With spring here, careful what you feed the ducks

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FEEDING THE DUCKS Oats, rice and birdseed better for them than bread.

WITH spring here many pools and ponds will attract ducks, and we all love to feed them.

But it is important to feed them the right thing. People throw scraps of bread, crackers, popcorn and similar bread-type products, but these are also some of the least nutritious, according to Melissa Mayntz of bird ing.about.com.

She says: “Bread has little nutritional value and can harm growth, pollute waterways and attract rodents and other pests.

“Similarly, ducks should not be fed any products that are spoiled or mouldy; different types of mould can be fatal to waterfowl.”

There are other treats we can feed them as part of a healthy and nutritious diet. Ducks will eat a great deal of different foods, and the best foods include:

– Oats (uncooked; rolled or quick)

– Rice (cooked)

– Birdseed (any type)

– Peas or corn (defrosted, no need to cook)

– Earthworms

– Mealworms (fresh or dried).

– Chopped lettuce or other greens or salad mixes

– Vegetable trimmings or peels (chopped)

– Duck feed pellets can be purchased from farming or agricultural supply stores.”

People should stop feeding if the birds appear uninterested or are leaving the food uneaten.

Melissa added that people should remember wild birds can be aggressive, such as larger waterfowl like swans and geese.

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