Even though chocolate seems like it would be bad for you, the truth is that it’s actually good for you if consumed in moderation. Even so, some people are hesitant about eating this scrumptious treat due to its high fat content. It is also believed that chocolate contains alkaloids that could be dangerous for animals with fickle diets such as ducks. However, not all of these things are true — especially when it comes to duck and their ability to eat chocolate safely. In this article we will answer the question: Can Ducks Eat Chocolate?
Keep reading to find out whether or not your pet duck can eat chocolate and if so, how much they can have.
Milk and Dark Chocolate
Most people believe that milk chocolate is safe for ducks to eat, and dark chocolate is not. This isn’t always the case, however. In fact, there is no real difference between milk and dark chocolate. Both are produced from the same plant, cacao. The only difference is the amount of cacao solids (that are the good stuff) per percentage.
The higher percentage of cacao, the darker (and more bitter) the chocolate will be. Whereas, the lower percentage of cacao, the lighter (and sweeter) the chocolate will be. Since most brands of chocolate contain the same amount of cacao solids, whether it’s milk or dark, it makes no difference to your ducks.
Is Dark Chocolate Okay for Ducks To Eat?
As we just mentioned, dark chocolate is usually considered a no-no for your ducks. However, upon further examination, we see that this rule doesn’t always apply. If your duck is a typical domesticated duck, this rule does apply. However, if your duck is a Muscovy duck, you can feed them dark chocolate as long as it doesn’t contain any caffeine.
Chocolate is high in sugar and caffeine, so it’s dangerous for most domesticated ducks. However, Muscovy ducks are known to be able to eat chocolate without any adverse side effects.
Can Ducks Consume Dark Chocolates?
As we have already stated, Muscovy ducks can eat dark chocolates as long as they don’t contain caffeine. Some other ducks may be able to eat dark chocolates, too. However, they may suffer from the same side effects as domesticated ducks.
If your ducks can’t eat dark chocolate, they may be able to eat milk chocolates. However, you should check the ingredients list on these chocolates before feeding them to your ducks. If you see any ingredients you don’t recognize, including “candy coating” or “nonpareils” (or anything of the sort), it’s best to avoid feeding these chocolates to your ducks.
Can Ducks Eat Milk Chocolates?
In the same vein as dark chocolates, milk chocolates may or may not be okay for your ducks. Like dark chocolates, milk chocolates contain caffeine. This makes them dangerous for domesticated ducks.
For your ducks to be safe, you’ll need to read the ingredients list and make sure that milk chocolate doesn’t contain caffeine. Your ducks may also be able to eat white chocolate. However, it is believed that white chocolate has less caffeine than milk chocolate. White chocolate also contains less sugar, so it isn’t as dangerous for ducks as milk and dark chocolate.
Final Words
Ducks are able to eat chocolate, but it isn’t good for them. This is why it’s important to feed your ducks healthy foods, and not just whatever you want them to eat. Ducks should be fed healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables as well as a healthy, balanced diet. This way, they will be able to enjoy chocolate occasionally, but it won’t have a negative impact on their health. Now that you know the truth about chocolate and ducks, you can make an educated decision about whether or not your pet duck can eat chocolate.
English 
Dutch 
French 
German