Can Ducks Eat Walnuts? (Complete Guide)

Walnuts are in the top three most popular nuts globally, with peanuts and almonds right before them. Walnuts are a great addition to anyone’s diet and provide the body with healthy fats. Walnuts contain a toxin called juglone which seems to be harmful to other plants nearby – and horses. I researched whether I could feed these nuts to my ducks and wanted to share my findings.

Ducks can eat walnuts, and they thrive on them. Walnuts are a great addition to the duck’s diet to increase calories, protein, potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin b6, and calcium consumed. With over 680 calories per 100g, it’s pretty high in calories and should be given in moderation.

A too high amount of walnuts in the duck’s diet can lead to obesity, leading to other health concerns. As long as you provide the ducks with a moderate amount of walnuts, they are fine to consume. Another reason to be restrained with the feeding of walnuts is the lectin. Nuts, and especially peanuts, are high in lectin, which requires them to be toasted. However, the amount of lectin in walnuts doesn’t seem too severe.

Can ducks eat walnuts?

Walnuts are an excellent addition to duck’s regular food and should be given as an occasional treat to boost the fat intake. With that said, you will still need to practice moderation. Walnuts are over 680 calories per 100 grams and around 28 calories per walnut.

Walnuts that are shelled need to be deshelled and ground into smaller pieces before being given to ducks. Ducks don’t chew their food and swallow everything whole. A walnut half is too large for a duck to eat.

An easy way to incorporate walnuts into your duck’s diet is to add them to their regular foods. Walnut crumbles are a tasty addition for them alongside their regular duck pellets.

💡 Your nuts will grind better if they are cold. Check below for more tips how to grind your walnuts for ducks.

Ducks can eat a lot of different nuts as long they are in moderation. There’s always one nuts that have more of something than other nuts. For walnuts, they are mediocre at everything. Check the comparison below between common nuts and find something walnuts have more than any other nut, except for the waste.

Comparison between hazelnuts, roasted peanuts, pecan nuts and walnuts

Nutrient (unit)	Hazelnuts	Roasted peanuts	Pecan nuts	Walnuts
Weight standard (g)	100	100	100	100
Energy (kcal)	658	605	714	680
Energy (kJ)	2753	2530	2988	2845
Carbohydrates (g)	0.5	9.3	1.5	8.3
Fat (g)	64.6	51.3	73.3	64.8
Protein (g)	13.25	22.39	8.48	13.78
Fiber (g)	16.1	11.6	13.3	8.97
Water (g)	3.2	1.74	1.89	2.33
Alcohol (g)	0	0	0	0
Ashes (g)	2.4	3.72	1.55	1.8
Monosaccharides (g)	1.14	0	1.03	1
Disaccharides (g)	2.46	4.64	2.93	1.52
Sucrose (g)	2.46	4.64	2.93	1.52
Sugars (g)	3.6	4.6	4	2.5
Total saturated fatty acids (g)	4.82	6.44	6.17	5.7
Fatty acid 4: 0-10: 0 (g)	0	0	0	0
Lauric acid C12: 0 (g)	0	0	0	0
Myristic acid C14: 0 (g)	0	0	0	0
Palmitic acid C16: 0 (g)	3.33	3.15	4.41	4.09
Stearic acid C18: 0 (g)	1.42	0.98	1.68	1.61
Arachidic acid C20: 0 (g)	0.06	0.49	0.07	0
Total monounsaturated fatty acids (g)	51.07	37.37	42.68	9.91
Palmitic acid C16: 1 (g)	0.12	0	0	0.06
Oleic acid C18: 1 (g)	50.89	36.29	42.54	9.73
Total polyunsaturated fatty acids (g)	5.74	5.1	21.09	46.21
Linoleic acid C18: 2 (g)	5.74	5.1	20.25	37.73
Linolenic acid C18: 3 (g)	0	0	0.84	8.49
Arachidonic acid C20: 4 (g)	0	0	0	0
EPA (C20:5) (g)	0	0	0	0
DPA (C22:5) (g)	0	0	0	0
DHA (C22:6) (g)	0	0	0	0
Tiamin (mg)	0.19	1.96	0.46	0.06
Riboflavin (mg)	0.07	0.11	0.04	0.06
Vitamin C (mg)	0	0	0	0
Niacin (mg)	1.26	15.1	0.82	1.1
Niacin equivalents (NE / mg)	3.5	18.8	2.2	3.4
Vitamin B6 (mg)	0.25	0.52	0.14	0.38
Vitamin B12 (µg)	0	0	0	0
Folate (µg)	77.6	115	33.1	98.2
Retinol (µg)	0	0	0	0
Vitamin A (RE/µg)	0.8	1.2	2	1.7
β-Karoten (µg)	9	11	19	13
Vitamin D (µg)	0	0	0	0
Vitamin E (mg)	25.8	6.58	1.41	1.33
Vitamin K (µg)	6.6	0	3.5	3.2
Phosphorus (mg)	354	382	408	386
Iodine (µg)	0	0	0	0
Iron (mg)	2.98	1.51	2.48	2.5
Calcium (mg)	166	61	53.2	95.4
Potassium (mg)	820	651	662	492
Magnesium (mg)	148	171	173	151
Sodium (mg)	0	15	0	0
Salt (g)	0	0.04	0	0
Selenium (µg)	0	0.02	0	0
Zinc (mg)	2.07	2.56	4.13	2.79
Cholesterol (mg)	0	0	0	0
Whole grains total (g)	0	0	0	0
Waste (shell etc.) (%)	54	0	47	55

Can ducklings eat walnuts?

Ducklings can eat walnuts but shouldn’t eat anything else than their duckling pellets in their first four weeks of age. I would wait until they are at least eight weeks for walnuts before adding it to their diet. In the early stage of a duckling’s life, they should be focused on more protein-dense foods. After they’ve turned eight weeks, you can gradually start to incorporate walnuts into their diet.

Do ducks like to eat walnuts?

Ducks like to eat walnuts and are one of their favorites among other nuts. Ducks aren’t that picky when it comes to food. If it fits in their mouth, they will eat it. They will reject it if the piece is too large. Therefore, it’s important to crush the nuts first. An easy way to do so is to use a food processor at low speed.

Can ducks eat raw walnuts?

Ducks can eat raw walnuts as long as you deshell and grind them. It isn’t necessary, but it’s good practice to toast them before feeding them to your ducks. In that way, you remove any lectin that can be found. However, it’s always best to feed in moderation regardless if the walnuts are raw or toasted.

Can ducks eat toasted walnuts?

Ducks can eat toasted walnuts as long as they are deshelled and in small pieces. When you toast walnuts, put them on a baking tray in the center of the oven. Toast for 5-10 minutes at 350° F (175° C) or until you either smell the walnuts, or they’ve turned brown. Let them cool and grind them. Ready to serve.

Can ducks eat the walnut shells?

Ducks can eat the walnut shells, but shouldn’t. The shells don’t provide any nutritional value, and when crushed, are pretty sharp. Even if you ground them, they aren’t valuable to the duck’s diet. There are some other uses for walnut shells. I found this video below. Number 2 looked interesting.

Can ducks eat frozen walnuts?

Ducks can eat frozen walnuts as long as they are defrosted and ground before being given. Frozen walnuts can be too hard for ducks to eat since they don’t chew their food and swallow everything whole. Colder foods also require more energy to digest than warm. Our goal is to provide energy, not take it.

Store the walnuts in an airtight container or bag, and you are fine.

Can ducks eat moldy walnuts?

Ducks can’t and shouldn’t eat moldy walnuts or any other food. You should never give any moldy food to any animal. Mold is toxic to most animals and can be lethal. Moldy walnuts are particularly dangerous and can even be lethal to humans. You can notice mold on walnuts by a slight discoloration, often to a darker shade. You will also notice a rancid smell.

Can ducks eat candied walnuts?

Ducks can’t eat candied walnuts. Candied walnuts are made from walnuts mixed with sugar and butter. Ducks shouldn’t eat sugar nor butter.

🥣 Did you know you can make a granola mix for ducks? Check below for examples of mixes.

How to prepare walnuts for ducks

When you grind nuts, and especially walnuts there are some tips that can be useful. I will share my three best tips for grinding walnuts for ducks.

1. Cold nuts

If you freeze or refrigerate the nuts for a few hours before you grind them, they will be much easier to grind. They won’t stick to the sides as easily and will be more even sizes.

2. Little at a time

Don’t add all walnuts at the same time and don’t fill the food processor. The pieces will become uneven if there are too many nuts in the food processor at the same time. Grind 1 to 1½ cups of walnuts at a time.

3. Use pulse

The best way to grind the walnuts is to use the pulse function. Hold it for 2-3 seconds, release it, and repeat until you have a good consistency. If you blend the walnuts as you would with all other foods, they will release their natural oils and turn to liquid instead.

Safe ways to feed walnuts to ducks

There are different ways to feed walnuts to ducks, and the best ones are the safe ones. You can also implement these ways to other nuts ducks can eat.

I switch between five different ways when feeding my ducks some walnuts and I’ll share them with you.

1. Feed the walnuts mixed with their food

The simplest way of feeding walnuts to your ducks is to add them to their daily feed. Every morning when I feed the ducks their duck pellets, oats, and fruits I always give them nuts to boost the fat content. Sunday is meal-prepping day so that’s when I grind nuts and prepare the upcoming week’s bags.

2. Add the walnuts to water

Ducks enjoy eating their food in the water. The water helps them swallow food easier, to reduce choking. However, you should only add food to a bucket and not the water they swim in. Otherwise, it will cause algae growth.

3. Make a granola for your ducks

Making granola is very simple, and takes a no effort.

1. You will need to preheat the oven to 350° F first.
2. Combine the different granola mixes in a bowl. (Except the fruits and berries).
3. Add some water to the blend and mix until all ingredients are wet.
4. Move them to a pan with a parchment paper and spread them around.
5. Bake in the oven until they are golden. (Around 20-22 minutes).
6. Take the pieces out and press them them a bit.(This will make them crispier)
7. Let them cool for 45 minutes and then add the fruits.
8. Done!

4. Make a salad with walnuts for your ducks

Salads are usually very appreciated. to get when you are a duck. You can use any vegetables ducks can eat to make your salad. Lettuce, cucumber and carrots are popular.

🥗 Never add avocado, onions, garlic, green onions or spinach to your duck’s salad.

5. Make porridge for your ducks

Porridge with walnuts on top is an excellent way to start the morning. Regardless if you are human or a duck.

I usually make porridge in the microwave. Some oats, some water. Two minutes later and it’s done. Add some more water to cool it down and add the crushed walnuts and stir around. Ducks love it.

🥛 Don’t add any dairy – duck’s don’t drink it. They are satisfied with plain water.

Unsafe ways to feed walnuts to ducks

There are some ways to avoid when feeding walnuts to ducks. I will give you my best three advice on what not to do when feeding walnuts to ducks.

1. Feeding too big nuts

Mainly, it’s important to remove the shells from the walnuts. When you’ve removed the shells you have two halves. You will need to break the two halves even more to be certain the ducks won’t choke on them. One way is to put them inside a plastic bag and go at it with a hammer. But you can also use a food processor on pulse.

2. Feeding too often

Something easy to forget is that the small nuts carry a lot of calories. In one walnut, there’s 28 calories. It’s easy to get carried away. Try to limit yourself to one walnut per duck and you are set.

3. Feeding in their swimming water

If you are visiting the park or a local pond, you might want to give the ducks a treat. However, it is important you feed them on land and never directly in their pond. Yes, ducks prefer to eat their food in water. But when you add food to their pond, the uneaten food will dissolve and cause algae growth. If one typical algae starts to overpopulate the pond it may cause a disaster in the ecosystems below the surface, which can spread to the local biodiversity.

How often can I feed walnuts to ducks?

You can feed walnuts to ducks as often as you would like, as long as you do it in moderation and adjust the other food in their diet. If you increase something, you will need to decrease something else. The limitations are the caloric budget your ducks have. There a people who feed walnuts or other nuts daily, while others feed less frequently. It all comes down to what other foods there are in your duck’s diet.

How many walnuts can I feed my ducks?

The amount of walnuts you can give your ducks is determined by the other foods in your duck’s diet. If they already have a high caloric diet, you will need to decrease something else. Myself, aim for one nut per duck and give them a great mix of other foods.

Health benefits for ducks from eating walnuts

Walnuts contain potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin b6, calcium, and many other nutrients, which are perfect for ducks.

Potassium in walnuts 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. Examples of foods rich in potassium ducks can eat bananas, broccoli, brussels sprouts, peas, lentils, nuts, potatoes, and tomatoes.

Magnesium in walnuts for ducks

A magnesium deficiency may lead to hypertension, insulin resistance, heart disease, and headaches. Magnesium can benefit strong bones, the activation of vitamin d, and provides a more restful sleep. Foods rich in magnesium ducks can eat nuts, beans, okra, tuna, and bananas.

Iron in walnuts for ducks

Iron is important for hemoglobin formation, brain function, muscle function, and much more. Iron is found in sweet potatoes, peas, oats, and tofu.

Vitamin b6 in walnuts for ducks

Vitamin b6 helps the body to produce serotonin. It also helps to produce melatonin which aids the body to regulate the duck’s internal clock and sleep. Foods rich in vitamin b6 ducks can eat are fish, peanuts, soybeans, oats, and bananas.

Calcium in walnuts for ducks

Ducks benefit greatly from eating calcium-rich food. Ducks require calcium for developing healthy eggs and eggshells. 97% of the eggshell is made out of calcium. If you have egglaying ducks, the intake of calcium is essential.

Conclusion

Ducks can eat walnuts and they really like them. Both adult ducks and ducklings enjoy and can benefit from eating them. However, ducklings shouldn’t eat walnuts in their first four weeks.

Walnuts can be eaten raw in small amounts, but it’s better to be on the safe side and toast them first. You will need to remove the shells and break the walnuts into smaller pieces.

The shells shouldn’t be offered to ducks since they don’t provide any nutrition and can harm the ducks within.

Ducks shouldn’t eat moldy nor candied walnuts.

You can feed walnuts to ducks as often as you would like, as long as you do it in moderation and adjust the other food in their diet. The amount of walnuts you can give your ducks is determined by the other foods in your duck’s diet. If they already have a high caloric diet, you will need to decrease something else.

Walnuts contain potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin b6, calcium, and many other nutrients, which are perfect for ducks.