April 10, 2025, 9:07 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Children especially enjoy feeding ducks with bread. But some adults also regularly visit city parks to “do something good” for the animals and set up actual feeding stations. The ducks are happy. However, bread can be not only unhealthy but also dangerous for ducks. PETBOOK explains why.
Be honest! Who hasn’t fed ducks with bread at some point? In the past, people thought they were doing the animals a favor and simultaneously preventing food from ending up in the trash. A win-win situation, so to speak. Nowadays, it’s known that feeding old bread to waterfowl is more harmful than helpful.
When ducks have the choice between laboriously searching for food at the bottom of the pond or simply being tossed a tasty piece of bread, they choose—like us humans—the “fast food.” It’s quick, easy, and tastes good, but unfortunately, it’s indigestible and leads to malnutrition over time.
The reason is that bread contains a lot of carbohydrates and few valuable nutrients, as well as salt and sugar. It also swells in the ducks’ stomachs because they usually swallow it with a sip of water, which can lead to digestive problems. If you want to support waterfowl with feeding during the winter months, you should opt for species-appropriate alternatives. However, it’s important to know that ducks are wild birds that find enough food even in winter. Only old and sick animals don’t survive the harsh winter, which keeps their population healthy in the long run!
Reasons Not to Feed Ducks Bread
As mentioned earlier, the salt and sugar in bread are not healthy for waterfowl. Additionally, hard bread can cause problems in the throat or stomach. There’s even a risk that the animals could choke on it.
Bread leftovers sink to the bottom of the water and rot. These decay processes deplete the water of oxygen. At the same time, nutrients enter the water and accelerate algae growth. This can lead to an algae bloom, and the pond can turn into a muddy broth without oxygen due to the decomposition of the algae.
What many also don’t know: Bread floating in the water that hasn’t been eaten can’t be collected and attracts rats.1
Also interesting: These ducks swim in German waters
Is Feeding Ducks Bread Deadly?
Bread and rolls can cause digestive problems in waterfowl. If the animals swallow dry bread, it can swell in the stomach and throat of ducks, as well as swans and geese. In the worst case, the animals can die from it.
There’s another reason why feeding ducks bread can be deadly. Even the ducklings learn that begging pays off. The animals often lose all fear of humans and even waddle onto picnic blankets in parks to grab a tasty bite. If they get too close to dogs, children, or vehicles and don’t move away quickly enough, they could be injured or killed. 2
Species-Appropriate Food for Ducks
Ducks in the wild eat grass, roots, grains, seeds, and kernels. They also don’t turn down acorns, sunflower seeds, or salads. If you want to support the animals with food on particularly cold days, here’s an overview of foods that are suitable for ducks:3
- Oats
- Bran
- Waterfowl feed
- Acorns
- Sunflower seeds
- Lettuce
- Corn
- Chopped, cooked potatoes
The Biggest Pet Food Myths Exposed
What Animals Can Be Kept in a Small Pond?
Make Your Own Duck Feed
You can make your own duck feed by mixing oats, bran, waterfowl feed, acorns, sunflower seeds, lettuce, corn, and chopped, cooked potatoes with water or milk.
The feed should be chopped so that the animals can easily eat it with their beaks and swallow it without any problems.
Please make sure to feed on small amounts and collect any leftover food! Ducks cannot break down their food, and without water, there’s a risk they could choke on it.
Important: Always feed only small amounts and collect leftover food! On particularly cold days, if you want to support the animals with food, here’s an overview of foods that are suitable for ducks:3
Experiences with Feeding My Backyard Ducks
In my garden, there’s not only a small pond but also a charming little pond right next to my property. Last year, there were 15 ducks, and now about 30 of these beautiful waterfowl have come, as word seems to have spread that my birdhouse always has delicious sunflower seeds falling from it.
My gang of ducks probably comes from the nearby Hellabrunn Zoo. My enthusiasm was not only limited, but it was completely overwhelming, so I bought 15 kilos of special waterfowl feed to provide them with species-appropriate food.
The excitement was not only limited, it was simply completely overwhelming, so I bought 15 kilos of special waterfowl feed to feed them. The enthusiasm was not only limited, it was simply completely overwhelming, so I bought 15 kilos of special waterfowl feed.
The excitement was not only limited, it was simply completely overwhelming, so I bought 15 kilos of special waterfowl feed. I am already looking forward to spring and the numerous offspring of these colorful beauties.