Do the ducks mind?

13 May 2008 at 14:34
13 comments

I was in a supermarket the other week, when I noticed that there was a pensioner in front of me, and he was chatting to the lady on the checkout and telling her that he was buying bread for the ducks.

It was very sweet, but he was buying their value white range of bread, which got me thinking - surely that can't be part of a duck's natural and healthy diet.

There was another time when we went to feed the ducks on a smallish lake near my sister. There was so much bread floating around, on the decking, on the grassy banks (and all in whole slices!!). Clearly there was just too much bread for the poor ducks and swans and they didn't want any more!

Is it really a kindness to feed ducks unnaturally white processed bread, or is it better just to leave them to forage for worms etc.?

13 comments

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[this is good]

I think it's better to let them forage - lots of lakes now have notices actively discouraging from feeding because the over-feeding thing encourages other wildlife that interferes with the breeding process. It increases the rat population who eat the eggs and it also brings in pigeons etc etc. Wild animals should be left to be wild unless there is a conservation issue. From what I know, which isn't much but it doesn't stop me spouting off, is that it's better to feed them a grain mix.

Well, that was my thought as well - in fact, I heard that somewhere that you should feed ducks with lettuce?! That may be complete crap of course, but I certainly wouldn't feed them factory churned out crap with all sorts of dough improvers and preservatives!

I agree it's probably better not to - but this is one of those times when you've got to say what the hell, live a little! Go feed those ducks old man! Feed them white bread, feed them turkey twizzlers if you like! The world won't come to s shuddering halt because of it.

yes, I agree Yarb - there was a bit of my soul that withered away as I was writing my first comment. Sometimes doing the correct thing isn't as good as doing the right thing.

Personally I use purpose-made duck-food, little milled pellets you can buy at the pet store for almost nothing. But I wouldn't expect the sort of old man who feeds ducks to feed them anything but white bread. The ducks probably appreciate the variety. I am strongly against people just dumping half-loafs on lakeshores to moulder in the rain and attract rats / raccoons / feral urchins. As long as your OAP is frugal with his bread (and most OAP's are), I'm all in favour.

They can have it as part of a balanced diet (so mostly grains and foraging) - Big Boy's aunt feeds it to her pet ducks and is totally clued up about these sorts of things.

I once threw a bit of my sandwich to some geese and they mugged me. BAcked me into a corner hissing until I dropped me sarnie and ran.

Actually, I learned on the internet that it is apparently dangerous to feed ducks.

check this this link about it I was absoloutely shocked and surprised as feeding the ducks in Duke Gardens was something i really enjoyed....No longer.

Pet ducks apparently yes, as part of a diet, but...in general...feeding them in the park is starting to be a no no.

Geese are vicious buggers - next time, you've got to face up to them - show them you're the dominant one by hissing and flapping your wings. You've got to be the alpha goose.

He was buying 3 loaves....

Runnergirl replied to Katiebell’s comment:
May 14, 2008
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That's really interesting... and I stick with my original thoughts, that if you're going to feed wild animals, try and feed them something that would occur in their diet naturally.

At Barnes Duck Pond there were big notices saying buy them millet and not to drop bread for all the teaspoons described above.

What pisses me off are the old dear round my way who feed the pidgeons whole fricking loaves everyday thus increasing vermin etc etc. Our whole block got a letter from the council warning people could lose their council flats (we are about 60% privately owned/40% tenant) if they kept doing it.

Do you mean to say teaspoons, or are you trying to say 'reasons'?

Do the ducks mind?

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