Raising ducks can be very demanding especially when it comes to selecting what kind of food they eat and what kind of food they must not eat.
Fruit however is a very important source of food for ducks and one of these fruits is Blackberries.
Can ducks eat blackberries? Duck enjoy eating blackberries because it provides them with nourishing nutrients and vitamins necessary for health growth
According to Wikipedia, the blackberry is an edible fruit produced by many species in the genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae.
Getting a knowledge about feeding your ducks is very crucial for their all round development. These days, a lot of conflict have been circulating on the issue of either feeding ducks blackberries or not.
That is why we have taken our time to make our researches carefully for you. Read on!
What Are The Health Benefits of Blackberries to Ducks?
Here is a list of the health benefits of blackberries to ducks:
- Vitamin C: Blackberries contains a high level of Vitamin C which is needed for the ducks development.Vitamin C is involved in protein synthesis and also contains antioxidant.
Vitamin C helps ducks build their immune system and fight off diseases.
- Antioxidant: Blackberries contains a high level of Vitamin C and Vitamin C in turn, has antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants slow or prevents the oxidation of harmful chemicals present in the duck’s system.
- Vitamin K: Ducks need Vitamin K for proper blood clotting when they sustain any form of injuries. That is why you need to feed your ducks enough blackberries to help them heal faster.
- Vitamin A: Blackberries also contains Vitamin A, which support the immune system and combat diseases and infections.
It helps ducks grow their bones and feathers healthy.
Are you worried about the feathers of your lovely ducks falling off? Feed them lots of blackberries and worry no more!
- These delicious fruit also contains fiber, which aids digestion process in ducks.
- Blackberries contains a chemical called polyohenols. These chemicals can help improve cognitive and motor skills in your flock.
Here’s another one:
Do you love smart ducks? Feed them blackberries and watch them turn excellent!
Asides Blackberries, What Kind of Berries Do Ducks Like?
Asides blackberries, ducks love other types of berries such as blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, strawberries, grapes, bananas, even watermelon. Ducks love them.
Ducks love colourful fruits, making blueberries an irresistible delicacy for them.
They can also eat Bilberries, often known as European blueberries.
Raspberry is also an integral part of their meal because of its nutritional benefits.
Ducks loves raisins. Drop a handful of dried grapes in their feeding bowl and you’ll find them packing away at this delicious treat.
They also love dried cranberries as well.
These berries add beneficial nutrients to ducks and they love them in return.
Can Ducks Eat Wild Berries?
Sources across the web list the types of wild berries as:
- Blackberry
- Huckleberry
- Elderberry
- Raspberry
- Salmonberry
- Mulberry
- Saskatoon serviceberry
- Muscadine
- Buffalo berry
- Bitter berry
- Chokeberry
- Cloudberry
- Thimbleberry
Blackberries, huckleberries, raspberries, salmonberries, mulberries, serviceberries, muscadine, buffalo berries and cloud berries are edible berries for ducks.
Cooked ripe elderberries are edible. However, ducks do not mind eating them uncooked, provided they are ripe.
Bittterberries and chokeberries are not edible for your ducks.
Therefore, with the exception of few, ducks can eat wild berries.
Related: Here is an article I wrote on can ducks eat celery?
What Should You Not Feed Ducks?
Ducks enjoy eating any food as long as it is sweet. What you should know is that not all sweet foods are healthy for your ducks.
Below is a list of what you should not feed your ducks:
- Bread: bread contains little nutritional value that can distort their growth. Aside that, feeding ducks bread pollute airways and attracts rodents and other pests.
- Chips: similar to bread, chips has no nutritional value for ducks.
- Crackers: crackers cause ducks to feel full up, leading to bloating
- Cereals: this is not an advisable meal for ducks. Just like bread, feeding crackers to ducks makes them feel full up, which in turn, makes them ill looking and lethargic.
- Mouldy food: since ducks are unable to fight off the damaging impacts of mouldy food, it is physically harmful for their consumption.
- Avocado: Avocado contains toxic persin, which causes the death of cells in the heart.
- White potatoes: being part of the nightshade family, white potatoes contains the toxic solanine which is not good for ducks.
- Citrus fruits: citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemons and lime interfere with calcium absorption. This leads to weaker bones and thin-shelled eggs in your ducks.
- Sweet: perhaps, you have been giving your ducks sweets as a special treat. Since they eat them, you might feel you are doing nothing wrong, but you are.
Sweet has no nutritional value for your ducks. Instead, it makes them feel full up and bloated, causing severe damage to their health.
Here is a comprehensive list I wrote on what do ducks eat
Do you know:
- Ducks eat flowers but you should avoid toxic ones like buttercups, daffodil, iris, lilies, sweet peas, tulips, lily of the valley, lupine and poppies for their health.
- Weeds and herbs are safe for your ducks to eat but you should avoid toxic ones like milkweed, pennyroyal and vetch for their health as well.
Can Baby Ducks Eat Blackberries?
Yes. Ducklings can eat blackberries.
Feeding blackberries helps ducklings grow healthier and stronger. It also fights off diseases in their body.
You can mash them up for their easier feeding.
Other fruits baby ducks can eat include tomatoes, cherries, peaches, pears, apples, bananas, and other edibles berries.
Feed them these healthy combinations and you’ll be glad to watch them grow into healthy and agile adult ducks.
We bet you would also love to hear some happy quacking from your ducklings!
An overtime of the nutritional composition of blackberries states that it contains healthy calories, polyunsaturated fat, sodium, potassium, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, sugar, protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, iron and magnesium.
These shows how important blackberries are to your ducks health.
You can add them to their food as a supplement or as part of their meal. You’ll find them pecking away and you’ll be amazed at the visible results you will get.
Dear you, ducks can eat blackberries. Go on and feed them these lovely treats!
What else do you feed your ducks? What do they love eating? Let us know in the comment section below!
