6 Goat Feeders For Mineral Supplements That Prevent Costly Waste

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Why a Covered Feeder Prevents Mineral Clumping

Loose minerals are essential for goat health, providing micronutrients often missing from forage and feed. But their fine, powdery consistency makes them incredibly vulnerable to moisture. A single downpour can turn a full feeder of costly supplements into a hardened, unpalatable clump that your goats will ignore.

This is more than just a financial loss. When minerals clump, goats can’t consume them, leading to potential deficiencies in copper, selenium, and zinc. These deficiencies can cause a cascade of health problems, including poor coat condition, a weakened immune system, and reproductive issues.

A covered feeder acts as a simple insurance policy. By shielding the minerals from rain, snow, and even heavy morning dew, it keeps them loose, dry, and appealing. This ensures your goats have constant access to the supplements they need to thrive, and you aren’t throwing away your investment one rainstorm at a time.

Little Giant Goat Mineral Feeder: A Sturdy Classic

This feeder is one of the most common sights on small farms for a good reason. The Little Giant is a heavy-duty, molded plastic feeder with a rubber flap that covers the mineral reservoir. Its low-profile design means it sits securely on the ground, and its weight helps prevent all but the most determined goats from knocking it over.

The simple flap design does a decent job of keeping direct rain out. Goats learn quickly to nudge it with their nose to access the minerals. It’s an effective, no-frills solution that holds a good amount of supplement, reducing the frequency of refills for a small herd.

However, it’s not foolproof. In a driving rain, water can still get under the flap, and the flap itself can sometimes get stuck open or closed. Because it sits on the ground, it’s also more susceptible to being contaminated if a goat decides to stand or defecate in it, so placement requires some thought.

The Right Way Feeder for Ultimate Weather Protection

If you live in a climate with significant rainfall or snow, the Right Way Feeder is the gold standard for weather protection. Its design is ingenious: a deep hood covers the mineral pan, and the entire unit swivels on a central pole. The feeder is weighted to ensure the opening always faces away from the wind, providing near-perfect protection from the elements.

This design means your minerals stay bone-dry through the worst storms. You can fill it and forget it, confident that your supplements are safe. It’s a significant investment upfront, but it can easily pay for itself in saved minerals over just a few wet seasons.

The main tradeoff is the cost and installation. It’s more expensive than simpler options and requires mounting to a sturdy post or pole. For a hobby farmer in an arid climate, it might be overkill, but for anyone tired of fighting with wet, clumpy minerals, it is the definitive solution to the problem.

Behlen Country 2-Hole Feeder for Multiple Options

The Behlen feeder offers a key advantage: two separate compartments. This is incredibly useful for providing free-choice access to both a complete mineral mix and another supplement, like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or kelp. This setup allows goats to take what they need of each without you having to mix them or put out multiple containers.

Made of durable galvanized steel, this feeder is built to last and can be mounted securely to a fence post or barn wall. Mounting it keeps it off the ground, preventing contamination and making it less likely to be damaged by pushy goats. The metal hood provides good, though not total, protection from rain.

The primary consideration is placement. Since the hood is fixed, you need to orient the feeder away from the prevailing wind and rain for the best protection. While it’s tougher than plastic, the metal can eventually rust in very damp environments, but its versatility makes it a strong contender for farmers wanting to offer more than one supplement.

Tarter Poly Corner Mount Feeder for Stall Setups

Not all mineral stations need to be in the pasture. For goats that spend significant time in stalls or small enclosures, a corner-mounted feeder is an excellent space-saving solution. The Tarter Poly Corner Mount Feeder is designed specifically for this, fitting snugly into a 90-degree corner and bolting directly to the walls.

This feeder is ideal for kidding pens, buck enclosures, or a central barn shelter. Mounting it in a corner keeps it out of the way and prevents it from being knocked around or soiled with bedding. Because it’s intended for indoor or covered use, it doesn’t have a built-in weather hood, relying on the barn roof for protection.

Its compact size means it’s best suited for just one or two goats at a time to prevent crowding. While it’s not a solution for your main pasture, it excels in its specific role, helping you create a clean, organized, and efficient feeding station inside a shelter.

PVC T-Post Feeder: A Durable DIY-Style Solution

For the resourceful farmer, a DIY feeder made from PVC pipe is a cheap, durable, and surprisingly effective option. The most common design involves a 4-inch PVC pipe with a "Y" or "T" fitting at the bottom, mounted vertically to a T-post. You fill the pipe from the top (using a screw-on cap to keep rain out), and the minerals feed down into the covered opening at the bottom.

This design is incredibly resilient. It’s virtually indestructible, and since the reservoir is enclosed, the minerals are well-protected from weather. You can make several of these for a fraction of the cost of a commercial feeder, allowing you to place mineral stations in multiple paddocks.

The main limitation is capacity. A single PVC pipe doesn’t hold as much as a large commercial feeder, so you’ll need to refill it more often, especially with a larger herd. It also requires some basic tools and a bit of time to assemble, but it’s a fantastic, low-cost project that solves a common problem with simple materials.

Fortiflex Hanging Feeder Bucket: A Versatile Pick

Sometimes the simplest solution is the most practical. A basic hanging feeder bucket, like those made by Fortiflex, can serve as an effective mineral feeder if placed correctly. These tough rubber or plastic buckets can be hung from a fence or wall using their built-in hooks or a simple carabiner.

The key to using a hanging bucket is placement. It offers zero protection from the elements on its own, so it must be located inside a three-sided shelter or deep within a barn, away from wind-blown rain. Hanging it at chest height for your goats keeps it clean and prevents young kids from climbing into it.

This is a great option if you’re on a tight budget or already have a few of these buckets on hand. It’s also easily portable, allowing you to move your mineral station as you rotate pastures. While not a dedicated, weatherproof solution, its versatility and low cost make it a workable choice for a well-sheltered setup.

Choosing a Feeder Based on Your Herd Size & Climate

There is no single "best" mineral feeder; the right choice depends entirely on your specific situation. Making a good decision comes down to balancing your climate, herd size, location, and budget.

Think through these key factors before you buy:

• Climate: If you get a lot of rain or snow, prioritize weather protection. The Right Way Feeder is the top-tier choice, while a PVC T-Post Feeder is a great DIY alternative. In drier areas, the simpler hood on a Little Giant or Behlen is often sufficient.
• Location: For an open pasture, you need a durable, weatherproof, and stable feeder. For inside a barn or stall, a Tarter Corner Feeder or a Fortiflex Hanging Bucket saves space and keeps minerals clean.
• Herd Size & Offerings: For a small herd of two or three goats, a smaller feeder works fine. For a larger herd, you’ll need a higher-capacity feeder or multiple feeders to ensure everyone gets access. If you want to offer baking soda or other supplements separately, the Behlen 2-Hole Feeder is the obvious choice.

Ultimately, your goal is to provide constant, free-choice access to clean, dry minerals. A feeder that sits empty because it’s hard to fill or is full of a solid, rain-soaked block is failing at its job. Choose the feeder that best fits your daily routine and the realities of your farm.

Selecting the right mineral feeder is a small but impactful decision in managing a healthy, thriving herd. By investing in a system that protects your supplements from the elements, you’re not just saving money on wasted minerals. You are ensuring your goats have the foundation they need for strong immunity, successful breeding, and overall vitality.