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percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 05 8:10 am Post subject: Duck Ponds

Do all you duck keepers have ponds for your ducks?
We use a large container filled with water at the moment and they just float about a bit but I would love for them to have more space for a good swim. Plus it is a nightmare having to keep emptying the stinky water out and replace it with fresh!
If we were to dig a pond does anyone have any tips? What to do / not to do? It would only be able to be small so woudl we still have the same problem regarding replacing the water?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Sarah

beth

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 52
Location: Milton, Cambridge

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 05 8:36 am Post subject:
We just have a baby bath. They seem happy enough with it. I'm sure they would be Over the moon with a proper pond, but in our garden it just aint going to happen. Any pond will have to be big enough that whatever mess they make will be insignificant and easily handled by the vegetation and oxygenating plants also in it. Katie Thear's book has some guidelines. Beth

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 05 12:15 pm Post subject:
When my parents had about 6 ducks they made a mess of quite a large area around the pond. I'm not sure how much room you need or if some breeds are worse than others. Ducks loved the pond though.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 05 12:16 pm Post subject:
We have ponds, Treacodactyl

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 05 12:19 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

We have ponds, Treacodactyl

They would have no frogs, toads, newts, fish or any other wildlife if we had ducks.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 05 12:21 pm Post subject:
I know, I know...one day though. I love ducks.

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 05 8:38 am Post subject:
So, do you generally think it would be a good idea or a waste. I have the room for a small one and a husband willing to help with the digging but I don't want to build something that is going to be vile after a couple of weeks? I can pave around it so it doesn't get too muddy and plant some nice plants around it (duck safe ones of course!) Are they any good books I could refer to maybe?

sugarplumhalle

Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 50
Location: E. Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 05 11:31 am Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

I know, I know...one day though. I love ducks.

yup, understand completely. Would love to have a duck pond but dont think its necessarily a good idea in my inner city hell of a yard..

Marigold123

Joined: 06 Feb 2005
Posts: 224

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 05 9:30 pm Post subject:
I read somwhere that if you are going to keep ducks for eating, not just eggs, you should not allow them access to a pond. Is this because they may get parasites, or swim in other ducks' poop, or what? It seems a bit rough on the ducks.

Smallholder

Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 8
Location: Powys/Hereford Border

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 05 10:06 am Post subject:

I have about 20 ducks and I sunk an second hand bath into the ground and cemented a small area around it to contain the water which they splash out.
Dig a sump at the plughole end and fill with rubble as a soakaway..Don't skimp on this, as the bigger the soakaway the faster the water drains out.
Where the overflow is, plug by removing the grill and bolt in a bit of rubber to stop it leaking.
I hung abit of old carpet at the one end so they could get a grip coming out.
It works well and it's easy to keep clean.
Forget plants..they will rip them to bits.
All ducks need water.You can get away with a washing up bowl..but would you like it?

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 05 3:40 pm Post subject:
Smallholder, that sounds like a good idea as I could then drain the water. Does the plug hole not get all bunged up though!? LOL! How often do you find you have to empty it? Thanks! Sarah

DarrenG

Joined: 26 Dec 2004
Posts: 110
Location: Lincolnshire Fens

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 05 7:35 am Post subject:
if you only have space for a small pond dont bother, it will foul in a few hours, ducks dont need water but its nice if they can have it

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 05 7:40 am Post subject:
Whatever you do they should be given fresh drinking water and keep an eye on it, especially in the summer, as they tend to know it over unless it's one of the suspended drinkers.

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 05 8:23 am Post subject:
Maybe it's not such a good idea then. I was so looking foward to seeing them both having a paddle about and not having to fill their 'box' with water every few days. They always have a filled drinker so do nothave to rely on the 'pond water' to drink.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 05 1:17 pm Post subject:
I thought ducks were happier if they had water to have a bit of a plodge around in? I have seen articles from animal welfare organisations who say that farmed ducks are miserable - because as well as their cramped conditions they are deprived of water to splash around in.

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