Yes, ducks can eat celery. Celery is a nutritious and crunchy vegetable that can be a healthy treat for ducks.
However, it should be offered in moderation as part of a varied diet and not as a replacement for their main feed.
Do ducks like it?
The vegetable has a bland taste. It does not have a strong flavor of its own. Hence, we cannot call it duck’s favorite food at all. But a duck’s diet must contain Celery due to its several health benefits. And ducks being picky eaters, might not like Celery enough to eat as much as required to gain benefits.
But can’t we trick them by mixing small celery pieces with other vegetables, fruits, or food items of their choice? Yes, we indeed can. And this way, we can feed them this nutritious yet tasty snack for a healthy life.
Health benefits of celery
There are many health benefits to consuming celery. This green vegetable is packed with nutrients and vitamins that can maintain a duck’s health and energy levels.
Some of these benefits include the following:
- Vitamin A- supports the immune system, and bone health, and promotes healthy growth.
- Vitamin C- Aids in growth, bone, and teeth health as well as cartilage maintenance
- Vitamin K regulates blood calcium levels, and aids in reduced blood clotting, and fast metabolism.
- Calcium- maintains strong bones, aids in muscle and heart health as well as protection from certain cancers and high blood pressure.
- Support digestion- aids in a healthy and clean functioning digestive system.
Can Ducks Eat Celery Stalks and Leaves?
Celery stalks are edible for the duck, in fact, they can eat anything from the stalk to the pulp, the leaves, and the roots. Celery stalks have strings located in the middle of the stalks, they should be de-stringed first to make it easier for ducks to eat.
Celery leaves are one of the nutritious parts of the veggie essential for the health and wellness of the feathered bird. Leaves have potassium, calcium, and vitamin C in sufficient amounts for strong feathers and bones.
Can Baby Ducks Eat Celery?
Yes, baby ducks can eat celery!
Ducklings need lots of nutrients to grow, and while commercial duck feed should be their main source of food, an occasional treat like celery is perfectly fine for baby ducks to eat.
It’s extremely important to make sure the celery is cut into extremely fine pieces. Since ducklings are tiny, the celery pieces need to be much smaller than an adult duck’s portion in order to prevent choking.
Adult ducks can eat pea-sized slices of celery, but for ducklings, it’s best to serve pieces that are half the size of a pea or smaller.
How to Prepare Celery For Ducks?
Although we’ve established that ducks should be fed celery in their raw form, there are still some minor preparations that you might have to make:
- When purchasing celery, make sure you buy fresh ones and, if you can, go for organic celery instead of commercially grown ones.
- Wash the celery thoroughly before prepping it for them. Organic celery can be washed under running tap water, while for commercially grown ones, it would be wise to use chlorinated water.
- Like every other bird, ducks are toothless and flat-beaked, which means that they face difficulties in breaking down large pieces of food. Therefore, chop the celery into smaller pieces for them.
- Instead of feeding them celery separately, try mixing finely chopped pieces of it with their feed. It will mask celery’s tastelessness, making it easier for your pets to eat it.
If you keep these simple pointers in mind, you will never face any difficulties feeding celery to your beloved pets.
