Can Ducks Eat Celery? (The Complete Guide)

Celery is on a hype train right now. Not only is it more popular than ever, but the growth it has gained in the last couple of years in the nutrition and health industry is remarkable. It’s not surprising celery is growing in popularity since juice mixers entered millions of homes. More surprising would be a decline in demand for the green stalks.

Not only is it popular in the human world, but even our friends in the animal kingdom also enjoy the taste and the health benefits from celery in their diet. Almost every herbivore and omnivore enjoy it and can devour a stalk in seconds, including both mammals and birds.

Ducks can eat celery, and they love it. Celery stalks are a perfect vegetable for ducks since they come in a perfect shape, have various nutrients, have low calories, are pretty inexpensive, and can easily be mixed with their regular food. The ducks seem to enjoy the taste too.

Celery has 15 calories per 100g grams which are pretty low. Each stalk can be counted as 10 calories. Despite having so few calories, it does come packed with many antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fibers. Every stalk has at least 12 different antioxidants.

Celery helps to reduce stress levels, helps against inflammation, and helps against constipation. Celery also contains phytonutrients that experts say promotes anti-aging.

Can ducks eat celery?

Ducks can definitively eat celery. Celery provides the duck with many of the nutrients they need whilst not adding too many calories to the table. The low amount of calories in celery makes it easy to incorporate into their diet. However, with low calories comes great responsibility. The ducks need some energy to be able to live. Ducks have a limited amount of space in their stomach, and if you are going to fill that with celery, they will soon be fatigued.

Ducks need various sources of food completing each other, and while celery does a great job adding antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, they also require something more energy-dense. Celery and other vegetables ducks can eat are a great addition to the pellets they eat.

Comparing celery to other vegetables

Nutrient (unit)	Carrot	Celeriac	Celery	Broccoli	Kale	Potato
Weight (grams)	100	100	100	100	100	100
Energy (kcal)	36	32	13	40	40	59
Energy (kJ)	152	135	56	167	167	247
Carbohydrates (g)	6,6	4,4	1,5	2,3	3,2	12,5
Fat (g)	0,24	0,5	0,1	0,6	0,7	0,1
Protein (g)	0,69	1,01	0,7	4,31	3,38	1,06
Fiber (g)	2,42	3,1	1,8	4	3,7	1,6
Water (g)	89,45	90	95	88,2	87,5	83,91
Alcohol (g)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ashes (g)	0,58	1,03	0,9	0,6	1,5	0,85
Water-soluble vitamins
Tiamin (mg)	0,04	0,05	0,04	0,15	0,08	0,04
Riboflavin (mg)	0	0,05	0,08	0,12	0,15	0,07
Vitamin C (mg)	4,9	9,2	7	79	74	21,3
Niacin (mg)	0,8	0,56	0,5	0,8	1,89	1,19
Niacin equivalents (NE/mg)	0,9	0,7	0,62	1,5	2,5	1,4
Vitamin B6 (mg)	0,14	0,22	0,09	0,13	0,2	0,14
Vitamin B12 (µg)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Folate (µg)	22,2	58,8	9	95	111	29,7
Fat-soluble vitamins
Retinol (µg)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Vitamin A (RE/µg)	861,5	0,2	9,2	48,4	263	2,2
β-Karoten (µg)	8 695	2	110	578	3 150	27
Vitamin D (µg)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Vitamin E (mg)	0,57	0,2	0,2	1,64	2,12	0,08
Vitamin K (µg)	8	0,8	N/A	101,6	347	1,2
Minerals
Phosphorus (mg)	23	60	26	81	68,9	34,9
Iodine (µg)	0,3	0	1,1	2	0	1,3
Iron (mg)	0,19	0,34	0,4	1,06	0,86	0,58
Calcium (mg)	26	31,5	70	48	128	5
Potassium (mg)	210	296	320	397	378	334,9
Magnesium (mg)	8	11,7	8	22	20,1	19,5
Sodium (mg)	31	45	62	9	21,6	5,4
Salt (g)	0,08	0,11	0,16	0,02	0,05	0,01
Selenium (µg)	0	0	1	1	0	0
Zinc (mg)	0,16	0,34	0,4	0,7	0,44	0,18

Ducks enjoy to eat vegetables – there are some they like to eat more than others and some they can’t eat at all. Found out what vegetables ducks can eat here.

Can ducklings eat celery?

Ducklings can eat celery after they are 4 weeks of age. Before that, their daily intake should consist of at least 22% protein. Their diet for the first four weeks should mainly consist of special duckling feed. However, I would first start by offering them the food as an occasional treat instead of a daily staple. Later, you can gradually incorporate more and more vegetables and other food sources into the duck’s diet.

Do ducks like to eat celery?

Ducks like to eat celery. I don’t know what it is in celery they like, but it goes down – really fast. I would imagine there’s a correlation between accessibility and taste. The small cut pieces in combination with a distinct taste are what does it.

Can ducks eat celery raw?

Ducks can eat raw celery, and you don’t need to cook it. However, it’s crucial that you cut the celery into smaller pieces. A duck would have big problems with a large celery stalk. If you cut the celery vertically in the middle, so you have two long stalks, and then chop both of them into smaller pieces, the ducks will thank you. The smaller pieces of celery will be easy for them to consume and digest.

Ducks also enjoy to eat fruits. There are some fruits you should never feed them. Find out which fruits you should never feed ducks here.

Can ducks eat cooked celery?

Ducks can eat celery, both cooked and raw. I wouldn’t offer braised or sautéd celery since it would have digested oils and spices.

You can offer the cooked celery to the ducks in two ways: steamed celery or boiled celery.

The ducks don’t mind eating the celery raw, so unless you’ve already cooked celery for yourself, you don’t need to go the extra mile for the ducks, in this case.

Can ducks eat celeriac?

Ducks can eat celeriac, but it would require some cutting work from you. The root is pretty tough raw and will need to be cooked and cut before serving it to the ducks. I would instead recommend eating the root yourself and offer the green stems to the ducks. Last year, my family made a Christmas ham from root celery instead of pork which was a great hit.

Can ducks eat frozen celery?

It is ok to freeze celery and later offer it to the ducks. On Sunday’s I usually meal prep. During that time, I cut celery and put it in the freezer in small plastic bags. One bag equals the total amount of celery for the ducks that day. Instead of chopping celery every day, I can bring out a bag of all the celery and let it defrost in some warm water.

It would be best if you didn’t offer the celery frozen. You will need to defrost them before serving.

💡 Ducks like to eat human foods. Some foods aren’t suitable for ducks eat. Learn what human foods you can and can not give to ducks here.

Can ducks eat moldy or rotten celery?

It would be best if you never fed ducks with anything moldy or rotten. Celery is not an exception. Eating bad celery has been shown it can lead to food poisoning, severe stomach aches, and vomiting. You will notice the celery starting to rot at the end of the ribs. They start by withering and then turning darker.

How do you cut celery for ducks?

You can cut celery in different ways. You will need to have in mind the duck’s mouth and their necks. It should fit easily inside their beaks and not be hard for them to swallow. Otherwise, there may be a choking hazard.

I usually mix between two ways, but lately, I’ve been most fond of the latter. I will explain.

How I cut celery for my ducks

1. Remove all the stalks you will need from the root. I go for 5 at a time.
2. Rinse of the dirt
3. Lay them on top of each other like an upsidedown U.
4. Cut them in the middle vertically, so you have the same length as before, but double the celery.
5. Cut all celery at once horizontally from top to bottom. I usually go for .2 inches wide bits.
6. I don’t cut the bottom part and throw it in the compost.
7. Done!

💡 Did you know you can save the bottom and grow new celery within a couple of days? Read more below.

The other way I cut celery for ducks is by using a special celery cutting tool I found on Amazon for cheap.

You cut one rib at a time, but I would say it takes the same amount of time as the first method. And the pieces get even smaller than in the first method. I use the tool for green onions too, (but not for ducks).

The cutting tool makes it safer for kids to cut celery than a kitchen knife since it has a protective surface.

You might want to check it out if you want to up your celery cutting game.

💡 Did you know that ducks like to eat fodders from other animals? Check out what fodders you can feed ducks here.

Safe ways to feed ducks celery

There are some ways to feed ducks celery safely. I will give you my best ways how I prepare celery for my ducks in a secure way.

1. Cut the celery by hand

It’s straightforward to cut celery only by knife. But it may become tedious if you have done it hundreds of times.

You might want to cut the celery 2″ from the bottom and save that part for regrowing the celery later.

Clean and rinse the ribs to remove any dirt. When you are satisfied with the cleaning, you can start cutting. I usually put five stalks on top of each other and cut them vertically. After that, I cut them into .2″ pieces horizontally. That way, the celery becomes smaller in size and easier (safer) for the ducks to eat.

2. Cut with a celery cutting tool

Lately, I’ve been trying a celery cutting tool I found on Amazon, which helps to make the celery even smaller. You simply slice the tool across the celery vertically. The results are nine thin celery stalks which I then cut horizontally with a knife.

3. Use a juice mixer

Sometimes, I like to start the morning with a glass of celery juice. I put five ribs into a juice mixer, and the results are a glass of celery juice with a lot of nutrients. The scraps all cut up can be fed to the ducks. Win-win for both ducks and me. However, sometimes there can be some bigger pieces in the bin. Ensure they are cut smaller before feeding the ducks.

4. Use a food processor

Most food processors have a pulse function. This is great for chopping vegetables. It removes the hassle of cutting the vegetables yourself. The downside, however, is the cleaning afterward. But it is great if you are meal prepping and need to cut a lot of celery at the same time.

5. Feed the ducks celery soup

Ducks also enjoy celery in liquid form. Why not feed them their other foods inside a celery soup? My ducks love it when I bring their breakfast in celery soup. Oats, spinach, and nuts floating around in celery soup.

Chop the bottom part of the celery and place the celery stalks into a blender and let them blend until they are liquid. It is effortless and doesn’t take more than 1-2 minutes. During this time, you can measure the other foods you want to add.

6. Bonustip – Regrow celery from roots

Since we use a lot of celery in this house, we grow much of the celery ourselves. Growing celery doesn’t require much effort and is very straightforward once you discover regrowing.

1. Cut 2 to 3 inches from the base of the celery
2. Remove the outer older stalks
3. Place the celery base in a 1″ of water
4. You will notice the celery is starting to oxidize after a couple of days. Don’t worry. It’s normal.
5. Change the water every 3 days.
6. After a week you should notice a celery growing in the middle of the base.
7. Start looking for small roots starting to grow at the bottom. Look for small white stubs.
8. When you starting to see roots, it’s time to plant the celery into a soil. Either in your garden or in a pot.
9. If you are planting in a pot, fill the pot with organic soil, but leave 20%.
10. Before adding the celery to the pot, soak the pot for an hour in water first.
11. Firmly place the celery on top of the dirt in the pot.
12. Add more of the same potting soil mixture so it covers the celery about 1″.
13. Compress the soil firmly.

Check out the video from The Ripe Tomato Farms below.

Unsafe ways to feed celery to ducks

There are some unsafe ways you can feed celery to ducks which you should avoid.

Check out below which precautions you will need to take before serving celery to ducks.

Beware of these things before serving celery to ducks

• The stalk is uncut
  It’s important to cut the stalks before offering it to ducks. Otherwise, the choking hazard is severe.
  
• The celery haven’t been cleaned
  Celery is grown in the dirt, and needs to be washed before served. There can be insects, dirt, and other things hidden inside the ribs.
• Check if the celery has rotten
  Celery can grow mold and also rot. The leaves will start to wither and alarm you it’s time to consume it.
  
• Chose organic celery
  If you aren’t choosing organic celery it might be sprayed with pestecides. Feeding your ducks with pestecides may be harmful. Instead, grow your own organic celery.
  
• Look out for rubbery stalks
  When celery is starting to go bad the stalks lose their crisp and stiffness. Avoid feeding rubbery stalks to ducks.
  
• Check the entire celery for discolorization
  When the celery is starting to go bad its first noticeable with the leaves. They will lose color and start to wither. Later the stalks will change to a darker color and grow mold. You will also notice the stalks to feel more rubbery.

Ducks love to eat herbs. Are you thinking of adding som plants for your ducks to eat? Learn about what herbs ducks can and can not eat here.

How often can I feed celery to my ducks?

Feeding ducks celery can be done daily as well as an occasional treat. The duck’s regular diet regulates how often you can feed them celery, and if you regulate the feeding from other food sources, you can increase the amount of celery. However, you will always have to be aware of how much food you are feeding your ducks. Otherwise, they can either become overweight or malnourished.

I give celery daily to my ducks and decrease the number of pellets in their diet instead.

How much celery can I feed my ducks?

The amount of celery you can feed your ducks counts on how much other food you give them. Since one celery stalk is around 10 calories, I try to feed my ducks two to three stalks each per day and, sometimes, fewer. Three stalks take up enough place in their stomachs, making them feel full but not full enough. They will look for more food that day and keep themselves busy eating pellets and other vegetables.

Health benefits from feeding celery to ducks

Celery has been described as a superfood many times lately due to its many antioxidants and health benefits. Celery isn’t only packed with vitamins and minerals; it also has some other perks. Celery has been known for reducing stress, reducing inflammation, lowering cholesterol, and helps against constipation.

Celery contains Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C.

Calcium in celery for ducks

Calcium is the foremost mineral in a duck’s diet. Calcium is essential in the egg production and development of healthy duck babies.

Iron in celery for ducks

Iron is an important mineral in the duck’s diet as well. Iron helps the production of hemoglobin which transports oxygen to different body parts.

Potassium in celery for ducks

Potassium is paramount in a duck’s diet, as well as Calcium. Potassium’s role in the body is the regulate the fluid balance and help different cells. For example, nerve cells or muscle cells.

Vitamin A in celery for ducks

Vitamin A helps with eyesight and increases bone health while supporting a healthy immune system.

Vitamin C in celery for ducks

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to improve the overall immune system. The vitamin helps to protect the cells from damage caused by free radicals.

💡 Did you know that ducks are omnivores? Omnivores are animals that eat both plants and other animals. Learn more about what other animals you can feed ducks.

Conclusion

Ducks and ducklings can eat celery, and they will benefit from all the vitamins and minerals. They enjoy the taste of celery but will reject it if it’s served in too large pieces. It would be best if you didn’t offer ducklings celery after they’ve turned 4 weeks of age.

The low amount of calories in celery combined with various minerals and vitamins have made experts calling the vegetable a superfood.

Ducks can eat celery, both raw and cooked. If you feed the ducks cooked celery, it should be either steamed or boiled.

Celeriac is also popular among the ducks but is pretty hard to prepare. It would be best if you only fed them regular celery.

You can feed the ducks frozen celery as long as you have defrosted it first. Meal prepping and storing cut celery in the freezer is an excellent way of saving time in the morning.

It would be best if you didn’t offer ducks any moldy or rotten celery since it can harm them.

Cut celery by using either.

• A regular kitchen knife
• A special celery cutting tool
• Using a juice mixer and drink the juice yourself and give scraps to the ducks
• Using a food processor on pulse mode
• Using a blender doing celery soup

You can regrow celery easily at your own home by replanting the bottom in water for a couple of days.

You should be aware of these things before serving celery to ducks:

• Don’t feed the celery uncut
• Clean the celery before cutting
• Check to see if it has rotten
• Choose organic celery or grown your own
• Check if the stalks has become rubbery
• Check for discolorzation

You can feed celery to ducks how much and often as you would like, as long as you regulate their other foods accordingly. So they neither become overweight or malnourished. Check with a veterinarian if you are unsure.

There are many different vitamins and minerals in celery. For example:

• Calcium
• Iron
• Potassium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C