Can Ducks Eat Broccoli?

Ducks enjoy a pretty varied diet whether they are in the wild or a domestic setting, but like so many animals, they tend to fall into a pattern of eating mostly mainstay items with a few other foods as supplements.

This is certainly true for domestic ducks, particularly, which often live on a diet of duck feed with some fruits and veggies thrown in now and then for a variety.

Ducks can eat all sorts of greenery, but surprisingly not every vegetable is a good choice for them, even some of the really healthy ones. How about broccoli, for instance? Is broccoli okay for ducks to eat?

Yes, broccoli is safe for ducks to eat and highly nutritious, but chances are they will only be interested in the leaves. Broccoli florets and stems tend to be disliked by ducks and difficult for them to eat. All parts of the plant are nutritious, however.

When it comes to ducks, eating broccoli is more a matter of taste and preference than it is health and safety. I’ve known a few birds that seem to like it just fine, and others that won’t eat it at all unless they have absolutely no other choice and are very hungry.

It all boils down to the preferences of your flock. Keep reading, and I’ll tell you about how broccoli can fit into the diet of your ducks.

Do Ducks Like Broccoli?

In my experience, no, not really. Most ducks do like the leaves just fine, but the rest of the plant? They could take it or leave it…

That includes the florets and the stems, although with some careful preparation and chopping into small bits, it is possible to get ducks interested in it consistently.

Is Broccoli a Nutritious Option?

Yes, broccoli is extremely nutritious. It’s known as one of the healthiest vegetables around, and that’s a reputation it certainly deserves.

Broccoli contains abundant vitamins and minerals, including a decent amount of vitamin A and beta carotene, most of the B-complex vitamins in the form of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6 and folate with a huge amount of vitamin C and vitamin K in the bargain.

The mineral content is also quite good, and ducks can certainly benefit from the ample iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc that broccoli has.

Together, all these vitamins and minerals can significantly boost the health of your flock, enhancing eyesight and nervous system health, cellular maintenance, metabolism, organ function, growth, healing, circulatory health, and the formation of new red blood cells to carry oxygen.

Broccoli is highly beneficial for ducks, but only if they will actually eat it; as mentioned, plenty some ducks just won’t touch it.

Is Raw Broccoli Safe?

Yes, raw broccoli is safe for ducks and, assuming they’ll eat it, is the best way that they can get it. It’s still pretty easy for them to digest and it also has the most vitamins and minerals to offer.

Are Broccoli Florets Okay for Ducks?

Yes, broccoli florets – those are the little fuzzy, seedy parts on top that we eat- are safe for ducks to eat.

The problem is that ducks tend to avoid them entirely and must be enticed to start eating them. If you’re going to have any consistent success when serving it to them, you’ll have to experiment.

Are Broccoli Stalks Safe for Ducks to Eat?

Yes, broccoli stalks are safe for ducks also. But just like the florets, most won’t show any interest in eating them unless they are chopped up into tiny bits that are easy for them to swallow. Even then, don’t count on it.

If you’re going to try, harvest the smaller stems that fork and branch off into the florets near the top. The tough, woody main stalk is usually ignored by ducks.

Can Ducks Eat Broccoli Leaves?

Yes, and I’m happy to report that this is the one part of the plant that they will tend to eat voluntarily and consistently. They love all sorts of leafy greenery, and broccoli leaves certainly fall into that category.

Don’t throw those leaves away when preparing the broccoli because your birds should love it.

Is Cooked Broccoli Okay for Ducks?

Yes, cooked broccoli is just fine for ducks. Although it’s something of a trade-off because cooking will cause it to lose vitamins and minerals that can benefit them, there is a chance that it could make it more appealing to them.

Lightly steaming or roasting the broccoli is worth a try if you are dead-set on getting your ducks to eat it. As always, be sure to let it cool before serving.

Is Broccoli Harmful or Toxic for Ducks in Any Way?

It can be, but this is only really a concern if they are getting too much broccoli in a single serving, or if they are getting too much in their diet generally.

Either outcome is only practically possible if you serve them too much, and even then, it is unlikely ducks will like it enough to eat too much on an ongoing basis.

Nonetheless, if they do eat too much, too often, broccoli consumption is likely to cause digestive slowdown in ducks and also lead to nutritional imbalances; it’s not a nutritionally complete food for them.

Ducks that fill up on broccoli are going to be missing out on other, better foods that they need more.

How Often Can Ducks Eat Broccoli?

You can give ducks one or two small servings of broccoli weekly. If they’ll eat it, it can provide them a great shot of nutrients that will improve their health and well-being without risking any complications.

And just as a reminder, don’t go crazy trying to get your ducks to eat the stuff if they don’t like it: lots of them don’t, and there are plenty of other whole foods that they will eat as treats or supplements instead.

Preparing Broccoli for Your Ducks

If you can, you should get your ducks to eat broccoli raw. The approach that worked best for me and other duck owners I know is to cut up the florets into small sprigs or bits. This will make them much easier for ducks to handle when they are dipping them prior to swallowing.

Another worthwhile strategy is to lightly steam or roast the broccoli in order to soften it before chopping it up as before.

Remember to keep the leaves, they’ll love those, and if you’re going to try to entice them to eat the stems, you’ll need to chop them up into tiny cubes. Good luck!

Never Give Ducks Broccoli if Rotting or Moldy

Ducks should never, ever be fed any broccoli, or any other vegetable or food for that matter, it is spoiled or moldy. Ducks aren’t invincible, and bad food can make them sick in a whole host of ways.

Quite a few molds that are associated with food contamination actually produce dangerous toxins that can make them horrendously sick or even kill them!

Broccoli that is yellowing a little bit or wilting isn’t a problem, but my rule of thumb is that I won’t give my birds anything that I wouldn’t eat myself.

Make Sure You Pick up Leftover Broccoli

Considering how picky your birds are likely to be when it comes to eating broccoli, there’s a high likelihood of leftover bits lying around once they’ve had their fill. Make it a point to pick up after them: don’t leave the scraps lying around.

Broccoli tends to go bad quickly, and if any of your poor ducks come back around later and eat these spoiled remnants, it could make them sick as described above.

Is Broccoli Safe for Ducklings?

Yes, but they should only get the tiniest bits of the florets or leaves once they’re old enough to start eating whole foods.

And this isn’t a situation where getting them started young will pave the way for better compliance when they are adults: ducklings tend to turn up their bills at broccoli the same as their older relatives do! Don’t waste too much time trying to force it on them.