Ducks eating charcoal? ◼

[GR Appleyard]

Does anybody have ducks that eat charcoal?

One of my ducks will go to the firepit and eat charcoal. She is the only one that eats it in a flock of three.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Weird habit. What do you feed? Does she get oyster shell? I think I would discourage her from this. I don't think its harmful but can't be nutritious.

 

[Quatie]

I have burn piles in my yard. The ducks eat the charcoal from it all the time. I often find them grabbing a last bite before I put them to bed. Charcoal is used to help treat animals, when they eat something toxic, so it is perfectly fine.

 

[Peas4Ducks]

Our ducks love eating charcoal from the fire pit, and they’re doing fine. I did set out oyster shells right beside the fire pit, and now they nibble on those first.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd think they would seek it out if they had a tummy upset. They seem to know instinctively what they need. Like oyster shell and grit why not charcoal from the burn pit.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I guess I don't have a burn pit. But familiar with grabbing a last bite of something before heading to the coop.

 

[Quatie]

My Muscovy and my dogs love laying in the remains of one of my burn piles. I often see them hanging out there together.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Are you talking about wood ash from the firepit or actual charcoal? Man made charcoal probably isn't a good thing for them to eat due to the chemicals they add. Plus, it's a mixture of products to make the briquettes.
But, actual wood ash is full of potassium and calcium. She's probably just meeting her nutritional needs like most ducks who forage.
As long as your just burning wood and nothing caustic, she should be fine.

 

[GR Appleyard]

Weird habit. What do you feed? Does she get oyster shell? I think I would discourage her from this. I don't think its harmful but can't be nutritious.

She is fed Mazrui Waterfowl feed and she has access to oyster shell. She might just like the taste of charcoal.

 

[GranderTheGander]

Foy's Pet Supplies sells 3-pound bags of activated charcoal, and says it's a "must" for pigeons and chickens. (No mention of ducks.)

https://foyspetsupplies.com/granulated-charcoal-3-lbs/