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Even though ducks can eat lettuce, you should know a few things before letting them destroy the entire lettuce in a few minutes.
If you serve them lettuce as a meal, most likely than not, your ducks will get diarrhea.
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The feed-in moderation rule must be applied if you want to keep them in fine shape.
Is Lettuce Healthy for Ducks
It is if you feed them in moderation.
Duck owners know that the primary food source should be only specially formulated commercial food, and giving them any other vegetable or fruit should be only an occasional event.
No matter what type of lettuce you give your ducks, this leafy vegetable is full of vitamins and minerals that your ducks need.
Vitamins that count the most are vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, and K. Lettuce is also full of Folate (B9).
When you feed your ducks lettuce, they will use manganese, iron, and calcium from this delicious leafy green when it comes to minerals.
Don’t Forget – Important to note is that vegetable is low in protein and niacin, and the calcium level is not enough for your ducks.
Again, keep in mind that real food for ducks is pellets. Vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and water. But it is not a replacement for duck food.
What About Baby Ducks?
If your ducklings are older than four weeks, you can introduce them to a new snack.
Ducklings older than four weeks will appreciate a few bites of lettuce, but keep track of their food intake.
Please don’t allow them to overeat lettuce and lose the appetite for the niacin-rich duckling’s feed.
Yes, lettuce is full of vitamins and minerals, but there is not enough calcium and niacin in lettuce that could replace the primary food source for your ducklings.
How Much Lettuce Ducks Can Eat
Follow the golden rule of 10-15% of their daily diet.
And avoid giving them lettuce every day – 2 times per week is enough. Probably you are giving them other vegetables as well.
So make sure not to overdo it. Ducks don’t need a huge amount of vegetables in their diet.
You can give your ducks a few leaves of lettuce but do not allow them to eat more than that.
One of the reasons is colossal diarrhea.
The other reason is that this vegetable doesn’t have enough protein, calcium, and energy to keep your ducks in healthy shape.
Yes, as an occasional treat, it is perfect, but nothing more than that.
How to Prepare Lettuce for Ducks?
I always wash it and chop it well.
I like watching my ducks eat lettuce without struggling too much. Also, their stomach will use the ingredients easily if you chop the lettuce.
Final Words
The key takeaway is that you can feed your ducks lettuce as an occasional treat.
Chop them before serving and wash the lettuce to protect your ducks from potential bacteria or pesticides.