Feeding chicken to ducks?

**Scouse** · 28th December 2008, 08:57

Originally Posted by oldrider

Wasn't this sort of thing the essence of "mad cow disease" and all it's off shoots?

Yep looks like Good ole NZ could become ground zero for Mad Duck Disease

**klingon** · 28th December 2008, 08:58

As others have said, ducks are omniverous and will readily eat bugs, fish, etc. so feeding them meat is not inherently bad. Ducks will even eat other ducks' ducklings if they get half a chance.

However, in an overcrowded and polluted environment (such as an urban waterway) botulism can be a real issue. A bit of KFC now and then probably won't do any harm, but don't overdo it (for you and the ducks!)

If there are meaty scraps left over they will encourage disease in the duck population. The ducks then crap all over the grass, children play on the grass etc etc...

I get really annoyed when the staff at Western Springs have to spend time every day fishing whole loaves of bread out of the ponds. It's the same problem - the bread rots, the birds get sick, the people get sick.

**Headbanger** · 28th December 2008, 09:02

Pretty sure the rats will take care of any leftovers, The eels love a feeding frenzy as well.

And the odd sheep that comes floating along sort of makes mockery of a piece of KFC.

I keep an eye out for horses.....

**klingon** · 28th December 2008, 09:21

Originally Posted by Jaxi

It does sound a bit mad..... I always assumed ducks to be herbivores, but they are probably up for anything chucked to them in a park! Although.... thinking what we've fed chooks over the years, someone mentioned egg shells and yeah, that it a bit odd / freaky I guess!

Apparently you can feed pigs anything.... except if feeding them offal from when you kill sheep etc... you can't feed them lungs cos they can expand inside of them....

Always kinda wanted to test that one but wasn't mean enough!

Actually the reason for not feeding raw offal to pigs (or dogs) is hydatids. The tape worm lives in the animals' gut, and the cysts form on the lungs. There are billions of eggs in every cyst. So any animal that's going to be eaten by a human has to be free of hydatids.

Originally Posted by Headbanger

Pretty sure the rats will take care of any leftovers, The eels love a feeding frenzy as well.

And the odd sheep that comes floating along sort of makes mockery of a piece of KFC.

I keep an eye out for horses.....

Yeah well that does put it in perspective. Guess you won't be drinking the water or eating the ducks then... (or the rats)

**BMWST?** · 28th December 2008, 10:14

i bet chickens would eat duck....

**pete376403** · 28th December 2008, 21:42

I gave our chickens the skin and fat from the Christmas ham. They love the fat, but have a bit of trouble with the skin, however once I cut it into thin strips the gulped it down. looking forward to ham flavoured eggs.

**Pixie** · 28th December 2008, 21:45

Never give a gun to ducks

**Hitcher** · 28th December 2008, 21:55

Originally Posted by oldrider

Wasn't this sort of thing the essence of "mad cow disease" and all it's off shoots?

Not the cause, as such, as many mammal species have an associated prion disease. BSE was comparatively rare prior to the practice of feeding low-temperature rendered cattle meat and bone meal to other cattle. Science appears to support a proposition that TSEs don't pass from one species to another.