Cantaloupe is one of the healthy fruits we consume for refreshment. It is also known as rock melon.
If you have cantaloupe in abundance at your disposal and you are raising ducks at the yard, you might be wondering if you can serve cantaloupe to the ducks.
In this blog post, you are going to discover if it is good to serve cantaloupe to the ducks or not.
Can ducks eat cantaloupe? Ducks can eat cantaloupe. Ducks can also eat the rind of cantaloupe. Cantaloupe is a good source of vitamin A and potassium for the ducks.
You can simply include cantaloupe into the meal plan of your ducks and other birds you have in the yard.
Cantaloupe can also be served to the ducklings but it has to be served in moderation.
Table of Contents
Is cantaloupe poisonous to ducks?
Cantaloupe is not poisonous to the ducks and ducklings. Cantaloupe does not contain any poisonous substance that can harm the well-being of the ducks and ducklings if they consume it.
None of the common toxic substances like solanine, Thamamine, Lectin etc that are found in weed, is not present in cantaloupe.
It is very important to know the nutritional facts of any treat you want to introduce to the ducks and other pets in the yard.
You need to determine the level of toxicity of the treat you want to serve the ducks.
This will help you to determine the frequency with which you will serve the treats to the ducks or to avoid serving it to the ducks completely.
Some pet owners treat their ducks like something which is less valuable. They serve the pets with whatever treat they see.
And they never care about the nutritional contents in that treats which they are serving the ducks.
This should not be the case with you, you must always give something that will enrich the pets and improve their well-being.
How do I introduce cantaloupe to the ducks?
If you have been feeding the ducks with the likes of watermelon, cucumber, pineapple etc, introducing cantaloupe to them should not be a problem.
First, you need to go slow anytime you want to introduce cantaloupe to the ducks.
You do this by giving them a small portion of cantaloupe in the feeder and watch how they are going to react towards it.
The amount of cantaloupe you are going to give the ducks should not be enough for them to eat if it happens that they actually accept it.
The reason is that a small amount will raise their appetite and they will be looking for more of the cantaloupe if they actually found the fruit palatable.
On the other hand, you are going to realise less waste if it happens that the ducks reject the cantaloupe you are introducing to them.
You need to first peel off the skin of the fruit and slice it into smaller pieces and put them in the feeder for the ducks.
If you are buying the cantaloupe from the store, it is very essential to raise it very well before you embark on serving it to the ducks.
This will help to get rid of any herbicide applied on the fruit while it is still in the store. It is good to always have something safe for the ducks and other pets.
How often do I feed my ducks with cantaloupe?
Now that you know you can serve cantaloupe to the ducks, that does not mean that you should go all out and start serving every cantaloupe fruit you have to the ducks.
Serving treats have to be done in moderation when it comes to serving treats to the pet like ducks.
I know it can be very tempting to feed whatever you have at hand to the ducks and other pets when the main feed you serve them has been exhausted.
Cantaloupe should not be served more than two times in a week for the ducks even if you have them in abundance at your disposal.
Can ducks eat cooked cantaloupe?
Some people make use of cantaloupe when they are preparing special dishes. If you do this and you have some leftovers of cooked cantaloupe, it might come to your mind to serve them to the ducks.
I need to be very honest here, I have never served cooked cantaloupe to the ducks or any other bed before.
Ducks should be able to eat cooked cantaloupe. You can put a small portion of cooked cantaloupe into the feeders for the ducks to see how they are going to react to the leftovers.
Can ducklings eat cantaloupe?
Ducklings can also eat cantaloupe once they are up to four weeks and above.
At this stage, they would have developed a vibrant digestive system that is capable of breaking down the nutrients in the cantaloupe.
Just make sure you slice the cantaloupe fruits into small pieces and mash them a little bit for the ducklings to pick up easily.
Can ducks survive on cantaloupe only?
Ducks like cantaloupe but they can not survive on cantaloupe only. Cantaloupe can only offer some nutrients to the ducks at the expense of others.
Cantaloupes do not have much protein in their nutritional value. Ducks and ducklings need more protein in their feed for proper growth and repair of body tissue.
I know you might be tempted to serve cantaloupe only to the ducks when their main feed has been exhausted.
If this happens, you should serve only cantaloupe to the ducks pending the time you get another feed for the birds.
Health benefits of cantaloupe to the ducks
Cantaloupe is nutritious and it contains some vitamins and minerals which are essential for the wellbeing of the ducks and ducklings.
Cantaloupe contains a good amount of vitamin C which acts as an antioxidant in the body system of the ducks.
Other nutrients which ducks are going to derive from the eating cantaloupe are vitamin K, copper, magnesium, selenium potassium, fibre etc
Other treats you can serve the ducks.
These are some other healthy treats which you serve the ducks.
Kale
Kale is one of the healthy vegetables which you can serve to the ducks as a treat. You can serve Kale only for the ducks or with other veggies.
Broccoli
Broccoli is another favourite treat which you can serve to the ducks. Broccoli also comes with a sufficient amount of vitamin C for the ducks.
Bell peppers
Ducks can also eat bell peppers. Ducks do not feel the hotness of bell peppers but it is good to serve the pepper in moderation.
Cashews
Cashews are another treat you can serve the ducks. Ducks can only eat the flesh of the cashew, you should never serve them with the seed.
Conclusion
Ducks can eat cantaloupe and it is safe for them. Cantaloupe is a good source of fibre and other essential nutrients for the ducks. You can serve cantaloupe only or together with other treats for the ducks.
Reference
https://www.medicinenet.com/10_benefits_of_eating_cantaloupe/article.htm
