What to feed ducks?

[ShanghaiJill]

There's a great tradition around here of feeding ducks in the big park.  Generations have done it.

Can anyone think of something more nutritious to feed them other than bread?  I saw people flinging pails of grain (minus the pail! ), but that doesn't seem like fun.

[Outdoor Girl]

I've used whole corn, from my local feed store.  You can throw it out by handfuls, like bread.

In a pinch, I've also used frozen corn.

[mechtilde]

Something more meaty- like dried mealworms? It might depend on the species, but I think most ducks include worms/insects etc in their diet, and if other people are feeding them non-meat foods, it might be a welcome supplement.

[Namárië]

I'm glad to see you're not planning on feeding them bread; I was all prepared with my "bread is junk food for ducks" speech and everything!

Other options include oats, wheat, barley, milo/grain sorghum, shredded lettuce, or cracked/frozen corn, like Outdoor Girl suggested.

[Bijou]

I'm glad to see that the suggestions on here are not junk food, too.  People feed the gulls around here bread, fries, chips...such a bad idea.

[Slartibartfast]

Not only is bread junk food, it can greatly contribute to . . . shall we say, the amount of evidence the ducks leave behind?

[SamiHami]

Grapes. My dad works at a park/campground and the ducks lovelovelove red grapes.

[ShanghaiJill]

Not only is bread junk food, it can greatly contribute to . . . shall we say, the amount of evidence the ducks leave behind?

You would love our park's set up.  They have a handicapped accessible wooden dock (with appropriate rails) that people can stand on and feed the ducks in the water and on the shore.   No much "evidence" in, well, evidence.

[mechtilde]

DH suggests slugs. But I notice he isn't volunteering to collect them for you.