Duck Safe Vegetables

Easy to grow (or buy) veggies ducks love to eat and are super healthy for them.

1. Carrots

Cooked or raw, carrots are a great source of vitamins for ducks. They’re an excellent source of antioxidants, potassium, beta carotene, fiber, and vitamin K1. Carrots are 88% water, so they can help hydrate, too. We recommend cutting into smaller bite-sized pieces. Don’t forget to include the leafy tops! Ducks will benefit from the additional vitamin B6, A, and biotin.

2. Swiss Chard

Ducks love swiss chard. It’s full of beneficial nutrients such as magnesium, iron, folate, vitamin A, K, E, phosphorus, and calcium. Phosphorus is key to helping create eggs with thick, sturdy shells as well as improving a duckling’s hatchability.

3. Brussel Sprouts This miniature cabbage-looking vegetable is packed with lots of health-beneficial vitamins and antioxidants. Brussel sprouts are packed with tons of vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant that helps protect cells against damage and can help improve their immune system. They’re also high in vitamin K to help support bone health, including safeguarding against bone loss.

4. Bok Choy

Its thick white stalks are full of gut-healthy fiber. Bok choy is a nutritious vegetable to add to your duck’s diet. Studies have shown bok choy’s anti-cancer properties, which may be tied to the folate it contains. Folate can help support the production and repair of DNA, which might help prevent cancer cells from developing. Bok choy also contains beneficial vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene, all of which help protect against cellular damage. It’s also one of the rare vegetables that contain selenium.

5. Peas

Frozen, fresh, or boiled peas are another fiber-rich vegetable safe for ducks. Ducks will devour a bowl of peas in water in no time. English peas are readily found in the grocery store and are an affordable, healthy snack. Ducks have keen eyesight, and peas can help support their eye health with the carotenoid pigment lutein. Lutein has been shown to reduce the risk of cataracts and loss of vision due to old age.

6. Cucumber

Another easy to grow and readily available treat at the grocery store, cucumbers are a low calorie, high hydration treat for ducks. Because of their 96% water content, cucumbers can be a great treat to help trim an overly chonky duck if needed. Hydration is vital for a duck’s overall health, especially on hot summer days. Water plays a critical role in how a duck’s body functions and can help regulate their internal temperature. Cucumbers also contain vitamin C, K, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

7. Zucchini

Part of the summer squash family, zucchini is a quick-growing garden vegetable your ducks will love to eat. There’s a laundry list of healthy vitamins included in zucchini. This popular squash contains vitamin A, C, K, B6, manganese, potassium, fiber, folate, copper, and thiamine. It also contains small amounts of zinc, calcium, iron, and several other B vitamins. Zucchini is packed with cancer-fighting carotenoids that have been shown to support eyes, skin, and heart health.

8. Cabbage

In the same family as broccoli, kale, and cauliflower, cabbage is a cheap and healthy treat for ducks. It has various beneficial health vitamins like vitamin K, C, B6, folate, manganese, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. All cabbage colors are high in fiber and contain antioxidants and polyphenols that can help reduce chronic inflammation. Cabbage can be served raw or cooked. We recommend rough chopping into bite-sized pieces.

Pro Tip → Feeding a duck red cabbage may cause discolored poop, such as bright turquoise or deep blue. There’s no need to panic (like I did the first time). They’re okay!

9. Mixed Lettuce

Ducks can eat lettuce, but the type of lettuce fed is essential. Iceberg and romaine are high on the list of lettuce to avoid or limit the amount given. They are extra high in water content and can cause diarrhea in your ducks. Look for intensely pigmented to dark leafy greens like arugula, butter, coral, watercress, mâche, or sorrel. Lettuce contains calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, and vitamins A and C.

10. Broccoli

If you have broccoli as a dinner side, keep those stalk, stems, and wilted leaf scraps for your ducks. Broccoli, both raw or steamed, is a nutritious vegetable to share with your ducks. Research (on humans) has shown that broccoli contains a naturally occurring compound that acts as a detoxifier, helping to deactivate potentially damaging chemicals in the body. It also has several bone essential vitamins like vitamin K, A, B, C, along with calcium, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc, and potassium.

We hope this short list of easy to find duck safe vegetables gave you some ideas for snack time. If you’re unsure if you can feed your duck a particular food, head over to our information center: Can I feed my duck? to find out more.