If you keep ducks as pets, or you rear them for their eggs, then one thing you constantly have to worry about is feeding them.
When I started keeping ducks in my backyard, I will constantly worry about what they eat and if I am feeding them the right thing.
Can ducks eat spiders? Ducks can eat spiders and any bugs they find. This is because they enjoy digging and foraging for insects and eating them. Having ducks around your backyard will also help keep the insect population down as your ducks will act as a natural insect killer.
Is it okay for ducks to eat spiders?
I know it may come across as being gross to you and I for eating spiders, but for ducks it is perfectly normal for them.
In the wild, a good portion of their diet involves eating insects and bugs that they find from foraging and scratching in the mud.
Ducks require a high amount of protein in their diets and eating spiders and other insects that they find can supply this and other nutrients that they need to maintain good health.
Another thing you can use is mealworms, which can be used as a protein boosting supplement for your birds.
As a side, in some parts of the world humans eat big hairy spiders and it is even considered a delicacy by them.
What are the environmental benefits of ducks eating spiders?
Another very important reason for your ducks eating spiders is that it helps to keep the insect population down.
When you have ducks in your backyard, the amount of creepy crawlies and bugs in your backyard will go down significantly
Also on a large scale, there has been some push for people to introduce insect based diets for their ducks and other birds.
This is because using plants that are commonly used in feeding birds such as soy has a negative impact on the environment.
There are sustainability and supply issues with soy, in particular, and the carbon footprints keep growing for the manufacturing plants growing it.
This is why it is advisable to go for bugs and insects because they present a more organic approach even though it might not be as cost efficient at this time.
Are spiders dangerous to ducks?
If you are like me, then you must be very scared of spiders and you most definitely want to know if spiders are dangerous to ducks
The simple answer is that yes – spiders can be harmful to your birds if they are poisonous and can cause harm to your birds.
The good news is that there are not many poisonous spiders around today and they will certainly not be found in your backyard
Here is a list of spiders to be aware of that can cause harm to both your birds and yourself.
- Brown Recluse Spider
- Black Widow Spider
- Red Widow Spider
- Hobo Spider
- Funnel Web Grass Spider
- Brown Widow Spider
- Wolf Spider
It is a good idea to do some research and find out what types or species of spiders are usually found in your area.
What kinds of insects do ducks eat?
Ducks can and will eat up any living creature small enough for them to gobble up
Some of the largest creatures I have heard ducks eating include snakes, frogs, tadpoles, lizards and other similar sized animals.
So ducks enjoy eating insects and other smaller animals as they make for a quick snack and most of them are high in protein content.
To give you a general idea, here are some insects that your ducks can eat
- Termites
- Beetles,
- stink bugs,
- centipedes,
- ants,
- millipedes,
- slugs,
- snails,
- ticks,
- hookworms,
- grasshoppers,
- mosquitoes,
- flies,
- ladybugs,
- roaches,
- Silverfish
Are there other insects that are dangerous to ducks?
Poisonous spiders are not the only insects you need to be aware of.
There are some other insects that are bad for your birds and you need to know them
Here they are
- Red Harvester Ants – These are usually found in large numbers and can cause so much pain and damage to your ducks
- Striped Bark Scorpions – Personally I do not think anyone should experience the pain the suckers cause
- Puss Caterpillars –
- Asian Giant Hornets
- Mosquitoes – ducks can also get bitten by mosquitoes which might give them malaria. So you want to ensure that you regularly fumigate their coop to get rid of all insects and bacteria.
Conclusion
Ducks do eat spiders. It is natural for ducks to eat spiders and other smaller insects as bugs provide some good nutrition such as proteins and minerals
Basically you also want to make sure that your birds are not exposed to dangerous bugs and insects.
Regularly fumigate and air their coop so they are free from such insects and bug.
