Everybody knows ducks can eat fruits such as melons and berries, but what about kiwi fruit? If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you can feed your ducks, kiwis — then read this article to get the inside scoop.
Can ducks eat kiwi? Yes, ducks can consume kiwis. Kiwis contain many vital nutrients like iron and vitamin K that can benefit your ducks’ health. The skin, seeds, and flesh of kiwis are all safe and healthy for the ducks. However, remember to always practice strict moderation with feeding them these fruits since a majority of their diet must consist of their commercial feed.
Have you just bought some ducks and don’t know if you should feed kiwis to them? If yes, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about feeding kiwis to ducks.
Do ducks like eating kiwi?
Now that we have established that ducks can eat kiwi, it raises a natural question: do ducks like kiwi? After all, kiwis are a treat for them, and what is the point of a treat if your ducks don’t want to eat them at all?
Unfortunately, poultry birds like ducks and chickens can be very selective eaters. They have their own likes and dislikes, much like humans. So, if you want to find out whether your pet likes kiwi, the only way to do so is by offering them these fruits.
You can try by giving them two blocks of very finely chopped kiwi. Most probably, they will gobble it up since birds are a sucker for all things sweet, but there is a tiny possibility that they won’t. If your pet is not touching the fruit at all, it is best not to coax them into it.
Benefits of feeding kiwis to ducks
If you’re still here, it means that your feathered pets liked the kiwifruit. However, just because they like them doesn’t mean that they should eat them.
As a responsible pet parent, you must be wondering if this fruit has any additional nutritional value. Well, wonder no more because, in this section, that is exactly what we are going to be talking about.
Kiwis are good for your pet’s digestive health
The fibers in kiwis ensure that your feathered pets have a well-working digestive system and are not vulnerable to constipation.
Kiwis have a high concentration of Vitamin C and Vitamin K
Kiwis are well-known for the high level of vitamin C present in them. When combined together, vitamin C and Vitamin K play an important role in the ducks’ recovery from wounds. If you have had ducks for some time now, you might have heard about the bumblefoot infection.
Upon contraction, the infection causes the birds’ feet to swell up and become bulbous, making it very uncomfortable for them to walk. The birds are mostly infected due to a small scratch or cut on their feet.
Vitamins K and C collectively prevent bone fractures and blood clotting and improve their bodies’ natural wound repair mechanism.
Kiwis can strengthen their bones and eggshells
Kiwis have a high concentration of both calcium and phosphorus. Both of these minerals play a vital role in strengthening the bones and eggshells in ducks. A lack of calcium can lead to the formation of eggs with weak shells, which would make them much more vulnerable to bacteria.
Kiwis are rich in iron and antioxidants
Kiwis also contain both iron and antioxidants, which are extremely beneficial for your pets’ blood health. Iron increases blood circulation and the production of hemoglobin in their bodies, thus making them less likely to contract anemia.
On the other hand, antioxidants mitigate cell damage and strengthen their immune system, making them less vulnerable to common illnesses.
We could go on for a while, but you’ve probably already learned that kiwis can indeed be used as a healthy snack for your feathered friends. Now, you can add it to their diet without any second thought.
How many kiwis should you feed to your ducks?
In the last section, we talked about the numerous health benefits of feeding kiwis to your feathered pets. However, that doesn’t mean you can feed them kiwis all the time now, does it?
You need to practice strict moderation with these fruits for your pet’s health. Confused about why and how? Don’t worry; that is exactly what we are going to discuss in this section.
A healthy adult duck should be served fruits as a treat twice a week on average. It goes without saying that kiwi shouldn’t be the only fruit you’re feeding them; otherwise, they’ll grow bored of it within a month. As for the quantity, one regular-sized kiwi can be split between two adult ducks.
Is it safe to feed kiwi seeds to ducks?
Being a pet parent to a bird, you must be familiar with the threats that the seeds of most fruits present to your feathered pets. Some fruits have seeds containing harmful chemicals, while others are large or tough enough to present a choking hazard.
And since the fruit we’re talking about today are kiwis, what about their seeds? Are they safe for your beloved ducks? Before we figure that out, let’s talk about what kinds of seeds are present inside the kiwis.
If you think kiwis are small fruits, wait till you see their seeds; they’re practically minuscule! There are about a thousand of these seeds inside a single fruit, which is a clear indication of the fact that they’re far too tiny to cause your feathered pets to choke.
The little kiwi seeds are brownish-black in color and are concentrated around the center of the fruits. If you look at their nutritional value, you’ll find that they’re full of essential fats, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fibers, and antioxidants. If your ducks eat these, they will only benefit from them.
So, if you were worried about having to remove the seeds from a kiwi before feeding them to your backyard pets, you no longer have to do so. In fact, the more seeds their treats have, the better for them.
What about the skin of kiwi? Is it edible to ducks?
Whenever we talk about any vegetable or fruit with the outer skin, all of us peel them off and throw the skin away without a second thought. But has it ever occurred to you that the peel could also hold a nutritional value?
Well, if we talk about the fruit in question here, you’d be surprised to find that kiwi skin is highly nutritious. It is enriched with the goodness of fibers, antioxidants, and folates, all of which can benefit our health. In fact, kiwi skin is also quite thin compared to most fruits, which makes it easier for us to eat it.
However, due to its hairy or fuzzy texture, most people consider it unpalatable and throw it away, which is a total waste. But if you have a pet at home, is it a good idea to feed the kiwi skin to them? What about ducks? Can they eat it? Yes, they can.
Kiwi skin is completely safe for ducks to eat. Just make sure the kiwis are organic so that the skin has no possibility of containing harmful fertilizers or pesticides, and your ducks would be safe.
Can ducks drink kiwi juice?
If you have never tried kiwi juice before, this is your sign to go ahead! It is refreshing, energizing, and, most importantly, delicious. However, if you have had it before, you might be wondering if your beloved pets can taste it too.
Well, the good news is, they can. However, remember not to add extra sugar, salt, or artificial sweeteners to them. This is due to the fact that all of these things are not meant to be consumed by birds or animals.
If you are feeding too much sugar to your ducks, they can gain a lot of weight in a short span of time before you realize it. Secondly, death due to a salt overdose is also very common in the avian kingdom.
What you can do is make kiwi juice at your home on your own instead of serving them store-bought juice. This way, you can control the amount of added ingredients in it.
What about ducklings? Can you feed them kiwis?
If you have ducklings at home and are wondering if you can feed them the same treat as their parents, then the answer is yes. However, there are some precautions you should take if you are going to feed kiwis to your ducklings.
First and foremost, kiwis can be fed to ducklings only when they grow older than one month. Also, remember to chop the kiwifruit into smaller pieces and then mash it to make it easier for the smaller birds to consume.
Lastly, feed them only a small amount of kiwi (one-fifth of a whole at a time) because they are still in their developing stage and need a lot of protein in their diet for their proper growth. If you can follow these pointers, you’re good to go.
Conclusion
As we come to the end of this article, let us recap everything we learned in this article. As a general rule, ducks seem to like kiwis. However, their individual taste can vary a great deal, so you must learn about their choice by offering them some.
All parts of kiwifruit are healthy for the ducks, including the flesh, seeds, and skin. But make sure you’re not overfeeding them these fruits, or they will gain excess weight, which is not healthy.