Tomatoes are a fruit that’s popular in the kitchen. It can be used to make salsa, soups, stews, smoothies, and sauces. If you enjoy eating tomatoes, you’ll probably grow them in the garden or stock them up at home. If you are raising ducks, you may wonder if you can feed tomatoes to them.
So can ducks eat tomatoes? Yes, ducks can eat tomatoes, but only the flesh. Avoid the leaves and stems as they contain toxins. While tomatoes are nutritious and healthy for the ducks to eat, they also contain a lot of water. Too much water in their diet can cause the ducks to have digestive issues such as diarrhea and an upset stomach. To avoid any health issues, it’s best to feed tomatoes to the ducks in moderation.
Is It Safe For Ducks To Eat Tomatoes?
Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family of plants. This means the tomatoes contain a toxin known as solanine. For ducks, this toxin can be deadly, even in a small amount.
Not all parts of the tomatoes have the toxins though. Only the leaves and vines contain the toxin.
For that reason, to keep the ducks safe, only feed them the flesh part of the tomatoes.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes for Ducks
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals. It’s has a lot of the nutrients that the ducks need on a daily basis.
Below are the nutrients in a small (100-gram) raw tomato:
- Calories: 18
- Water: 95%
- Protein: 0.9 grams
- Carbs: 3.9 grams
- Sugar: 2.6 grams
- Fiber: 1.2 grams
- Fat: 0.2 grams
The above data is from the USDA
Below are some of the health benefits of feeding tomatoes to your ducks:
Promote Healthy Digestive System
Tomatoes are a good source of fiber, which is important for the overall health of the digestive system.
Fiber helps increase the weight and size of the stool and soften it. This makes it easier for food that ducks have digested to move smoothly through the digestive tract.
For ducks that have loose stool, fiber can help solidify the stool because it absorbs water and adds bulks to stool.
Provide Hydration
The tomato plant is high in water content, which is made up of about 95% water.
The water in the tomato will help keep the ducks hydrated, especially during the summer when it’s extremely hot. Ducks are active creatures and they tend to lose a lot of water. You can give them tomatoes every few days to keep them hydrated.
Be sure to not give them too many tomatoes as it could cause them to have diarrhea.
Prevent Illness
Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C. This vitamin helps strengthen the immune system of the duck. When the immune system is strong, the duck will less likely to become ill.
If the duck does become ill, plenty of vitamin C like those in tomatoes will help them recover from the illness quickly.
Can Duckling Eat Tomatoes?
Yes, duckling can eat tomatoes. Just make sure the tomatoes are fresh and not have any mold on them.
When feeding them tomatoes, make sure to mush them first. This will make it easier for the ducklings to digest it.
Besides tomatoes, ducklings should be feeding on starter feeds to help them grow strong and healthy. This feed has been formulated with the right amount of nutrients to help the duckling grow.
Can Ducks Eat Tomato Leaves And Stems?
No, ducks cannot eat the leaves and stems of the tomato plant. They contain solanine, which is a toxin that is harmful to the ducks.
In a small amount, the toxin can cause them health issues, especially to their digestive system. In large amounts, it can be fatal to them.
For this reason, remove the leaves and stems from the tomato before feeding them to the duck.
How To Feed Tomatoes To Ducks
Ducks can be fed tomatoes either as mashed or cut into pieces. Do not give them a whole tomato, especially small ones as it could get lodged in their throat. Large tomatoes will be too hard for the ducks to eat.
Before you feed them tomatoes, make sure to wash them well. This will help remove any dirt and debris that may be on it. Then remove the stem and leaves from the tomato. This should leave you with just the tomato plant.
With a sharp knife, slice the tomato in halves. Then dice the tomato into small cubes. Ducks don’t have any teeth to chew their food so you’ll want to make it as small as possible for them to digest it.
If you’re going to mash it, place the tomatoes into a blender and blend it until the texture is like a smoothie.
Place the tomatoes into their feeding bowl or scattered the cubes of tomatoes on the ground for them to eat.
How Many Tomatoes Can A Duck Eat?
Tomatoes are very nutritious and it makes a great snack for ducks, but you should limit the amount they can eat.
For baby ducks, give them a small piece of tomato. Make sure to mush it first so that it will be easier for them to digest it.
For adult ducks, you can give them a half slice of tomato.
How Often Can Have A Duck Eat Tomatoes?
Tomatoes should be fed to the ducks in moderation. They have too much water which could cause the ducks digestive issues.
This means a few times per week is plenty for them to enjoy. If it’s during the summer months, you can give them tomatoes every 2 days to keep them hydrated.
Besides tomatoes, ducks should be fed commercial duck feeds on a daily basis. These feeds are formulated to meet the duck’s daily nutrition requirements.
Other Fruits That Ducks Can Eat
Pineapples
Pineapples make a good treat for ducks due to their high nutritional content. However, pineapple is also high in sugar and water which can cause them health issues. To prevent any issue, feed pineapple to the ducks in moderation.
Fresh pineapple is the best way to feed them and only give them the flesh. The skin of the pineapple can cause irritation for the ducks.
Also, avoid canned pineapples as they tend to have a lot of processed sugar.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate is another fruit that’s great for feeding ducks. Make sure to only feed them the seeds inside. It’s nutritious and healthy for the ducks. When feeding them pomegranates, only give feed them in a small amount to prevent impacted crops.
Apples
Apples make a tasty treat for ducks. Due to their sweet taste, ducks will eat as much as you give them. However, since apples are high in water and sugar content, only feed them in small amounts. Too much can cause the ducks to have health issues such as diarrhea and obesity.
When feeding them apples, it’s important to remove the seeds out first. The seed contains cyanide and is very toxic to the ducks, even in a small amount.
Conclusion
Tomatoes make a good treat for ducks. Just make sure to throw away the vines and leaves before feeding them tomatoes. This fruit has a lot of nutrients, but it also has a lot of water. Too much water in their diet can cause them to have diarrhea and an upset stomach. For that reason, feed the tomatoes to the ducks in moderation to prevent any health issues.
