Did you know that broccoli has 52% more vitamin C than strawberries?
And in 3.5oz (100gr) of broccoli, there is 0.64mg of niacin compared to 0.39mg your ducks can get from the same amount of strawberries.
Broccoli is one of the healthiest veggies, and your ducks can safely eat broccoli, but with some restrictions.
Read more to learn about the health benefits of broccoli for ducks and pick some preparation tips.
Is Broccoli Good for Ducks
You can’t go wrong with giving broccoli to ducks.
For example, broccoli has more than twice the amount of vitamin C compared to cabbage.
If you give your ducks broccoli as a snack, you will provide them with fat-soluble vitamin K, which plays a significant role in blood clotting and building stronger bones.
However, broccoli is moderate in:
- vitamin B3 (niacin)
- vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- and vitamin B6 (folates)
That’s why you should give this veggie as a snack. You can’t rely on broccoli to provide all the nutrients your ducks need.
Consuming broccoli, your ducks will improve the cardiovascular system, reduce inflammation, and protect muscles (especially the heart).
As Mentioned – Some nutrients like sodium and vitamin E are lacking. Also, there is not enough niacin for duck needs.
It has less than 3% protein and around 2.5% of fiber, and significant amounts of calcium, iron, and zinc.
Broccoli Comparison With Cabbage
You’ve heard million times that cabbage is a super healthy snack for ducks, and that’s true – you can learn more about feeding ducks cabbage.
However, in the table below, let’s compare it with broccoli to see how it provides much more nutrients.
| Nutrient | Broccoli Raw 3.5oz (100gr) | Cabbage Raw 3.5oz (100gr) |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 2.57g | 1.28g |
| Fat | 0.34g | 0.10g |
| Fiber | 2.4g | 2.5g |
| Sugar | 1.7g | 3.2g |
| Niacin | 0.61mg | 0.23mg |
| Vitamin C | 91.3mg | 36.6mg |
| Vitamin K | 102mcg | 76mcg |
| Riboflavin | 0.11mg | 0.04mg |
| Calcium | 46mg | 40mg |
| Iron | 0.69mg | 0.47mg |
| Potassium | 303mg | 170mg |
| Zinc | 0.42mg | 0.18mg |
The moral of the story is to show you that you can’t rely only on one food and believe that will make your ducks super healthy.
Like every living creature, ducks need varieties in their diet to be healthy.
Specially formulated duck feed is doing that – ensures that the duck gets all the vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber in one day.
And not only to get in any amount but in a well-balanced way. That’s why we should keep veggies and fruit as occasional treats.
How Much Broccoli Is Enough to Ducks
You are probably feeding your ducks all kinds of veggies (like carrots and cucumber), fruit, grains, and whatnot.
Like we all do.
However, keep track of how much broccoli (and any other treat) you give your flock.
You can provide your ducks the broccoli a few times per week.
And daily, I would say between 1.7-3 ounces (50-85g) per duck.
If you give them that much, don’t add more veggies or fruit that day.
That would be enough because duck feed pellets should be the majority of their daily intake, 90%.
Only 10% of their daily diet should be veggies, fruit, seeds, or grains.
Broccoli and Ducks – Preparation Tips
You can prepare the broccoli for your ducks in a few minutes:
- wash it thoroughly
- quick boil to kill the germs (you will also kill some nutrients)
- chop it into tiny pieces (crowning head, leaves, stalks, even stalks)
- mix with water or mix in their feed
Few more things to consider when serving broccoli to your ducks:
- you can feed ducks raw broccoli as well
- if you give them leftovers, make sure there is no salt or oil
- always provide them with fresh broccoli
- broccoli should not make up more than 10% of your duck’s diet
And My Ducklings? Can They Eat Broccoli
As you know, ducklings need more protein in the first few weeks than adult ducks.
Also, the diet should be well balanced, meaning there is plenty of minerals, vitamins, and an exact amount of protein, fiber, and fat.
It is impossible to track the amount of all nutrients if we give them broccoli, other veggies, or fruit.
Not to Mention – The lack of certain, for them crucial nutrients (like calcium and niacin), in a vegetable like broccoli.
So I suggest sticking to the duckling’s pellets until they are four weeks old.
After that, you can start giving them “treats” like broccoli, peas, oats, strawberries, or similar food.
Final Thoughts
It is okay to feed broccoli to ducks.
This veggie is a perfect supplement full of water, vitamin K and vitamin C that will improve your ducks’ well-being.
However, it is essential to set the limits because broccoli lacks several vital nutrients your ducks need to stay in good shape.
It’s best not to feed them more than 3 ounces (85g) per duck per day. And don’t feed them broccoli every day.
Sometimes mix their feed with other vegetables, fruit (like apples or bananas), grains, or seeds – they love all kinds of food.
All you need to do is stick to the 10% rule – 90% duck feed pellet and 10% snacks daily.