Feeding Ducks and Geese

For some reason, people seem to think the only food suitable for ducks is bread, breadcrumbs or similar specimens of food. This is actually not true, as like any other living being, ducks need to be eating a consistently balanced diet.

There is nothing wrong with human eating bread, or eating bread on a regular basis, but the necessity for a range of nutrients through a range of foods, ducks are by no means any different to us and need a similar diet.

A typical diet for both humans and of course ducks consists of a range of nutrients inclusive of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins, the benefit of ducks obtaining these nutrients is extremely important. In fact it doesn't matter whether it's a duck, human, goose and so on, all living beings need a range of nutrients to sustainability live.

The fact that people throw bread to ducks means they are relying on one source of nutrient, which of course, in the case of bread, is carbohydrate. This can seem to problems, but don't worry too much; ducks will obviously find other sources of food in between there daily feed at the local parks!

One thing to be aware of is that ducks aren't particularly good at swallowing their food, hence why some people soak the bread, as it has been heard of for ducks to choke to death trying to swallow bread. Another important factor to consider is moldy bread. Let's face it, if you don't want to eat it because it might disagree slightly with your digestive system, then do you think they would?

Geese in particular are quite sensitive to white bread and it can make them very aggressive. You've seen when you approach the park with a plastic bag, they swarm around you expecting bread and there pecks cna be quite painful. It is much better to feed them grains as they dont tend to get stuck, it is a better diet for them and therefore they are better tempered.

Grant

Resource for Poultry information including Breeding and Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese and Turkeys.

Poultry Pages

My local park has just put up a notice asking people not to feed them whit e bread, as they ahve found the geese getting very aggressive towards people. I myself have seen a few people literally chased away from the pond by geese who think they ahve food.