I have 14 ducks and have given them a large kiddie pool (the one piece hard plastic kind). I am having to drain it every other day and clean it, is this normal? I dug a hole and was going to just fill it up everyday for the ducks, but as I figured would happen, that makes for a very muddy pond...any ideas on how to have a clean duck pond? I have known people to not provide a pond for the ducks and they seemed to do ok, but the ducks sure do enjoy the water!! I thought some water lilies would be pretty, but was told they were poisonous to the ducks...I had never heard that before.

-- Cindy Cluck (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), June 13, 2000

Answers

What a lucky person you are. The ducks are making Texas Tea for you. Why not use your bounty to water your plants. Rotate some so not to over do any one plant.

-- JerryR(La.) (jwr98@hotmail.com), June 13, 2000.

LOL I had never heard it called that before!! I am using it on my plants, they love it! :-)

-- Cindy Cluck (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), June 13, 2000.

Wow, JerryR! Thanks for the tip, I was just passing through and saw the tip. Water has been so precious here, but I have been miserly with putting clean water in the kiddie pool for the ducks (they enjoy clear, clean water best. Now I won't feel so guilty, I'll toss the old pool water on all the plants, etc.

-- Water (miser@thesouth.com), June 13, 2000.

Ducks seem to like clean water, if only to muddy it up immediately. No matter how often we put out clean water, they make it nasty in a matter of minutes. For their health, they need it, but it sure won't stay that way! I also use the smelly stuff on my plants and trees, can't afford to waste it! They also prefer to mate in water, although they will on ground, also. Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), June 13, 2000.

Thanks for the info, I have felt bad about having to clean it every day, but I have been using the water. At least I know it is not something I am doing wrong which is what I was thinking since it was getting dirty so fast. I had read that if you put rocks, plants etc..around the pond, make it real pretty , you will not have to change the water more then once a month. I did that and am still changing it every day or so. Thanks again for the advice!

Cindy Cluck

-- Cynthia Cluck (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), June 14, 2000.

Hi, I have to change my ducks kiddie pool every two hours if I want it to look like nice clean water! They sure can yuck it fast. I opt for every other day, and only put about 15 gal. in, then I take 5 out for the garden. My question is, is this safe to put right on the plants? I usually just pour it on the aisles, hoping some will leach to the plants, and it will improve next years soil. I thought it would be nitrogen rich, though I suspect most is 'backwash' as my ducks don't spend that much time swimming in it. I've done this for years, and have always noticed how beautiful the grass comes up where the poultry was last year. Maybe we should house them where we want to grow something next year? Jill

-- Jill Schreiber (schreiber@santanet.com), June 20, 2000.

This is my first year with ducks, so I am not sure about rotating the position of the ducks, though it would make sense. I have such a big pen for them, I don't even want to think about moving that huge thing! I am still scoooping out the water and watering my plants with it and hoping for the best. My plants are doing wonderful! :-) My kids are horrified at the thought of lugging that stuff around, but I just tease them and tell them they could do it. ;-) I have also hooked up a suction hose to them and watered that way, it is much easier on the back, but you have to be careful not to move the hose too much or you lose the suction. I would love to let my birds free range so they could munch all the bugs they want, but the neighbors' cats are all waiting for an opportunity to get a bird.

-- Cindy Cluck (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), June 20, 2000.

Duck pond water is wonderful for plants. this is the first year that we have had ducks and have also given them a kiddy pool - my garden has never done better!!!

any ideas about how to keep ducks out of our "fish pond". Even though they have their own pool they like the fish pond also and their poop clogs up the filter constantly. I thought about raising it instead of keeping it level with the ground but that would be a lot of work.

thanks! love this forum. we are new to ducks and they have been a wonderdul addition to our lives.

-- Ginger Sznakowski (buzardb8@simflex.com), June 17, 2001.

Wire with very small holes, like very strong screen for windows, will keep the ducks from being able to get their bills into the pond. They might try to stand on the wire, so be sure and have something strong across the pond for reinforcement. My inlaws had a real cute fish pond that they had a 2x4 frame work across the pond, then disguised by waterplants. When they wanted to feed the fish, they either fed right through the wire, or lifted a corner of it. Cats and dogs would sit there looking at the fish, but the fish were safe. When I get my fish pond built, I am going to do it the same way. They had theirs for years and years and it kept on working. :-)

Cindy

-- Cindy in Ok (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), June 17, 2001.