To think it's OK to feed bread to ducks/swans/geese

[GerdaLovesLili]

Our local parks have slowly been putting up signs that suggest that the wild fowl are actively harmed by feeding them bread.

It means that feeding them is no longer a cheap activity.

However the Swan Sanctuary have put out a statement to say this isn't true, and "We strongly disagree with the idea that the campaign will improve the health of swans and other waterfowl. In fact, we believe it could actually have a detrimental effect on the waterfowl. The Sanctuary has evidence that when people stop feeding bread, to the birds, they quite often stop completely rather than substitute the bread with an alternative."

The full statement can be read here: www.theswansanctuary.org.uk/cause/swan-sanctuary-statement-ban-bread-campaign/

I thought bread was bad for them? Swelled up in their stomach?

A bag of basic oats or tin of basic sweetcorn are no dearer than a loaf of cheap bread

Oats are a cheap alternative.

You're supposed to give them bird seed I think. I had a bag for the local park/lake but the bastards turned their beaks up at it

It isn't anyone else's job to provide you with cheap activities, is it?

There are lots of problems. Look at this for information.

Bread is really bad for them.

It also attracts vermin which is another reason they're not keen

We carry a bag of duck food on the School run, it was a few pounds form eBay.

No it’s not ok to feed them bread. It causes malnutrition, pollution, overcrowding, makes them pop more so they spread diseases etc.

Better to give them birdseed, oats, barley or corn kernels.

We now throw Aldi cornflakes.
We tried the suggested 'peas and shredded lettuce' and they could not have been less interested.
Fussy ducks.

This is quite an interesting article on feeding bread to ducks and offers alternative solutions. Our local park cafe sells bags of bird seed for the ducks and all the profit is reinvested into the park.

Slow cross post with Cardibach

A bag of cheap oats or basic frozen peas wouldn't be much more than a loaf of bread. Why wouldn't you want the creatures you are using as entertainment to be healthy?

Bread is really, really bad for them and does encourage rats too. Lots of cheap, healthier alternatives OP.

So the Sanctuary is saying breads OK because if you say its not no one bothers at all. Why on earth don't they advise/not put a sign up with cheap alternatives. Surely education goes hand in hand with conservation? I'm not impressed:.Diet is such a basic fundamental of animal welfare. Why not Google alternatives OP. Wildlife isn't for entertainment.

Do wildfowl really need to be fed though ?

I have also been told it is not a good idea to feed any birds bread as is has no nutrition value what so ever but fills them up so they do not forage for the food they should be eating and so not getting the right protein.
For our song birds meal worms are great and can be bought dried fairly cheep at supermarkets / home bargains etc .
However I found out a few weeks ago that swans and geese do not like them ( ungrateful buggers i'd bought a big tub for them ! )
So I will watch with interest to see what we should feed them . . . . . .

No, it's not okay.

You aren't owed cheap activities to amuse your child, especially when it harms other living creatures.

My mum lives on a canal boat and sees birds with Angel Wing. It's really sad. Why can't choosing healthy food to feed them be part of the activity?

Plus, where there are feeding hot spots, the rats get the excess. Very difficult to deal with active infestations when there are heaps of bread left for birds which are full to bursting.

Just Googled Swan's diet on RSPB Web site. Direct quote:"bread causes dietary problems. "

Wildlife isn't for entertainment
well that's David Attenborough out of a job !

Our local ducks rejected oats too.

Our local park sells bird food for 50p a bag. You get about a mug full in each bag which is enough for a toddler to throw.

I stopped feeding them bread when I saw a goose with 'Angel wing' - a growth deformity caused by bread and it's lack of nutrients