This gives them a reputation as “natural pond cleaners” among many circles. Ducks drink a lot – I mean a whole lot, of water. SO, we're trying to figure out which plants ducks are not fond of so we can plant a mixture of ones they can eat and ones they wont....that way the garden wont look like a barren desert all the time, hopefully. Ducks are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and animals. There are so many types of ducks, and every duck has its food. Green-winged teal, northern pintails, and mallards prefer the seeds produced by wetland plants. However, it’s important to remember that they still have limits as well as pitfalls. My ducks love grape tomatoes, and they've eaten smaller, green tomatoes off of other plants. They also enjoy eating tomatoes, chopped grapes, berries, watermelon, cantaloupe, bananas, corn, peas, beans, cucumber, cabbage, and broccoli. Nearly all of North America's ducks eat aquatic plants, at least opportunistically, and many species consume a largely vegetarian diet throughout much of the year. By Jennifer Poindexter. Ducks, like many other fauna, eat plants and animals that most pond owners find to be pesky. The ducks will eat the mosquito larvae, the plants, and the fish, so problem solved! From these aquatic environments, wild ducks feed on plants, insects, seeds, algae and fish. So far it appears our don't like rosemary, lavender, geraniums and some herbs. There is probably no plant material that you can put in that tub that the ducks won't destroy, even if they don't eat them. Ducklings are voracious eaters. Gadwalls and American wigeon relish the leafy portions of aquatic vegetation. Although they spend a lot of time on the water, ducks can also forage on the ground. Jennifer Poindexter. These water-loving animals will eat all sorts of greens, herbs, and weeds. Your ducks will help with slug control and will eat many of the bad garden bugs for you. Ducks can eat fruits and vegetables but in total, your ducks should only consume about 10% fruits and vegetables. If you do let your ducks into your garden, it’s best to wait until your plants are well established. Although they don’t scratch like a chicken, they don’t pay attention to where they place their large, webbed feet and can trample precious plants to smithereens. In addition to toxic plants, there are other things to worry about in the typical backyard environment. They feed on a wide variety of foods—aquatic plants, small fish, insects, worms, grubs, … If they do not have enough water to wash down their feed it can get stuck in their crop and cause a potentially deadly infection – or outright choking. My ducks won't eat morning glory, honeysuckle, or sweet pea (I have all three growing all over the backyard). To know what ducks in the wild eat, we can think about their environment. They've tried the leaves but don't like them. The range of foods aids in their growth plus nutrition. They will also eat radish greens and they love cilantro. It may surprise you to learn that ducks are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Jennifer is a full-time homesteader who started her journey in the foothills of North Carolina in 2010. Of course you will most likely want to fence your garden in so your ducks don’t eat everything and leave you nothing. Ducks are messy, and will get their feed, mud, and feces into a standing waterer. Wild ducks live and develop in lakes, small channels of rivers and other bodies of water. Ducks are omnivorous basically, which means they can eat a variety of food, including plants and animals. Feeding Ducks: What Do Ducks Eat, What NOT to Feed, and Everything Else You Need to Know. They will eat carrot tops but not carrots.