7 Best Wall-Mounted Mineral Dispensers For Goats That Prevent Common Issues

You’ve seen it a hundred times: a pile of expensive goat minerals, caked into a solid, rain-soaked brick on the ground. Not only is that wasted money, but it means your goats aren’t getting the vital nutrients they need for strong bones, healthy kids, and a robust immune system. The right wall-mounted mineral feeder isn’t just about tidiness; it’s a cornerstone of preventative herd health.

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Little Giant Feeder: Reduces Waste & Contamination

The Little Giant feeder is a common sight in goat pens for a good reason. Its classic V-shape and narrow trough are specifically designed to combat the most frustrating goat behavior: playing with their food. Goats can’t easily root around and sling minerals out, which drastically cuts down on waste.

This design also helps keep the minerals clean. Because it’s mounted on the wall, it’s elevated above manure and soiled bedding. This simple act of lifting the minerals off the floor is one of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of parasites and bacteria. A clean feeder means healthier goats and less money spent on treatments.

The primary tradeoff is capacity and competition. In a larger herd, a single Little Giant can become a resource guarded by a dominant doe. While it’s excellent for reducing waste, you may need to install several to ensure every goat gets its turn without a fight.

Behlen Country Poly Feeder: Weather-Resistant Design

If your mineral station is in a three-sided shelter or an area exposed to blowing rain, a polyethylene feeder like the one from Behlen Country is your best bet. Unlike metal, it won’t rust or develop sharp, dangerous edges over time. It’s also surprisingly resilient to the relentless chewing and head-butting that goats inflict on their surroundings.

The smooth, non-porous surface of poly feeders also offers a health advantage. It’s less likely to harbor bacteria and is incredibly easy to wipe clean or scrub down. This is a huge benefit for busy farmers who need chores to be efficient and effective.

The main consideration here is UV degradation. While modern plastics are much better than they used to be, a poly feeder placed in direct, all-day sun will eventually become brittle. For maximum lifespan, try to mount it in a location that gets some afternoon shade.

Brower 4-Hole Feeder: Minimizes Herd Competition

Watching your herd can reveal a lot about their social structure, including who gets access to resources. A single-trough feeder can be easily dominated by a herd queen, leaving more timid goats deficient in crucial minerals. The Brower 4-Hole feeder directly addresses this problem.

By providing multiple access points, it breaks up the competition. A bossy doe can’t block four holes at once, giving lower-ranking members a chance to eat in peace. This is particularly important for growing kids or pregnant does who have higher mineral requirements but may be pushed aside. Better access for everyone leads to a more uniformly healthy herd.

The downside is the larger footprint. A four-hole feeder takes up more precious wall space, which can be a constraint in a smaller stall or pen. You also need to ensure the mounting is extra secure, as it will be subjected to more pushing and shoving than a smaller unit.

Tarter Mineral Feeder: Durability for Tough Herds

Some goats are just harder on equipment. If you raise larger, more boisterous breeds like Boers or Kikos, you know that anything not made of heavy-gauge steel is considered a chew toy. Tarter feeders are built with this reality in mind.

These feeders are typically made from thick, galvanized steel with rounded edges to prevent injury. They are designed to withstand the daily abuse of a rough-and-tumble herd without bending, breaking, or pulling away from the wall. Think of it as an investment; you buy it once and it lasts for years, unlike a cheaper plastic feeder that might get destroyed in a single season.

The tradeoff for this durability is weight and potential for rust. They are heavy and require very solid mounting into a stud or thick backer board. While galvanized, any deep scratches can eventually lead to rust, which will require occasional maintenance to keep it safe for your animals.

Sydell Wall Feeder: Easy Cleaning & Maintenance

Never underestimate the importance of cleanability. A feeder that is difficult to scrub out will, inevitably, not get scrubbed out as often as it should. Sydell feeders are often designed with smooth, rounded interiors that lack tight corners where old, caked-on minerals and bacteria can hide.

Many models are designed for quick removal, allowing you to take the feeder down for a thorough washing away from the pen. This is a massive time-saver and a huge boost for biosecurity. You can properly sanitize the feeder without having to work around curious goats or awkwardly spray it down while it’s still on the wall.

This focus on convenience and hygiene might mean the material isn’t as robust as a heavy-duty steel option. It’s a perfect choice for herds that are generally easy on their equipment, like Nigerian Dwarfs or Mini LaManchas, but might not hold up to a herd of destructive yearlings.

Useful Things Feeder: Ideal for Smaller Goat Herds

If you have a small herd of two or three goats, a large-capacity feeder is counterproductive. Minerals lose their potency and palatability when exposed to air and moisture for long periods. A smaller feeder, like the simple ones from Useful Things, ensures you’re only putting out what can be consumed in a reasonable amount of time.

This "less is more" approach keeps minerals fresh and appealing, encouraging your goats to actually eat them. It also prevents you from having to throw away a large batch of expensive minerals that have gone stale or gotten contaminated. For small-scale operations, matching feeder capacity to herd size is key to both nutrition and budget.

The obvious limitation is scale. This type of feeder is completely impractical for a herd of ten or more. But for the hobbyist with a few backyard pets, it’s an economical and highly effective solution that avoids the waste inherent in using oversized equipment.

Farm-Tuff Feeder: A Versatile Multi-Mineral Option

Goats are surprisingly good at knowing what their bodies need. That’s why many experienced keepers offer minerals "free choice," providing different types in separate compartments. The Farm-Tuff divided feeder is built for exactly this purpose.

A two or three-compartment feeder allows you to offer your standard complete mineral mix in one section, loose salt in another, and perhaps something like kelp or baking soda in a third. This lets each goat take what it needs, when it needs it, leading to more tailored and effective supplementation. It also saves significant wall space compared to mounting three separate feeders.

The main challenge is keeping the contents separate. Goats can be messy, and they will inevitably sling a little of one mineral into the next compartment. You’ll need to clean out the dividers regularly to ensure each supplement remains pure and uncontaminated.

Choosing Your Feeder: Key Factors for Goat Health

There is no single "best" feeder; the right choice depends entirely on your specific situation. Don’t just buy the first one you see. Instead, think through these key factors to find the perfect match for your herd and management style.

Making an informed decision comes down to balancing a few core tradeoffs. A durable steel feeder might be tough, but it’s also heavy and can rust. An easy-to-clean plastic feeder is great for biosecurity but might not survive a herd of rough goats.

Before you buy, consider these points:

• Herd Size: How many goats will use it? More goats mean you need either a larger feeder or multiple feeders to prevent competition.
• Goat Temperament: Are your goats calm or are they equipment-destroying monsters? Be honest about their behavior and choose a feeder with appropriate durability.
• Location: Will the feeder be inside a cozy barn or in a shelter exposed to the elements? This dictates whether you need a weather-resistant material like plastic.
• Your Nutritional Plan: Are you offering a single mineral mix or multiple supplements free-choice? This will determine if you need a single trough or a divided feeder.

Ultimately, the best mineral feeder is one that keeps supplements clean, dry, and accessible to every single goat in your herd. It should reduce waste to protect your wallet and be easy for you to maintain. Choosing wisely is a simple step that pays huge dividends in the long-term health and productivity of your animals.

Investing in a good mineral feeder isn’t just about buying a piece of equipment; it’s about creating a system that makes it easy for you to provide, and for your goats to receive, the consistent nutrition they need to thrive.