So, Can Ducks Eat Strawberries?

Most duck owners know that there are birds are omnivores, and can eat a wide variety of foods including a whole lot of plant matter.

Some of the plants that ducks eat include, at least in a domestic setting, fruits and vegetables. Many of these are the same ones that we eat, which is kind of fun when you think about it.

However, ducks cannot eat just any fruit. What about strawberries? Can ducks eat strawberries?

Yes, ducks can eat strawberries safely so long as they only get them occasionally. Strawberries are a great source of energy for ducks, and contain vitamins and minerals they need, but there are very sugary and so ducks shouldn’t have them all the time.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think there’s anything hardly more perfect than a perfectly ripe, juicy, ruby-red strawberry.

In my experience, ducks seem to really love them too. You’ll have a ball giving them to your ducks, but you must take care of that you don’t give them strawberries too often, or let them eat too many.

It’s not a major concern, but it could make them sick otherwise. Keep reading and I’ll tell you what you need to know…

Are Strawberries Good for Ducks?

Yes, strawberries are definitely good for ducks so long as they’re eating in moderation.

The sugar is at present in strawberries will give your ducks a good boost of energy, naturally, and are also easy to digest.

But the vitamin and mineral content in strawberries has a host of health benefits, not the least of which is it can help ducks heal from injuries and also improve feathering, whether they are losing their feathers during the molt, from a fight or something else.

This makes strawberries a great treat for ducks, and one that is actually beneficial for them.

Nutritional Profile of Strawberries

For most of us, and I reckon for most animals also, you don’t really need a health reason to eat strawberries because they are so delicious. It just so happens to be that they are pretty nutritious, and so much the better.

In fact, strawberries have a surprisingly comprehensive amount of vitamins and minerals both.

Looking at the vitamins, we see they have pretty much all of the B complex vitamins, including niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, folate and vitamin B6.

More than this, you’ll also get a huge boost of vitamin C backed up by a little bit of vitamins K and E. Very impressive!

The mineral content isn’t quite as stellar, but still very respectable, with a good amount of phosphorus and potassium, zinc, iron and calcium, magnesium and manganese.

All good things for ducks, and that makes strawberries a healthy treat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqne7QLn0jU

Can Ducks Eat Strawberries Raw?

Yes, and this is the very best way to serve them to your ducks.

Raw strawberries are easy for ducks to eat (so long as you prep them, more on that later) and I also contain the maximal amount of nutrition. Raw strawberries are the way to go for your birds.

Can Ducks Eat Those Little Strawberry Leaves?

Yes. The tiny crown of leaves you see sometimes growing on an individual strawberry is called the calyx.

The calyx is just greenery, and it’s totally safe for ducks to eat if you want to give it to them although it is not particularly nutritious.

Can Ducks Eat White Strawberries?

Yes, they can. White strawberries are just a rare variety of your typical strawberry, though they tend to be bigger and sweeter than the usual red variety.

Ducks can eat these safely also, though you should reduce the quantity they get even more because they contain even more sugar.

And just to be totally clear, you cannot feed your ducks white strawberries that are coated with white chocolate or any other kind of glaze- that is not what I’m talking about!

Can Ducks Eat Strawberries When They are Cooked?

Yes, ducks can safely eat cooked strawberries too, but only if they are playing with no added ingredients.

However, I would stop you right there and advise you against cooking strawberries for your ducks.

It doesn’t really make them any easier for ducks to eat, and is only going to waste your time and deplete the nutrient content in the berries.

It’s just not worth it.

Can Ducklings Have Strawberries, Also?

Yes, ducklings can have strawberries just like the adults. But, if you are smart you’ll let the ducklings grow up a little bit, preferably at least a few weeks until they’re more comfortable eating solid, whole foods.

Ducklings will love little bits of strawberry, or mashed strawberry, but you should only give them the tiniest little bit as a treat rarely: strawberries are quite sugary, and very juicy.

Even though ducks eat a lot of wet or moist foods, this is a combination that can easily give a little duckling indigestion or diarrhea.

Never Give Strawberries to Ducks Made with Harmful Foods

Like I said above, I think strawberries are absolutely perfect just the way they are when they are ripe, but they’re also used in every kind of dessert you can think of.

Whether you are adding chocolate, syrup, extra sugar, ice cream or a bunch of other things I can’t think of, none of these desserts are things that your ducks should have.

I can understand your desire to share your delicious treats with the ducks, but giving them these super sugary processed foods is only going to make them terribly ill.

Your ducks will love and appreciate fresh, pure strawberries just the way they are, trust me.

How Often Can Ducks Eat Strawberries?

Considering how wholesome strawberries are, it seems a little weird to caution people against giving them to ducks too often, but that’s exactly what I’m doing:

You should only give your ducks strawberries once or perhaps twice a week, in small quantities, and a treat or supplement to their usual diet.

Too many strawberries will lead to health problems, and strawberries should never be a primary component of their diet. Ducks need their feed, grass or other primary staples front and center in their diet.

How Can You Serve Strawberries to Your Ducks?

Your ducks won’t struggle to eat strawberries so long as you prepare them properly. What you shouldn’t do is just toss them whole berries.

The shape makes it difficult for them to take a bite out of it, and ducks swallow their food whole anyway most of the time.

An intact, whole strawberry can be a choking hazard, believe it or not!

To prevent this, all you need to do is slice your strawberries in half or into quarters depending on the size of your ducks.

So long as each individual piece is easy to handle and easy to swallow, your ducks won’t have any trouble eating them.

Also, like I mentioned above, you can remove the calyx or not. Ducks can eat those little green leaves safely, and you don’t have to go through the trouble of plucking them before you start slicing if you don’t want to.

Don’t Leave Moldy, Spoiled Strawberries Where Ducks Can Get Them

Strawberries are definitely good for your ducks, we established that, but they shouldn’t be eating any strawberries that are rotted or moldy.

That is definitely going to increase the chances that your ducks get sick from some foodborne germ!

Your ducks are likely to scarf up any strawberries you give them, but in case they leave some chunks lying around make sure you pick those up so they don’t nibble on them later after they’ve spoiled.

In the same vein, don’t use your ducks to get rid of old, moldy fruit for you. If it’s not something that you would eat or serve to your family, don’t give it to your ducks. Throw it away instead.