Do Ducks Eat Flowers?- Duck Asks

There are a lot of things that a duck likes to eat. Like most birds, they have a high metabolism resulting in a huge appetite. Therefore, they really enjoy titbits here and there in between full meals.

Ducks are famously admired for being able to eat almost anything from fruits to insects, as long as you check whether it is safe for them first.

So, a walk in the park can easily be improved vastly by feeding your local ducks. But didn’t you ever wonder, do ducks eat flowers?

Though not many people are aware of this, ducks love munching on edible flowers in the wild. There are several different kinds of flowers that you can feed the ducks, and many that can be poisonous to them.

Do All Ducks Eat Flowers?

All ducks are omnivorous, so they enjoy both meat and vegetation. This also means that all ducks can safely consume edible flowers, though this may vary according to their species. But how are flowers beneficial for ducks?

Ducks are generally able to eat a variety of food without worry. They understand what they can and can not eat from their body’s reaction to it, and steer away from food that can be harmful.

While they do genuinely just enjoy the taste of flowers, it does have its benefits. Flowers can act as a source of certain nutrients for ducks. They provide our waddling friends with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.

With such a massive diet, these nutrients can easily be overlooked if the ducks feed on whatever is more convenient to them. So, while they do get a lot of protein and carbs from small animals and fruits, flowers can help them with digestion and keep their bodies healthy.

What Flowers Do Ducks Like?

Ducks enjoy a variety of flowers, and most of these can be found in the wild. You can also pick a few from your garden as a treat for them when they come by your backyard or when you visit the park.

1. Roses

A common flower that you can feed the ducks from your own flowering plants is roses. Ducks love munching on roses, whether they are in full bloom or still a bud. They particularly enjoy the red ones.

However, do make sure that they do not accidentally swallow the thorny stems because, as you can guess, it can be quite a painful experience for them.

2. Dandelions

Ducks enjoy eating dandelions just as much as they love building their nests with them. Unlike roses, the entire plant is completely edible and safe for them to consume.

You can serve them these beautiful wildflowers floating in a bowl of water or feed the flowers to them dry!

3. Lilies

Lilies are risky to feed your local ducks as a lot of the variety is toxic. It would be best to avoid keeping near ducks. Even so, daylilies are absolutely adored by these birds and safe to eat too!

4. Hibiscus

Hibiscus are particularly nutritious for mammals and birds, as they can help with controlling blood pressure and act as antioxidants. They will keep the ducks happy and healthy!

5. Sunflowers

Sunflowers, in both flower and seed forms, are just some great edible flowers to feed the ducks. They are nutritious, and the ducks love them, though you are not exactly likely to find them growing anywhere near where your ducks live.

You can feed the ducks sunflowers as a novelty snack from time to time if it is not too expensive to get. The seeds, on the other hand, should be easy to get a hold of and at a great price too!

Are All Flowers Safe for Ducks?

Most flowers are safe for ducks to consume, but some can be toxic to their bodies.

While ducks do not instinctively know by looking at certain flowers whether or not they are dangerous for them, they do taste nastily sour.

So even if they accidentally take a bite off, they will try to avoid them once they get a little taste of it.

What Flowers Should Ducks Not Eat?

There are many flowers that cause ducks to have digestive problems and even kill them if they are particularly toxic.

Milkweeds, lilies, and poison hemlocks are just a few that ducks might accidentally consume since they grow so close to ponds and swamps.

Other such toxic flowers that you should absolutely not feed the ducks and keep them away from are buttercups, daffodils, irises, and poppies. Also included in this list are sweet peas and tulips.

What Shrubs and Bushes Should Ducks Not Eat From?

Some shrubs and bushes to keep the ducks away from include azalea, bleeding heart, and boxwood, amongst many others. This list is not all-inclusive though, just some common plants you might come across.

So, make sure to check with experts before you feed your ducks anything outside of these flowers.

What Do Ducks Eat Besides Flowers?

As we have mentioned before, ducks have a large appetite to make up for their high metabolism. As omnivorous birds, they are not very picky about their choice of nourishment either.

Ducks love feeding on insects, small amphibians, pond weeds, and fungi, amongst other edibles found in water. They also enjoy snacking on fruits, vegetables, grains, and seeds. Add flowers to that, and I don’t think there is anything that ducks do not enjoy having.

How Do You Keep Ducks from Eating Your Flowers?

While feeding your backyard ducks with the flowers plucked from your garden is fun, it can come with its own problems.

We are sure you would not want them trampling through your beautiful foliage and ruining your flower beds without your knowledge.

So here are some tips to help you keep ducks away from your flowers.

Avoid Keeping Bird Feeders

Bird feeders can be the perfect spot for ducks to build their nests if they spot yours close to their ponds. They are dark, cozy, and hidden away from predators.

Do not give them this chance in your backyard, or you might end up with a much bigger responsibility than you signed up for when putting those bird feeders up.

Clean Up the Birdseed

Additionally, if you do continue to feed birds through smaller birdhouses, make sure to clean up any leftover seeds as frequently as you can. These attract ducks to your yard, and that is not too far off from your garden.

Hang Streamers and Windsocks

Streamers and windsocks can scare away ducks quite effectively because their sudden and rapid movements cause an instinctive fight-or-flight response in them.

Hanging them around your yard at intervals can successfully keep away those quackers for a long time.

Scare Them With Plastic Swans

Although more alike to each other than any other species of birds, swans and ducks are natural enemies.

Catching sight of an inflatable or plastic swan in your pond or garden should keep the ducks away since they would not want to venture into enemy territory.

Bird Netting and Fences

If you DO want to keep the ducks coming back to your yard, you can particularly protect your garden using bird netting and fences.

This way, you can enjoy our feathered friends’ company while keeping their nosy beaks away from your flowers.

Conclusion

With that, we come to a conclusion for the answer to the question of – do ducks eat flowers?

Flowers help ducks with antioxidants and healthy bowel movements, keeping them healthy and aiding them with the digestion of their extensive diets.

It is safe to say that feeding them flowers from time to time could be great for them and allow you to create a special bond too!

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Article References:

https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2014/02/the-health-benefits-of-dandelions-for.html
https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/animals-and-wildlife/plants-toxic-to-backyard-ducks
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/keep-ducks-out-garden-97185.html

Image Credit:

Photo from Fresh Eggs Daily
Photo from Tyrant Farms
Photo from Photo from GoodFon.com
Photo from Pinterest (Kara Jones)

Do Ducks Eat Flowers?

Do All Ducks Eat Flowers?