Places to Feed the Ducks in Memphis

A mom asked for suggestions on where to go and Places to Feed the Ducks in Memphis with her kids.

From Suzanne: I lived next to a large park with a pond in Charlotte and we never fed the ducks as it makes them poop more and I wanted to be able to walk on the paths without stepping in poop – yuck! Keep that in mind if you decide to do this – it’s not really the best thing for the park and it encourages the ducks to stick around and not migrate.

Here are some articles worth reading on the best practices for feeding ducks and whether it’s friendly or not:

• 3 reasons why you shouldn’t feed bread to ducks
• What you should NEVER feed to ducks: Six things including BREAD
• Really, How Bad Is It to Feed the Ducks and Other Urban Wildlife?
• Stop Feeding Waterfowl – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
• What to Feed Wild Ducks 

Here are good things to feed to ducks:

• Cracked corn
• Wheat, barley, or similar grains
• Oats (uncooked; rolled or quick)
• Rice (cooked or uncooked)
• Birdseed (any type or mix)
• Grapes (cut in half or quartered if very large)
• Nut hearts or pieces (any type but without salt, coatings, or flavoring)
• Frozen peas or corn (defrosted, no need to cook)
• Earthworms (fishing bait or dug from the garden)
• Mealworms (fresh or dried)
• Chopped lettuce or other greens or salad mixes
• Vegetable trimmings or peels (chopped into small pieces)

What not to feed ducks:

• Bread, chips, crackers, donuts, cereal, popcorn, and similar bread-type products and scraps

Here are the Places to Feed the Ducks in Memphis spots the moms recommended:

Shelby Farms

• The pond next to the Woodland Discovery Playground
• Patriot Lake
• Shelby Farms has signs now that say don’t feed the animals. I don’t know if that means ducks, too. They are placed by the lake so that makes me think ducks are included.

Cameron Brown Park in Germantown, but the geese there are mean

WC Johnson Park in Collierville

Olive Branch City Park has tons!!

The Japanese garden behind Bartlett City Hall on Stage Road–there are also tons of turtles and koi that will come over and try to get the bread. It’s also a really good spot for photographs.

Howard McVay Park in Germantown

Chickasaw Gardens

The Madison Apartment lake on Quince between Kirby & Riverdale. Tons of friendly geese & ducks. There is usually a blue heron at the far south side and there are lots of turtles sunning on the rocks. If you go south on Quince it dead ends into Winchester. Turn left and there is a Sonic right near Germantown Road. In case you need a cool treat from being in the heat.

The pond behind the library at Southwest Community College is nice and they have several benches for people to sit on. I use to see people there all the time feeding the ducks.

Memphis Botanic Gardens. They actually have a food dispenser by the ponds. It’s fish food but once you start feeding the fish the ducks come and take over.
Updated July 2018: fish food is now sold at the front desk

The park behind Houston High School (Germantown). Nice swing to watch the ducks too.

Municipal Park in Germantown behind library/gac/fire station

Which Places to Feed the Ducks in Memphis am I missing?