Anyplace to go feed ducks?

[Anonymous]

I agree with some of the other posters. You really shouldn't be feeding ducks unless it is at a zoo or area that is designated for feeding them with specific food.

But something that is just as fun as feeding ducks is feeding the Koi fish at the National Arboretum. They have 25 cent dispensers there with fish food and my son sat there for an hour feeding them and watching them get fed. He was fascinated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I remember correctly - Rio in MD - unless I was hallucinating from lack of sleep. (only been there once and thought it was awesome).

Yes, this is Washingtonian Center but there are signs posted all over to not feed the ducks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do NOT feed ducks bread. It is not good for them (not enough nutrition). I remember when I was litte, a bunch of ducks died because so many people fed them bread, so it's all they ate, and they died.

Maybe someone sells duckfood?

What IS good duck food???

Dried corn from the petstore. The zoo and several locations have little coin machines that dispense handfuls of corn. What about popcorn! Cheerios!

[Anonymous]

Last time I let my DD feed the ducks, I cooked up some pot roast ahead of time to feed to them. They really seemed to appreciate the variety, especially since some of them hadn't been getting enough iron or lutein. They are now more energetic and have better eyesight. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I miss BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN...I moved here form that area and we used to go to the Public Garden (famous for "Make Way for Ducklings" book with the Swan Boats, etc. In the Spring when the baby ducklings are just born and the flowers are all in bloom .... it is an idyllic setting.

[Anonymous]

Gravelly POint while you're looking at the planes take off.

[Anonymous]

the potroast post made me laugh. thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But something that is just as fun as feeding ducks is feeding the Koi fish at the National Arboretum. They have 25 cent dispensers there with fish food and my son sat there for an hour feeding them and watching them get fed. He was fascinated!

I'd love to do this. Any idea what section the koi pond is in?

[Anonymous]

Back to the ducks: where can I get a package of something I can just throw to them? I don't want to have to cook a potroast or go look around for aquatic invertibrates. I just want to buy something which I could then give to a duck which would not be harmful.

Ideas?

[Anonymous]

Cheerios.

My DH was determined to let my son feed the ducks near us. While I told him it was wrong, I did some research and one website said if you MUST feed the ducks, you can feed them cheerios (for some reason it is better than bread). I think they also said frozen corn.

Now I cannot guarentee the validity of the website, but given the main purpose was to discourage feeding the ducks, I'm hoping it was accurate in terms of food.

I have also told my son and DH that they cannot feed the ducks in the Fall, because one of the problems with feeding them is that they refuse to fly south for the winter if they have a good food source.