vitamins and minerals. For that reason, it’s a good idea to feed not just the flesh, but also the skin to the ducks.
However, only give them the apple peels if you know where it’s from. If it’s bought from the grocery stores, more than likely it will have grown using chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. These chemicals can be harmful to the ducks.
On the other hand, if the apples were grown organically, you should not hesitate to give them the skin of the apple too.
Can Ducks Eat Apple Seeds?
No, ducks should not eat apple seeds. The seeds contain cyanide which is toxic to the ducks.
Also, due to the seed’s small size, it can also cause the duck to choke on it.
How To Feed Apples To Ducks
Feeding apples to the ducks is pretty much straightforward. You can either feed just the apples to them or mix them with other fruits.
If you’re going to feed the ducks just the apple, start by washing it thoroughly. This will remove any dirt and debris from the apple.
You can either feed them just the flesh or with the skin attached. If it’s bought from the store, it’s a good idea to peel the skin off first, unless it’s an organically grown apple.
Then cut the apple in halves and remove all the seeds. Make sure to discard the apple seeds away from the ducks.
From here, you can cut the apple into small cube pieces or mash them up. If you’re going to feed baby ducks, make sure it’s mashed.
Toss the pieces of apple to the ducks or place them in their feeding bowl.
How Much Apple Can A Duck Eat?
While apples are highly nutritious, they should not be fed to the ducks too much.
For baby ducks, they should be given a small number of apples in mashed form. This will make it easier for them to eat and digest it.
For adult ducks, you can give them an apple that has been cut into small cubes.
How Often Can Have A Duck Eat Apples?
Ducks should be fed apples in moderation. About once or twice per week is enough for them to enjoy apples.
There are two reasons why you should not feed them apples often, even though it’s full of nutrition. The first reason is due to the high amount of water content in the apple. Ducks that ingest a lot of water will cause them to have digestive issues such as diarrhea and an upset stomach.
The second reason is that an apple is high in sugar content. Too much sugar is bad for ducks as it will cause them to become obese. Ducks tend to gain weight very quickly and feeding them apples often will cause them.
Also, apples could cause them to have high blood pressure.
Therefore, to keep the ducks from having any health issues, feed apples to them in moderation.
Other Fruits That Ducks Can Eat
Peaches
Peaches are great for ducks to eat. It’s packed with nutrition that the ducks can benefit from. Remove the seeds from the peach and cut them into bits of pieces before feeding them. If you’re going to feed ducklings, mash the peaches first so it will be easier for them to eat them.
Blueberries
Blueberries are soft and nutritious, which makes a great treat for ducks. Since the fruit is soft, you can simply toss a few of them to the ducks. Due to their high sugar content, only feed the ducks in moderation.
Bananas
Bananas are another fruit that’s loaded with nutrition. This makes them a good treat for ducks on occasion. You can feed the entire banana to them which includes the flesh and peel.
However, if the bananas are not organically grown, it’s best to throw away the peels. The chemicals used to grow the bananas will be in the peels.
Conclusion
Apples make a tasty treat for your ducks. It’s full of nutrition that the ducks need and they’ll enjoy eating it too. Just make sure to feed apples to them in moderation to avoid any health issues.
