Ducks weren't made to be fed bread

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by gaviston

Where I live there aren't too many ducks, swans or Coots. I think in London the only reason there are so many birds is because of so many tourists and pampered stupid people needlessly feeding them. All the birds flock there and gorge themselves. But London isn't and shouldn't be thought of as the norm for the entire country.
Wholemeal bread is good for you and birds can eat it too. White bread is gross for everyone if it's all they eat.

~1 Where do you live then Gaviston oohhhhh Gaviston?
~2 London is a HUGE place, and very diverse in terms of habitat and species (AND people!). Are you talking about a specific area of London, or the parks, or the Wetland centre, or the Lea Valley or where?

TBR

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Originally Posted by glsammy

A good question, thanks for posting it.
This is one subject that I keep changing my mind on. If people would only do it in moderation, I don't think there would be much if any problem, what I detest seeing is people arriving with carrier bags full with loaves of bread, all of which will be left around a pond or park, often feeding the birds right next to the sign telling them the dangers of overfeeding bread.
There again, to see a mother with a couple of very young children and the delight it gives them feeding the birds with just a few slices, how can you argue with that?

Couldn't agree more Graham

[witham]

bread can be extremely dangerous if given to wild birds particularly dry as it can swell up inside them, but larger birds especially Ducks seem to enjoy it and I suppose its ok in moderation as long as its thrown into the water giving it at least some time to soak before being devoured. the danger is when so many people want to do the same and it's now becoming a problem on the Brayford and rivers in Lincoln, the council or whoever were on the local radio a while ago appealing for people to stop feeding so much bread, cakes etc to the Swans, Ducks and co as some are getting almost obese and some have been dying either from the effects of over feeding or eating the stale bits left over by others fermenting at the waters edge (that's the stale bread fermenting not the others)

[gaviston]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

~1 Where do you live then Gaviston oohhhhh Gaviston?
~2 London is a HUGE place, and very diverse in terms of habitat and species (AND people!). Are you talking about a specific area of London, or the parks, or the Wetland centre, or the Lea Valley or where?

TBR

I live in a land where fat birds don't drown each other over food that's too easy coming. If I saw a swan drowning another swan I'd smack it in the head with a stick but that's too hard for you ansestors of Shakespeare.

[thunder]

Quote
bread can be extremely dangerous if given to wild birds particularly dry as it can swell up inside them
Endquote

Is this really true? Dry bread swells very little when you wet it, and dry grain swells as well, when you soak it. Has anyone published any research on the problem?

henrya

[witham]

it's maybe the same as when we eat too much bread, some people will be ok, but with others it can cause bloating and give them bad indigestion, so some birds are lucky and get away with eating it but others will suffer I know having kept chickens for many years that you have to be very carefull not to give them too much and it's always best to mix it with layers mash or soak it, something to do with how the crop works