Ducks generally like feeding themselves and foraging for their own food. However, as a duck owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your quacking friends have access to a healthy, nutritious meal every day.
To ensure they’re getting the right nutrients in the right proportion, invest in a quality duck feeder. Wondering where to get started? Here are some duck feeder ideas you might want to try out.
After doing some research and analyzing the competition, I’ve rounded up the best duck feeders available on the market. Take a scroll through and see which one best fits your needs. There are plenty to choose from!
Best Duck Feeder for Reduced Wastage
Royal Rooster Duck Poultry Feeder with Rain Cover
Pros:
- It reduces feed wastage
- It is suitable for most feeds
- It keeps food clean and dry
Cons:
- May clog with dry pellet food
With its innovative design that discourages ducks from swiping feed onto the ground, this duck feeder is excellent for reducing feed waste. I know how disheartening it is to see your ducks scratch away all their feed, which is what makes this feeder perfect for solving that dilemma. In addition to saving food, you’ll save money in the process too. It’s a win-win!
Equipped with a rain cover, this bird feeder is also convenient for keeping food clean and dry. So you won’t need to worry about dirt or rain getting in your feeder. Place it inside or outside your enclosure – it’s protected.
Its unique design also makes it handy for keeping rodents away from your duck’s food. It is up off the ground and hard for other animals to see or access. In other words, sparrows, rodents, and squirrels shouldn’t be an issue.
Another plus point: this gravity style feeder is suitable for most feeds, although some reviewers claim it can clog up with pellets. Then again, some say they have no problems at all. I guess it’s all down to the individual, or perhaps what kind of food they’re filling it with.
What reviewers say:
One reviewer says they use it for their flock of hens and never have any issues with clogs. They say they have used crumbles in the feeder, as well as pellet feed, corn, oyster shell, and grit, and never experienced any issues. All in all, they are satisfied with the feeder and how it functions.
Best Duck Feeder for Budget
The Miller 9112 Galvanized Hanging Poultry Feeder
Pros:
- It’s easy to assemble
- It doesn’t rust easily
- It is very affordable
- It keeps food off the ground
Cons:
- It may not keep wild animals away
- It does not come with a lid so it can’t be used outdoors
This is definitely one of the most affordable duck feeders out there. Compared to other brands, it’s one of the cheapest you will find. This duck feeder holds approximately 12 lbs of food which can feed around seven ducks for up to 14 days.
Made from galvanized metal, this duck feeder will not easily rust. It’ll stay looking fresh and new for a long time without needing to be replaced. It’s also a great way to feed your ducks without making a mess or losing their food on the ground.
The main issue with this feeder is that it needs a lid. Without the lid, this duck feeder can get moldy from rain and sprinklers seeping in.
What Reviewers Say:
One reviewer says they were very satisfied with this Galvanized Poultry feeder from Miller Manufacturing, stating “It’s definitely much better than those plastic options.” They say they have had no issues with rust and they’ve had it for over a year now. They use it to feed their eight chickens.
Best Duck Feeder for Easy Assemble
KEBONNIXS Automatic Chicken Cup Waterer and Port Feeder Set
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
- Holds 10 lbs of feed
Cons:
- Potential water leakages
Kebonnixs ‘ port feeder and cup waterer is unlike many traditional metal or plastic duck feeders or waterers. You can now look forward to saving time and money feeding your ducks with much less cleaning and fewer refills with the peace of mind knowing that your quacking companions always have access to fresh clean water and clean dry feed!
To elaborate on the details, this duck feeder features an automatic cup waterer which refills without your ducks needing to peck any tabs. Thanks to its unique design, it’s also extremely easy to clean.
Alongside all this, this duck feeder comes with a rain hood to stop food from getting wet – keeping it fresh and dry for days. What’s more, it holds up to two gallons of water and 10 pounds of food, so you’ll save loads of time on refills.
On a negative note, some reviewers have complained about water leakage issues with this feeder.
What Reviewers Say:
One reviewer says they are loving this feeder so far. They praise the fact that it isn’t overly large, so you don’t feel like the water and food isn’t fresh. According to this reviewer, they can feed their dzcks for several days without needing to manually refill the feeder. They claim they also loved that this feeder came with a set of nozzles for winter watering. Overall, they have positive feedback for the feeder.
Best Duck Feeder for Ducks that Poop in Their Food
Ware Manufacturing Chicken Feeder Trough
Pros:
- It has a wire top to stop ducks from pooping in their food
- It is easy to set up
- It’s made from galvanized iron for stability, and will not rust easily
Cons:
- It holds a small amount of food
- It can easily fall over
- It may draw attention to rodents and small animals
- Sharp corners
Ware Manufacturing’s Feeder Trough is one of the best duck feeders for feeding your feathery friends. This trough is made out of sturdy galvanized steel that will easily make it through harsh weather conditions like rain, snow, and wind. Plus, it will not rust easily.
What’s more, this duck feeder features a wire scratch guard to prevent your ducks from spilling their food on the ground, thus saving waste. It also prevents them from climbing on the top of the feeder and pooping over their food. Ultimately, it’s a great feeder for feeding your ducks without wasting food.
It is designed with your peace of mind in mind. By preventing your birds from pooping in your food and kicking food all over the place, you’ll not only be saving food – you’ll also be saving yourself a lot of stress.
A major downside is that the corners are quite sharp which could injure your duck. This hasn’t been the case for all reviewers, but for many. Using a hammer to bang down those sharp corners may help.
What Reviewers Say:
One reviewer says they’ve tried several different feeders and this is one of the best. They say that while it’s not perfect, it does a better job than many others. This consumer specifically likes the depth of the feeder, as it makes it harder for the animals to drop food on the ground. They say that while their chickens still do it, it’s nowhere near as often as it is with other feeders.
Best Duck Feeder for Keeping Out Rodents
Grandpa’s Automatic Feeder
Pros:
- Strong and sturdy design
- It helps keep rodents and smaller animals from eating your ducks’ food
- It prevents spills and messes
- It provides feed on demand
Cons:
- It is not waterproof
- The edges may be sharp and might cause injury to your ducks
Grandpa’s Automatic Feeder supplies your ducks with feed on demand, anytime they’re in the mood to eat without sharing it with hungry trespassers. It also provides a protected way of feeding your ducks, giving them access to their food when hungry without food getting wet. Plus, this optimal design enables numerous ducks to eat at once, saving you money on buying multiple feeders.
Made with a high quality galvanized Steel finish, this feeder can last in the toughest outdoor conditions. You won’t have to worry about needing to replace this feeder every few months, as it was built to last. Grandpa’s Feeders are the original automatic poultry feeders and they have been made and sold for over two decades.
This feeder can easily hold 20 lbs of food which feeds roughly 3-4 ducks for a week. Although the brand claims it can hold much more than that and feed up to six ducks for 10 days. Thanks to its innovative design, it’s not so easy for ducks to flick out their food, making it a highly cost-effective feeder.
The only negatives include it not being waterproof, which can be frustrating if it rains and leaves food wet and soggy. And the other is that it may have sharp edges, which could potentially injure your duck. To get around both these issues, I suggest keeping your feeder inside a covered enclosure, and smoothing out those sharp edges with a hammer.
What Reviewers Say:
One reviewer says, “This is a great feeder!” They say it took their older chickens a while to get used to the movement and noise of this feeder since it is automatic, but that they soon adapted in a couple of weeks. Their chicks, on the other hand, learned how to use it in one single day. The best part about this feeder, according to the reviewer, is “No more feed thievery from squirrels, rats, and wild birds.”
Best Duck Feeder for Keeping Food Dry
RentACoop Bucket Feeder
Pros:
- Its enclosed design prevents water from getting in, keeping food dry
- It stops other animals stealing your food
- It prevents food waste
Cons:
- Stiff lid
- Costly for what it is
If you are looking for an enclosed duck feeder to keep duck food dry and prevent it from going to waste, this may just be your ideal choice. Designed for ducks aged 12 weeks or older, this bucket-style feeder can be placed anywhere in your yard and your feed will remain dry. You don’t need to put it under cover.
Another plus point to this feeder is that it doesn’t give access to squirrels, mice, rats, and wild birds. Approximately 99% of the food stays in the feeder.
In addition to this, it’s 100% Food Grade and BPA Free Plastic, making it a healthy, eco-conscious choice as a pet owner. This feeder comes fully assembled, so you can put it to good use right away. Simply fill it with feed and it’s ready for your hungry ducks. Since it can hold 20 lbs of feed, you’ll only need to refill it once every 30 days if you have two ducks. Those with four ducks will need to refill in two weeks. Got eight ducks? Expect to refill your duck feeder once every week.
As great as this feeder is, some reviewers point out that it’s lid is particularly stiff which makes it hard to remove.
What Reviewers Say:
One reviewer of this product gushes that this feeder is just what they needed to cut back on wasted food by keeping it dry and clean. They also say they no longer have to fill it every day.
The reviewer says they love it and their 18 month old daughter loves it too because she can fit her hands inside and help feed the chickens. Sweet!
Best Duck Feeder for Capacity
Harris Farms Galvanized Hanging Feeder
Pros:
- Feeds a lot of ducks without the need for regular refills
- Heavy duty design
- Easily adjustable
- Great value for money
Cons:
- It may cause food to get wet due to it having no lid
- It may not keep other animals from stealing your food
This heavy duty galvanized feeder is perfect for people who own over a dozen ducks. If you have a small farm with 30-50 ducks, you’ll benefit the most from this feeder. It can hold up to 30 lbs of feed, with the capacity to feed up to 50 birds.
Alongside this, its design makes for easy three position height adjustment making it ideal for adult ducks.
The main negative element to this feeder is that it doesn’t come with a cover, leaving it exposed to rain and wild animals like rodents and birds. This can mean losing money due to wet food and loss of food.
What reviewers say:
According to a reviewer, they’ve had several kinds of feeders before in all different sizes. Since they have about 100 chickens, this is the only feeder that will keep up with the demand. They say they like how much this feeder hangs inside and doesn’t fall apart like many of the plastic ones do. They also like how the tray is adjustable so that no feed goes to waste. What’s more, they deeply appreciate the large capacity, as it causes more work for this bird owner. They plan on buying a few more once they’ve finished building their new coop.
Best Duck Feeder for Baby Ducks
Little Giant Baby Chick Feeder Base Metal Feeder Base Jar
Pros:
- Affordability
- Ideal for feeding baby ducks
- Safe design
- High feeding capacity
Cons:
- It may overflow and cause a mess
- Food may get wet as it isn’t fully protected
- It may attract outside animals like mice, rats, birds, and squirrels
Little Giant Baby Chick Feeder is designed specifically for baby chicks, but it works just as well for baby ducks. This standalone feeder is a low maintenance, affordable solution for feeding chicks. It is also made with rounded, embossed edges to prevent chafing and reduce the risk of injury.
This chick feeder is compatible with a Little Giant Standard 1-Quart Plastic Screw-On Feeder/Waterer Jar or standard mason jar to make a gravity feeder.
Thanks to its durable steel body, this baby duck feeder will last through harsh weather conditions without experiencing corrosion or rust, meaning it’ll last at least a few winters or more.
To top it all off, this feeder has eight feeding holes, allowing multiple chicks to eat at once. Simply fill it up and allow your baby ducks to feed together.
On a less positive note, this feeder can easily overflow and isn’t as well protected as other designs to protect food from rain or intruders.
What reviewers say:
One reviewer claims they love how easy this feeder is to assemble and how sturdy it feels. They say you don’t have to worry about damaging it. The reviewer also loves the old style look of it, and says their chicks have no complaints either, using it as often as two or three times a day. Apparently, each of their chicks have a hole to themselves so they can all eat at the same time.
This reviewer calls the feeder “Simple, sturdy and inexpensive, so long as you have the right mouth width mason jar.”
Best Duck Feeder for Keeping Clean
Gray Bunny Ground Bird Feeder
Pros:
- It’s easy to clean
- It’s durable and practical
- Its raised edges prevent food from falling on the ground
Cons:
- It won’t keep food dry if it rains
- Any wild animal has access to it
If you’re looking for a feeder that’s easy to clean and wash, make it this one. From bird droppings to sticky food residue, it’s easy to get rid of any built up dirt and grime on this feeder. Simply wipe it clean with a wet cloth, and leave it to dry before filling it with food.
This duck feeder is generally low maintenance. Thanks to its raised edges, food cannot easily spill on your deck, patio, or garden. The mesh is also small enough to prevent food from falling through.
Furthermore, it’s pretty stable. Propped up by two curved steel bars, this duck feeder will stay firmly balanced and won’t easily tip over like other bird feeders.
Even if you don’t have ducks or other birds, this tray feeder is a wonderful way to attract more wildlife into your garden.
What reviewers say:
One reviewer says they live full time in an RV and love using this feeder to feed the local birds in the area, Because they don’t have something to hang a feeder from, this is the perfect solution for being able to feed local wildlife. They said it’s quite small and easy to transport around. It’s also supposedly sturdy so you can expect it to last a while.
They say it’s the “Perfect solution if you just want a tiny little ground feeder.”
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