It is true to say that ducks are not the most usual pets to keep on the grand scale of things, but these adorable feathery friends can make wonderful companions. It can be difficult to find all the information you need to care for ducks successfully, and one of the questions we were asked this week was whether or not ducks can eat lettuce.
So, do ducks eat lettuce? Yes, ducks can and do eat lettuce. It is not a good idea to feed lettuce to ducks as their main source of nutrition, however, feeding this vegetable in moderation will not cause your duck any harm. Ducks are known to enjoy eating lettuce as a tasty snack, in particular rocket and kale.
Let’s take a closer look at some finer details about ducks eating lettuce.
Feeding Lettuce to Ducks – The Complete Guide
This guide will teach you what type of lettuce is best for ducks to eat, how much of it they should eat, and whether wild ducks and backyard ducks differ in which types of lettuce they can eat.
What type of lettuce can ducks eat?
There are many different types of lettuce available to buy which can make it tricky to know what lettuce would be ok for your duck to eat and what would not.
You may think that lettuce is just lettuce, but this is simply not true. Some types of lettuce are much better for your duck than others.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of lettuce and whether they would be a suitable addition to your duck’s diet.
Rocket | Rocket is known to be very well liked by ducks. It can be fed raw and does not need to be precooked. Ducks are more than happy to eat this tasty snack either fresh, tinned or frozen. This leafy green has plenty of nutritional content and is high in amino acids and vitamins. |
Kale | Kale is quite possibly a ducks favourite type of lettuce to eat. They can’t seem to get enough of this stuff. It is known as a super food and therefore is very nutritious for ducks. Far better than scraps of bread which has long been associated with feeding our feathery friends. |
Iceberg Lettuce | Although iceberg is a pretty common type of lettuce for us to buy and is widely available throughout most grocery stores, you may want to limit the amount you feed to your duck. Iceberg lettuce will not cause your duck serious harm in smaller amounts, but it is known to give them loose stools due to the amount of water they drink. It also has a very low nutritional value. |
Watercress | Ducks and watercress is a bit hit and miss. Some ducks love it whilst others do not seem to recognise it as food and completely dismiss it. It boils down to trial and error with this one. It is an ideal snack for ducks as watercress is low in calories and high in nutritional content. |
Pea Shoots | Ducks tend to really like pea shoots. It is best to not cook these as ducks are known to prefer them raw which just makes life simpler for you. These are packed with vitamin C and considered to be a healthy food type for ducks however they should not be fed as a main meal. |
How much lettuce can ducks eat?
Most types of lettuce are perfectly fine for ducks to eat however some types are much more nutritious than others. Iceberg lettuce is a good example of this. It does not have a particularly high nutrition content and feeding too much to your duck can cause diarrhea. This is best to only be fed on the odd occasion and not as a complete meal.
Some other types of lettuce such as kale and rocket can be fed more freely. Both are highly nutritious and contain much-needed vitamins and minerals that are beneficial.
Vegetables in general should only be fed to your duck as a supplement to their main feed. Most owners will feed their ducks a commercially prepared mix that comes in pellet form. This should be the main feed, however, lettuce can be fed daily alongside the main feed as a supplement.
Can both wild and backyard ducks eat lettuce?
It is perfectly ok for both backyard and wild ducks to eat lettuce; however, it is much less likely than those bred in the wild will have the opportunity to eat lettuce very often.
Ducks in the wild tend to eat foods such as worms and bugs, frogs, snails, fish, fruits, and grasses. These are the types of feeds they can get hold of easily and are readily available to them.
It is much more common for domesticated ducks to be fed lettuce as the owner has full control over the content of their feed. As owners, we know how nutritious leafy vegetables are and therefore it is easy for us to provide our feathery friend’s lettuce regularly.
Does lettuce have any negative side effects for ducks?
Lettuce and other leafy vegetables are generally ok to feed your duck. Lettuce should be considered a supplement and not used as a majority feed.
Ducks can have side effects from certain foods in the exact same way we as humans can have intolerances. Ducks are individuals and what may work well for one may not work well for others.
Many foods do not agree with ducks. Bread is a typical example of that and where we may have grown up as kids feeding the ducks bread scraps in the park technically this is bad news for ducks.
Eating lettuce does not have any very negative effects for ducks however Iceberg lettuce must be fed in minimal quantities. Too much of this type of leaf green can leave your duck with loose stools. This is partially down to the amount of water ducks consume.
Can you feed ducks lettuce as their main meal?
Most leafy greens such as lettuce are perfectly fine in your duck’s diet as a supplement, but should not be used long term as the main meal of the day. It is true to say lettuce for the most part is highly nutritious for your duck however providing a complete and well-balanced diet is always best to keep them happy and healthy.
As a main meal, pellets and grains are usually best for your duck to provide all-round nutrition. This type of feed can be easily purchased in pet stores and online animal feed outlets (this is our favorite brand). These feeds are usually high in protein and usually are a good source of shell grit which provides lots of calcium to ensure strong eggshells.
Do ducks like lettuce?
It would appear that most ducks really like lettuce and other types of leafy vegetables. It can be truly really hard to say how much ducks like lettuce.
The general consensus from owners is that their ducks can’t get enough of vegetables and many regularly feed their duck’s lettuce as a nutritious supplement along with other types of vegetables.
What other vegetables can ducks eat?
Ducks can eat most types of vegetables in their diets. Problems usually only occur when feeding your duck too much of one vegetable. Ducks can also eat certain types of fruits which can be an extra treat or addition to vegetables and their main meal.
| Vegetables | Fruits |
Lettuce (Rocket, watercress, peas shoots) | Berries |
Kale | Melons |
Cabbage | Grapes |
Collards | Bananas |
Chard | Plums |
Zucchini | Watermelon |
All types of squash | Pears |
Sweet Potato | Peaches |
Turnip | Strawberries |
Parsnips | |
Radishes | |
Carrots |
Are there any vegetables that ducks should avoid?
Vegetables are generally safe for ducks to consume in controlled quantities. The same applies to fruits that can be a great alternative as a treat.
Fruits to avoid feeding ducks:
- Citrus fruits – citrus fruits are by no means dangerous to ducks and if they happen to get hold of one and tuck into the snack it isn’t the end of the world however citrus fruits are known to interfere with calcium absorption in ducks. Citrus fruits tend to provide too much acid for the digestive system to manage. This can often result in thin-shelled eggs.
- Avocados – all parts of this fruit including the flesh are highly toxic to birds in general and should be avoided like the plague!
Vegetables to avoid feeding ducks:
- Onions – these are mildly toxic to ducks. In small amounts, they will not be a threat to your duck however it is always better to be safe than sorry and eliminate these out of your duck’s diet. They don’t need them.
- Spinach – It’s true to say that ducks absolutely love spinach! It’s just unfortunate that their delicate digestive system does not agree so much. Spinach is not toxic to ducks but should be fed in limited amounts in the same way as iceberg lettuce.
There are so many wonderful fruits and vegetables available that you do not need to worry about the few mentioned above. Your duck will live a perfectly healthy and happy life without the addition of these in their diet.