food plate healthy dinner

Can Ducks Eat Celery? (Answered)

by Alex Kountry
Updated on

If you keep ducks as pets or you rear them for their eggs, then you definitely want to know the types of foods they eat.

Most especially what kinds of vegetables they can eat and how to prepare it for them.

Can ducks eat celery? Duck can eat celery as it provides them with essential nutrients and vitamins like vitamins A, C, K and more. It also provides them with a healthy dose of riboflavin which is a good source of vitamin B complex. And do not forget the calcium content as it ensures your birds have strong egg shells.

What are the health benefits of celery for ducks?

food plate healthy dinner

Now we know that celery is absolutely beneficial and healthy for ducks, let’s see in detail some of the health benefits of celery for your ducks

Celery is a vegetable that has been used in cooking for a very long time.

And it is usually the thick, crisp, fibrous stalk that is usually consumed the most.

It is the same family as carrots, parsley and parsnips.

The stalk is long and tough and has bright green leaves at the top.

1. Celery is a great source of important antioxidants for your birds

One thing that your birds need for a healthy growth is antioxidants as these help protect their cells, blood vessels, and organs from oxidative damage.

Celery contains vitamin C, beta carotene and flavonoids plus over 12 additional kinds of antioxidant nutrients.

2. Celery helps reduce inflammation

Celery also contains phytonutrients which has been shown to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, cells, blood vessels and organs of ducks.

The seeds have over 25 anti-inflammatory compounds that help reduce inflammation in the body.

3. Celery helps support digestion

One very important reason for feeding ducks with celery and vegetables is that it offers protection to their entire digestive tract 

This is because it contains a compound known as apiuman, which is a pectin based polysaccharides which helps reduce stomach ulcer, improve the lining of the stomach and also modulate stomach secretions.

Also the high water content and generous amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber all support a healthy digestive tract of ducks.

4. Celery is rich in vitamins and minerals with a low glycemic index.

Celery contains vitamins that have a low glycemic index which means that it has a slow, steady effect on their blood sugar.

5. Celery has an alkalizing effect

When you feed your ducks daily, some foods will be acidic and might cause issues for them.

Feeding them celery as part of their diet will ensure that it has a neutralizing effect on the acidic foods and also necessary for essential body functions.

Do ducks like celery?

If you ask anyone whether they like vegetables, then the answer you are going to get will be a no.

This is because vegetables like celery are bland and tasteless and may be a little harder for them to eat, being a more fibrous vegetable than others.

But we can see from the above health benefits, that celery is very healthy for them

One thing you should also consider is that ducks do not have teeth, they have flat beaks and as such cannot grind or crush food before eating them.

So if you are only feeding them celery, they might not like the bland taste and might just walk away and find something else.

One trick that I have found works really well for me, is to chop it up into smaller pieces and then mix it with other treats that I give them

This helps them get used to the taste and also get the health benefits from eating celery.

Can ducks eat the stems, pulp, stalk, leaves and roots?

One thing you need to know is that ducks can eat basically anything that humans eat – to an extent.

This is a general rule that you need to apply when feeding your birds table scraps.

So in the case of celery, ducks will eat everything from the stalk to the pulp, the leaves and the roots.

This is because most of the parts all contain rich nutrients and vitamins that are necessary for the well being of your birds.

The leaves contain a substantial amount of potassium, calcium, and vitamin C which is very important for strong feathers and bones.

The root, also referred to as celeriac, is edible and equally nutritious, just like other parts. 

It is an excellent source of starch and tastes just like the stalk. 

As far as vegetables are concerned, celery is one of the best treats for your flock. 

You can eat or prepare it for your animals to enjoy it alongside other foods. 

This brings us to the question of how to make celery for your birds.

How to prepare celery for ducks

Before you feed celery to your ducks, there are some minor preparations that you need to make

1. Check to ensure that it is good for consumption

The first thing you want to do is to check the expiry date and ensure that it is fresh and fit for consumption.

You want to ensure that you do not feed them anything that is going bad or already spoilt.

2. Make sure you chop it up into smaller sizes

Also you want to make sure that you cut it up in smaller sizes.

This is because celery is stringy and since ducks do not have any teeth, it is quite difficult for them to eat and grind it.

3. Mix it with their food

One thing you want to do is feed your ducks a balanced diet, so ensure that you mix celery with the other food you are feeding them

This will also mask the bland taste a bit so your ducks enjoy eating them.

4. Always feed them in moderation

Always ensure that you feed your birds a balanced diet.

This means that you do not continue feeding them celery or just one type of food when they start enjoying it.

Switch things up with their feeding and ensure you always feed them a balanced diet.

Conclusion

Ducks can eat celery as it contains numerous nutrients and vitamins that are essential for a healthy growth.

Just make sure you feed them in moderation and cut it into smaller sizes before feeding them.

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About the author

Alex Kountry

Alex Kountry is the founder of HayFarmGuy and has been a backyard farmer for over 10 years. Since then he has decided to write helpful articles that will help you become a better backyard farmer and know what to do. He also loves to play tennis and read books

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