Yes, ducks can eat oatmeal. However, you need to consider a few more things before feeding ducks oatmeal:
- Is oatmeal safe for ducks?
- Do ducks like oatmeal?
- What are the benefits of oatmeal for ducks?
- How should you prepare oatmeal for ducks?
- What should you avoid when feeding ducks oatmeal?
Today, we’ll explore each of these questions and prep you on your journey to becoming a birdwatching master. You’ll even learn what other oat-related foods you should feed your ducks.
Is Oatmeal Safe for Ducks?
Yes, oatmeal is safe for ducks. In fact, we encourage you to feed ducks oatmeal as it has various benefits.
Before we get into those benefits, we want to look at the most common species of ducks you can feed oatmeal to.
Mallards
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Most people know mallards have green heads, but did you know that’s only the male of the species? Female mallards are brown and have black spots on their features (shown in the above right picture).
Mallards are one of the most common species of duck, and you can find them in North America, Asia, and Europe. They also eat corn, barley, and grains.
Domesticated Duck
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Domesticated ducks (otherwise known as domesticated mallards or American Pekin) are a mallard subspecies. So it goes without saying that you can feed domesticated ducks the same foods as mallards, including oats.
If you keep domesticated ducks, you should also provide them with fruits and vegetables, such as corn, zucchini, peas, and more. This supplements their everyday diet, which they’d usually eat in the wild.
Wood Duck
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An interesting fact about wood ducks is that they’ll eat just about anything. Naturally, this includes oatmeal too. However, you can also feed wood ducks fruits, acorns, and seeds.
You can recognize wood ducks from their unique shape and long tail. Like mallards, a male wood duck will have a green color on its head, but the female won’t. A female wood duck has brown feathers and white spots — not too dissimilar to the white spots on the male wood duck pictured above (with its wings spread). Also, note the different colors of the female wood duck’s bill:
Do Ducks Like Oatmeal?
Yes, ducks do like oatmeal. Not only do they enjoy it, but it’s also a healthy option for them.
You can also feed ducks:
- Dry oats
- Steel-cut oats
- Cooked oats
- Flapjacks
- Instant porridge oats
- Rolled oats (including quick-cook oats)
- Rice
Benefits of Oatmeal for Ducks?
To understand the benefits of feeding oatmeal to ducks, let’s look at what oats themselves contain:
Nutrient/Vitamin/Mineral | Benefit |
Vitamin B1 | Also known as thiamin, vitamin B1 is the vitamin that helps convert a duck’s food into energy. This has many benefits, such as improving a duck’s heart and eye health. |
Vitamin B5 | Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, helps a duck break down carbohydrates and fat. In other words, Vitamin B5 plays a role in giving a duck energy. |
Calcium | Calcium is a great way to ensure ducks have healthy bones and muscles. It’s especially important for female ducks, as it allows them to lay healthier eggs. |
Zinc | Zinc has some excellent benefits:
These benefits are the same for ducks, too. In fact, 768 Pekin ducks were supplemented with zinc in a study, and researchers found it enhanced their intestinal barrier integrity and had growth-promoting effects on them. |
Iron | Iron is an essential mineral that helps a duck’s growth. Similar to zinc, a study was conducted on Pekin ducks to find the benefit of zinc in them. The study found ducks supplemented with iron had significantly improved growth performance, including better energy utilization. |
Magnesium | Magnesium is super important for heart health and helps with bone development. |
Manganese | Similar to Vitamin B1 and B5, Manganese helps with energy production. However, it also supports a duck’s muscles and nerves. |
Antioxidants | Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are damaging molecules that can harm a duck’s cells, cause a duck to fall ill, and even age faster. |
Fiber | Dietary fiber lowers a duck’s cholesterol and controls its blood sugar level. Ducks can get diabetes, just like humans. So ensure they have a good blood sugar level. |
Starch | Starch is another good source of energy, like vitamins B1 and B5. |
In short: Feed your duck oats. Healthline refers to oats as one of the healthiest grains on earth, and just like its positive effect on humans, it comes with tons of benefits for ducks.
How to Prepare Oatmeal for Ducks?
Preparing oatmeal for ducks is easy. Follow these steps:
- Measure a 1:2 oat-to-water ratio. In other words, for every ½ cup of oats, add 1 cup of water.
- Place the mixed oats in the microwave and heat on high for up to 2 minutes. Check the consistency of the oats afterward and ensure they’re creamy. You want to avoid giving ducks chunky oats.
- Allow the oats to cool down. Just like that, they’re now ready to feed to ducks.
Note: You can also feed ducks uncooked oats, but cooking them first releases more nutrients.
What to Avoid with Feeding Ducks Oatmeal
There aren’t many things you should avoid when feeding ducks oatmeal. However, as said, avoid feeding ducks hot oats and ensure the oats you’re feeding them are small and consistent.
You should also avoid giving ducks oats that contain additional ingredients. For example, if you’re feeding a duck flapjacks, do not give them chocolate flapjacks or other similar flavored flapjacks.
Finally, don’t overfeed the duck. Just because oats are healthy doesn’t mean you should constantly feed them oats.
Become a Birding Mastermind Today
You now know that ducks can eat oatmeal. However, have you ever wondered if birds can eat bananas or raisins? Check out Happy Birding today to learn more.
Sam is a nature enthusiast who’s been birdwatching in both the old and new world. He even enjoys an annual tradition of watching kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs of Southern England