If you’re planning to grow ducks, you probably already know that providing them with nutritious foods is one of the most valuable secrets to growing healthy ducks!
Or maybe you just want to feed the wild ducks you’ve spotted in a nearby park and wonder what they usually eat.
In any case, we’ll tell you everything about adding pumpkin to a duck’s diet because – yes, they love pumpkin!
It contains fibers, carbohydrates, amino acids, and carotenoids, among other important constituents in maintaining our bodies’ health.
But does this fruit have the same effect on a duck’s body? Will your ducks benefit from it as much as humans do? Let’s find out!
Can Ducks Eat Pumpkin?
Ducks adore pumpkins! If you want to diversify their diet or include some additional treats, you can definitely go for pumpkin, as they’ll delight in it!
Don’t forget that they may not be “open-minded” towards pumpkins if you’ve never given this fruit to your ducks. So, for the first time, you can mix pumpkin with duck food to make it more appealing.
Is Pumpkin Healthy for Ducks?
Pumpkins are a bouquet of nutritional benefits for ducks! First of all, pumpkins are filled with vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A sustains their eyesight and boosts their immune system. Vitamin C helps vitamin A with protecting the immune system, too! Then, we have vitamin E, an excellent antioxidant that regulates enzymatic activities and maintains cell health.
The iron content sustains the oxygen flow at cellular levels, thus promoting healthy respiratory systems. Besides this, the calcium found in pumpkins helps your ducks’ bodies maintain strong and healthy bones and beaks, while the lutein, like vitamin A, improves eyesight while providing “food” for skin and feathers.
Besides this, pumpkin is rich in healthy fats. Pumpkin flesh is also a source of water and fiber, thus facilitating digestion.
In short, even though pumpkin is low in calories, it’s extremely beneficial for your ducks’ overall health!
However, avoiding including this fruit in your ducks’ daily diet is essential. Like with any other food, too much pumpkin can rather harm than help.
Can You Feed Ducks Pumpkin Seeds?
Ducks will also eat pumpkin seeds, which are rich in minerals and vitamins. Pumpkin seeds provide your ducks with magnesium, iron, calcium, and vitamin A. They’re packed with carbohydrates, proteins, and unsaturated fats like Omega-6.
Moreover, pumpkin seeds are known to have antiparasitic properties thanks to the cucurbitacin amino acid, which reportedly paralyzes flatworms and helps the ducks expel them easier.
However, if you’ve never fed your ducks pumpkin seeds, we recommend grinding them first to avoid choking. Some duck owners also suggest roasting the seeds and only then grinding them using a grinder or a blender.
Also Read: Can Ducks Eat Apples
Can Ducks Eat Pumpkin Skin?
You can add pumpkin skin to your ducks’ diet, too. They’ll undoubtedly thank you for this!
However, since many pumpkin varieties exist, some have softer skins, while others have tougher, harder skins. It’s best to give your ducks soft, tastier skin, especially if they’re trying it for the first time.
This way, you’ll help them swallow the skin easily and digest it faster. If you want to go the extra mile in diversifying their diet, give your ducks pumpkin leaves!
Can Ducks Eat Cooked Pumpkin?
If you want to diversify their diet, you can cook the pumpkin for your ducks. But there’s a secret! You should never add salt, sugar, or other additives and spices because these will ruin their tasty treat and do more harm than good.
While humans can digest these, ducks’ bodies are more sensitive to additives. Canned pumpkin isn’t a good idea either – for the same reason.
Also Read: Can Ducks Eat Corn
Can Ducks Eat Pumpkin Pie?
It’s generally recommended to avoid feeding ducks pumpkin-based food, pumpkin pies included. Cakes and doughnuts are also on the list. These foods do not contain the same nutritional values as raw or cooked pumpkins and may also have some ingredients ducks cannot digest.
Therefore, if you aren’t sure how to add this fruit to their diet, just go for raw flesh or seeds.
