Peanuts are nutritious, delicious, and conveniently available at plenty of groceries and supermarkets. These are all reasons that make them such great snacks.
But can you feed them to ducks? Can ducks eat peanuts?
The short answer is: yes, ducks can eat peanuts. Keep in mind, however, that they’re best eaten roasted, unsalted, and in moderation. Also, as peanuts can get stuck in a duck’s throat, you should grind them up into extremely tiny pieces before giving them to your feathered friend.
Keep reading to learn more about how peanuts can benefit ducks, and what you can do to make eating peanuts safer for our avian pals!
5 Key Reasons Why Peanuts Are Good for Ducks
Peanuts are good for ducks because of the following reasons:
1. They’re rich in protein
Peanuts are protein-rich foods, with around 22% to 30% of their total calories being protein.
Protein is necessary for ducks, as it plays a key role in the development and health maintenance of their muscles, blood, skin, feathers, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments. As these are all required for healthy growth, this nutrient is of particular importance to ducklings.
When a duck’s body processes protein, it’s also broken down into amino acids, which grant the animal the energy it needs not just to survive but also to move around.
Deficiencies can compromise the immune system, which can increase the risk of a duck suffering from illnesses or diseases. It can also result in the diminished health of cells, organs, skin, and feathers; weight loss; anemia; neurological problems; and more.
A duckling that doesn’t get enough protein may suffer from stunted growth, a weaker body, and, in general, poorer health.
2. They’re fibrous
Peanuts are a good source of fiber.
Fiber keeps the duck’s digestive system healthy and prevents elimination issues such as constipation and diarrhea.
Fiber also makes a duck feel full, thus preventing it from overeating and growing obese. This is great for ducks, as obesity increases the risk of dangerous chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Obesity also puts the bones under a lot of strain, resulting in joint pain that can then discourage a duck from engaging in the physical activity it needs to lose weight and become healthier.
3. They contain fat
Peanuts are high in healthy fats; between 44% and 56% of their total calories are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
Duck bodies need these fats to become more efficient at absorbing crucial vitamins such as vitamins A, D, and E. These fats are also a source of fatty acids, which provide ducks with the energy they need to remain capable of mobility.
4. They boast many vitamins
Peanuts are chockfull of vitamins that ducks can’t do without.
Biotin (vitamin B7) is vital to the healthy formation and maintenance of skin. It’s also required for the normal function of the nervous system, reproductive tract, and adrenal and thyroid glands.
Niacin (vitamin B3) helps keep a duck’s skin and nerves in good health. It also supports proper energy production and plays a role in many physiologic and enzymatic reactions in the body.
An antioxidant, vitamin E works with fellow antioxidants to prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals. This, in turn, helps maintain a healthy immune system that staves off illnesses and diseases. This vitamin also improves the duck’s responses to stress. Additionally, it’s necessary for normal growth in ducklings, healthy fertility in mature ducks, and the efficient digestion of polyunsaturated fats.
Folic acid (vitamin B9) is involved in many processes, including the use of amino acids to build new proteins, the formation of blood cells, DNA synthesis, rapid cell growth, the maintenance of healthy immune function, and more.
Thiamine (vitamin B1) is critical for healthy growth and development. Additionally, it’s involved in supplying a duck’s body with the metabolic energy it requires to move around and stay alive.
5. They have high mineral content
Peanuts are loaded with minerals that are important for the continued good health of ducks.
Phosphorus is essential for many biological processes, including protein and amino acid synthesis, cell growth, energy use, and energy storage. It’s also a vital structural component of bone, DNA, and RNA.
Copper is critical for the normal, healthy growth and metabolism of ducks.
Magnesium maintains the health of the brain, nerves, reproductive system, and digestive system. Additionally, it instructs calcium to keep a duck’s bones healthy and strong.
Manganese helps ensure healthy growth and bone development. It contributes to the strengthening of eggshells. It also supports carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
How to Feed Peanuts to Ducks Safely
As mentioned in the intro, you should exercise caution when feeding ducks peanuts. Below, you’ll find out how.
Get rid of peanut shells
Don’t give your duck peanut shells; just throw them away.
Ducks have a long, thin throat and swallow their food whole. These factors make it easy for something as rigid and large as peanut shells to get stuck in a duck’s throat and cause potentially deadly choking.
In addition, peanut shells have no nutritional value, so there’s no point in grinding them up for your duck to consume.
Roast peanuts
We recommend roasting peanuts before giving them to your avian friend.
This is because raw peanuts contain the enzyme trypsin, which can harm ducks and other birds.
When roasting peanuts for your duck, however, make sure you don’t use any ingredients and seasonings such as salt, butter, oil, herbs, or spices, as these can harm your pet. In other words, keep the roasted peanuts as plain as possible so they’re safe for your tiny friend to eat.
Grind or crush peanuts into small pieces
Like peanut shells, the peanuts themselves are hard and large. And because ducks can’t chew food into tinier bits, these big, tough peanuts can get stuck in a duck’s long, thin esophagus
To prevent a duck from choking on peanuts that have gotten stuck in its esophagus, grind or crush said peanuts into extremely fine pieces before feeding them to your bird.
Avoid overfeeding
In general, two peanuts a day should do for an adult duck. These can be given as snacks or added to a meal.
This is because too much of a good thing can be bad for ducks. Peanuts, after all, are high in fats, and while these are healthy fats, an excess of them can still contribute to unhealthy weight gain.
The duck’s digestive system is also not particularly efficient at processing peanuts, so eating many of them could cause issues such as stomach upsets and diarrhea.
In addition, while peanuts are nutritious, they don’t contain all the nutrients a duck needs to survive, so you should never feed it a diet consisting only of peanuts – it needs to enjoy a rich assortment of fruits, veggies, and meats.
Don’t use old, moldy peanuts
Peanuts tend to get moldy quickly – which is bad news for ducks, as various mold species, especially those containing mycotoxins, can kill them. Thankfully, there are many ways to ensure your duck doesn’t end up eating moldy peanuts.
For starters, don’t give a duck any peanuts that have been exposed to the air for a considerable amount of time. Any peanuts you feed your pet should be fresh from their container. Remember to throw away uneaten nuts, too.
It’s better to hand-feed a duck than to throw peanuts on the ground for it to find. This is because peanuts on the ground may go ignored for a while, allowing them to become contaminated with mold.
Also, mycotoxins are more likely to be produced during colder months, so be particularly careful when feeding ducks peanuts during winter.
Symptoms that a duck has been poisoned by mycotoxins include:
- Blindness
- Confusion
- Difficulty flying
- Flapping of the wings
- Lethargy
- Tremors
Some birds don’t display such symptoms and instead die not long after ingesting a moldy peanut.
Avoid peanuts that contain harmful ingredients
Many commercial peanuts contain ingredients that can harm ducks. Some, for example, come with a ton of salt – and consuming an abundance of salt can kill ducks.
Other commercial peanut varieties contain oil, sugar, and/or butter. These are exceptionally fattening, so any duck that eats them frequently is at risk of growing obese. Obesity is associated with serious chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which can harm a duck’s quality of life and even cut its life short.
Oils and fats can also cause ducks to lose their feathers at a quick rate. As ducks depend on their feathers to survive, this can grow into a dangerous problem for them.
Then you have preservatives, artificial flavoring, and all sorts of other chemicals that can cause allergic reactions in ducks.
FAQs About Peanuts for Ducks
Let’s answer some other questions about peanuts for ducks!
Do ducks enjoy eating peanuts?
Yes, they do. Ducks love peanuts for their delicious taste and fascinating texture.
However, being ducks, these animals don’t always know what’s good or bad for them. Therefore, it’s our responsibility as their caretakers to ensure our ducks eat appropriately so they can stay in excellent health.
Can ducks eat cooked peanuts?
Yes. In fact, ducks should only eat peanuts that have been roasted, as raw peanuts contain an enzyme called trypsin, which is harmful to them.
You can use a pan, microwave, or oven to roast peanuts. You’ll know they’re ready for consumption when they start smelling like popcorn.
Don’t use any ingredients such as salt, sugar, butter, oils, or spices, as they can cause illness in ducks. In other words, keep peanuts as plain as possible if you’re planning on feeding them to ducks.
Can ducklings eat peanuts?
You have to wait until a duckling is at least four weeks old before feeding it peanuts. Before this age, it should only eat duckling feed.
Peanuts are great for ducklings as their high protein content ensures it develops strong bones and enjoys healthy growth. The other nutrients found in peanuts can also benefit them in all the ways discussed above.
Keep in mind, however, that overfeeding ducklings can lead to serious issues, so feed them peanuts as an occasional treat only.
Can ducks eat peanut butter?
Technically, yes, ducks can eat peanut butter.
However, as many commercial peanut butter varieties contain ingredients that can harm them (such as additives and processed sugar), we recommend being careful when choosing peanut butter for your feathery friend.
It’s also not a good idea to feed ducks peanut butter in excess or regularly, as its sugar and fat content can contribute to weight gain. Feed them peanut butter in small quantities and as an occasional treat only.
Nope. Peanut butter cookies or biscuits are rich in sugar and possibly toxic ingredients. If you don’t want your duck getting obscenely overweight or suffering from serious illness, don’t give it peanut butter cookies or biscuits!
Can ducks eat peanut butter balls?
Definitely not. Peanut butter balls are high in fat. To make matters worse, they also contain chocolate, which is bad for ducks due to containing a chemical called theobromine.
Theobromine is known to be toxic to dogs, but it’s also toxic to ducks. When absorbed by a duck’s body, this chemical impacts the digestive system to cause diarrhea and vomiting. As the condition worsens, it affects the central nervous system, leading to seizures and, ultimately, death.
Conclusion
Can ducks eat peanuts? Indeed, they can!
Peanuts are not only delicious but also nutrient-rich. They provide ducks with lots of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, all of which benefit ducks in many ways.
When feeding peanuts to a duck, however, make sure to exercise caution. Don’t feed it peanut shells, as these can cause choking. Make sure the peanuts are roasted, unsalted, and crushed or ground into tiny pieces. Other things to keep in mind include not overfeeding your pet peanuts; avoiding giving it old, moldy peanuts; and giving it plain peanuts only.
Do your duck a favor: give it roasted, unsalted peanuts in moderation so it can enjoy their delicious taste and benefit from their nutritional richness!