Keeping daily duck food dry

[joesandy1822]

I usually just put my duck food in a bowl, but when it rains, it gets wasted because then they won’t eat it. Which seems strange considering they love deliberately getting it wet themselves. Also, the wild birds eat some of it.

Anybody know of a feeder hack that would prevent it getting rained on and also maybe minimize loss to the wild birds? Thanks so much for any ideas. I am a DIY type person, so I can build something, but I figured maybe someone already had it figured out.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I had this problem too. I temporarily solved it by making a simple tarp covered shelter for the food and then I built a new coop with an overhanging roof.
When I was looking for solutions, I found one hack you might like. You place the food bowl in a five gallon bucket with a lid and holes cut out of the side. The holes need to be big enough for the ducks to get their heads in and out easily. They should be several inches up the side of the bucket as well.
My husband bought me a grandpa’s feeder (Amazon) last Christmas. It isn’t cheap or a hack but it works great and would solve both the rain and bird problems.

 

[ruthhope]

I feed mine ducky soup in wet weather: dissolve the pellets in warm water and add peas or chopped kale and garnish with mealworms. The soup is runny not mushy food consistency. No duck has turned their nose up at it!

 

[joesandy1822]

I had this problem too. I temporarily solved it by making a simple tarp covered shelter for the food and then I built a new coop with an overhanging roof.
When I was looking for solutions, I found one hack you might like. You place the food bowl in a five gallon bucket with a lid and holes cut out of the side. The holes need to be big enough for the ducks to get their heads in and out easily. They should be several inches up the side of the bucket as well.
My husband bought me a grandpa’s feeder (Amazon) last Christmas. It isn’t cheap or a hack but it works great and would solve both the rain and bird problems.

Thank you! Wish I could afford the grandpa’s one; it looks great. But I’m going to make one of the 5-gallon bucket ones. I think it will do just fine!

 

[joesandy1822]

I feed mine ducky soup in wet weather: dissolve the pellets in warm water and add peas or chopped kale and garnish with mealworms. The soup is runny not mushy food consistency. No duck has turned their nose up at it!

Ya, strangely, if I add MORE water to the rained on food, they will eat it (if I sit there and hold the bowl). Crazy ducks!