Yes, you can feed celery to ducks. Celery is a nutritious vegetable that offers health benefits to ducks. It’s safe for them to consume the leaves, stalks, and roots of celery. However, when feeding ducks celery stalks, it’s essential to chop them into bite-sized pieces, as the strings in celery can be challenging for ducks to digest properly.
So, let’s get to know in what proportion you should provide celery to your duck.
Is Celery Good for Ducks?
Yes, Celery can help fight against various health issues but the vegetable has no taste, so you need to serve it at frequent intervals as the ducks might not like to eat it. You can provide the leaves, stalk, and seeds of the celery to the ducks but it should be in moderation.
Celery does not have any strong flavor, so picky ducks might not like it. However, you must include celery in your daily diet owing to its nutritional benefits. You can mix celery with other vegetables, fruits, or any food item that the duck prefers.
Can You Provide Every Part of the Celery to the Duck?
Yes, ducks can consume every part of the celery starting from the stalk to the leaves to the roots and also the pulp.
What are the Benefits of Feed Celery to Ducks?
Celery has multiple vitamins, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, folate, Niacin, and thiamin. It also has many minerals, such as copper, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. Along with that celery is also filled with protein, carbs, and dietary fiber, so it provides many health benefits such as –
Reduces Inflammation
Celery has swelling and pain-reducing formula, so if the duck is injured or there is inflammation, celery can reduce it.
Support in Digestion
Celery is rich in fiber and so supports smooth digestion preventing the occurrence of constipation in ducks.
Antioxidant Property
Celery has Vitamin C, flavonoids, and beta carotenoids as its nutritional composition which makes it rich in antioxidants. So, it shields the cells of the body from free radicals, maintains the blood vessels, and protects different organs of the duck from damage.
Neutralizing Effect
Celery is alkaline in nature, so it can reduce acidity, which can occur due to the consumption of other food items.
How Can You Provide Celery to a Duck?
Let’s learn about some DIY treats that you can prepare with celery for ducks:
Green Veggies
Take 3 broccoli, 2 to 3 leaves of lettuce, 2 stalks of celery, and 2 small basil leaves, and all should be finely chopped. Mix them and put โ of a cup of water and let it soak for a while before you serve it to the duck in small amounts.
Fruit Salad
Take 4 to 6 grapes, one-half banana, 3 mint leaves, 2 small celery sticks, fine chop them and mix them well. Add one-third cup of water, make a thick mixture, and then serve it in small quantities to the ducks.
Grains Mix With Celery
Take 4 small stalks of celery, one cup of cooked brown rice, โ of cooked corn kernels, ยผ cup of dried or fresh oregano. Mix them well, allow the mixture to get thick, and then serve it in small quantities to the duck. However, if you are using rice, check that it is well-cooked so that there is no risk of choking.
What is the Risk of Consuming Celery by Duck?
Anything in excess can deteriorate the health of the duck, it can develop toxicity and other issues in the long run. If excess amounts of celery are given to the ducks, then they can become salt intolerant as the sodium content of the body expands. Also, the celery has a stringy fiber which creates the risk of choking in the ducks, if swallowed in a hurry, resulting in respiratory problems. Thus, it is always advised to feed Celery in moderation.
Can Celery Cause Digestive Issues?
Yes, high fiber content in celery can lead to digestive issues, such as bloating, gas formation, and diarrhea. You need to monitor the digestive health of the duck, whenever you introduce celery to their diet.
Can Celery Cause a Disruption in the Electrolyte Balance?
Celery has high water content so if too much is consumed, it can disrupt the electrolyte balance in the duck. Excess water content in the body can dilute the electrolyte level of the system which includes sodium and potassium. This affects the functioning of nerves and muscles, so you need to maintain a well-balanced diet so that the electrolytes are present in the proper amount.
What are the Alternative Food Options in Place of Celery for Ducks?
In place of celery, you can provide green leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, or spinach which are packed with minerals and vitamins. You can also provide them with a good carbohydrate source by including corn and rice in their diet. Other than this, seeds like sunflower seeds and millet can be an exciting treat. They also get a natural source of protein from insects and small fishes they consume while swimming. You can also get formulated commercial duck feed which is manufactured to meet the dietary needs of the duck and it is also a convenient option.ย