DUCKS WRONGLY FED 7.4 MILLION LOAVES OF WHITE BREAD A YEAR BY WELL MEANING BRITS

LONDON 22.2.22 FEBRUARY: Buzz Bingo has revealed that a staggering 7.4million loaves of white bread are being fed to ducks each year, despite it not being good for them, as it marks Double Duck Day (2.22.22).

The UK’s largest bingo operator, has partnered with British Waterfowl Association (BWA) to raise awareness that white bread is an unhealthy choice for ducks, causing blockages in the gut due to the levels of refined flour – leading to the ducks becoming unwell, malnourished or even dying.

The average Brit feeds the ducks once a month with four in ten offering white bread – dishing out an average of a third of loaf each visit. A quarter (24%) give brown bread and 8% even give a pricier sourdough option. 

This comes as 21% of us believe white bread is good for ducks and 14% believing it’s best to only feed ducks bread.

In fact, the BWA suggest feeding natural foodstuffs; such as whole grains (wheat, corn, peas, or cooked rice) or shredded greens like spinach, lettuce and rocket. . Whilst, wholemeal bread is slightly more digestible than white, it is advised to give food that would otherwise be wasted or special floating food that you scatter on the water.

The number 22 was traditionally called as ‘Two Little Ducks’ in bingo so to celebrate the day of the duck and to help its players feed our feathered friends safely, Buzz Bingo is distributing hundreds of bags of duck food to clubs around the country. Buzz Bingo customers can also expect a range of offers including a game of bingo for just £2.

Commenting on the findings, Bridget Burman, Husbandry Advisor at the BWA says: “I’m not overly surprised to see that many people don’t consider white bread bad for ducks. That’s what we naturally associate with feeding the ducks and has almost become tradition for families visiting their local ponds. But, when hand feeding, we should avoid white bread where possible given that it is made from refined flour which the birds are unable to digest and can cause a fatal blockage in their gut.  

“In the wild, waterfowl feed on things like whole grains, seeds, vegetation, small fish, slugs and worms therefore we should stick to feeding natural foods where we can, whether that is leftover vegetables such as lettuce, spinach or peas, or whole grains such as corn or cooked rice. It’s great to see that people still love heading to their local pond to feed the ducks with family or those in their local community but we’re keen to remind people that just like us, ducks need a varied diet to be healthy”

Commenting on the research and partnership a spokesperson at Buzz Bingo said: “You can’t help but smile when you see ducks and everyone remembers feeding ducks with family. It's an activity that never fails to get people to their local park but they aren’t always fed the right thing! So, we decided to raise awareness that bread is bad for little duck tummies by giving out proper duck food in local communities so more people can feed the ducks with their families and friends while keeping them healthy.

“Some might call it quackers, but we've made a whole day of duck and "two" themed bingo in our clubs while raising awareness of an important cause at the same time."

Elsewhere, to mark the occasion, Buzz Bingo will be offering players attending on the 22^nd February the following deals in club across its 91 clubs:

• FREE mini rubber duck for everyone
• £2 Evening Main Event bingo
• £2.22 food and drinks offers
• Double prize money if you call Full House on 2 or 22
• £2 buzzbingo.com bonus code for bingo winners

The British Waterfowl Association offers advice and support for beginners through their website, magazine and personal contact: www.waterfowl.org.uk  Bridget Burman Husbandry Advisor.

To learn more about how Buzz Bingo, please visit our website www.buzzbingo.com, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @Buzz_Bingo or you can get in touch at PR@BuzzBingo.com