Squirrels eating the duck feed!

[SheilaCondit]

3 fat grey squirrels were caught leaving the scene. The duck's feed bowl was empty. The sneaky squirrels will be back. I have been letting my 2 pekin ducks eat at will. Do I need to put it in a fenced coop? Do ducks eat primarily in the morning? Any ideas on how to deal with this?

 

[FLChickens]

Can you build a cage for the food dish that the ducks can reach their heads/necks into but the squirrels can't get it? (I've seen people water ducks through chain link.) Only problem is, I think that's a pretty small tolerance for opening size. And I'd worry that the ducks would be vulnerable with their necks stretched into a hole while eating, not to mention they need water at the same time.

I don't know ... my ducks were always such pigs that I fed them a couple times a day, and they ate up their portion then and there. Squirrels never had a chance. I'd probably go that route myself.