- Apr 22, 2014
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Hello once again. With only one half of a summer behind me, I am going to pretend I know something about kiddie pools.
So keep in mind I haven't figured everything out, but I have some observations for anyone who hasn't crossed this road yet.
Like most duck owners, I am sure, the grand design of the universe is to someday have a wonderful huge duck pond that is either large enough to not worry about (small lake), or at least able to have a bio-filter system so that maintenance is minimal. For some someday is "It was here when be bought the property and is why we decided we needed to buy ducks to fill it". For others it is "When I close my eyes and go to sleep there is a magical land where I have a big duck pond on my small lot and the ducks talk to me and pitch in on the chores". I would like to think I fall somewhere in between.
For many of us it is our lot to deal with temporary pool solutions (with varying degrees of "temporary").
I am going to compare the merits of 3 ft. vs 6 ft. kiddie pools and the results may surprise you. Here are my qualifications:
1. I used both 3 ft. and 6 ft. kiddie pools this summer.
2. I have 13 ducks (read: "too many for 1 kiddie pool of either size on a hot summer day.")
3. I have a computer with a fully working keyboard and mouse. And I am not afraid to use it.
With both sizes, I have had at least 3 pools available for the ducks. Both pools were made by SwimFun, so should be about the same quality. So I will go through some comparisons I have noted, the results, and a comment for each.
1. Diameter: 3ft vs. 6ft This is obvious, but a thing to keep in mind is that most cars will fit a 3' pool somewhere. A 6' pool is cumbersome in anything but an open pickup. A full-sized van/mini van/covered truck will hold them but not easily. In an open pickup, the pool needs to be secured fairly well if you plan on driving highway speeds. Also in either case, 4 pools is only slightly larger than 1 pool since they nest well. Winner for transportability: 3'
2. Height: 6" vs 12". Some of my ducks need a step or a ramp to get into the 12" high pool (I know they could just fly in, but they don't
). All of my ducks including my 8 wk old runners can not only get into the 6" pool without assistance, they can blast over the top of it like it wasn't even there (when chasing each other). This means the smaller pool is more accessible. Winner for duck friendly: 3'
3. Number of ducks that can stand around the circumference throwing dirt in the pool: 9 vs 19. This assumes each duck takes a linear foot around the edge of the pool. This actually is relevant as you will see in #7. Winner for less of your yard in the pool: 3'
4. Maximum capacity of ducks: 5 vs 5. Really... I know some of you probably have gotten more in a single 6' pool, but when I had 3-6' pools out, the most ducks I ever had in one pool was 5 (not always the same ones so it isn't a clique thing). With 3-3' pools, I often see 5 ducks in a pool - just closer together.
This one is a tie
5. Water capacity: 26 gal vs 211 gal. This is calculated based on the pool being a perfect cylinder. I didn't subtract or add the fish shapes or take into account the taper. The point is this is the amount of water (and time) you will have to use to fill and drain your pool. Also at 8 lbs per gallon, the smaller pool weighs around 211 lbs full vs the larger pool at 1692 lbs. Granted both will be about half full as soon as your ducks have a freak out moment in them, but the larger one will still be 8X heavier. If your goal is holding water, then the 6' pool wins by bunches but it doesn't really make the ducks any happier.
6. Structural integrity: pass vs fail. Both pools are made of the same plastic. If there's a difference in thickness, it's not much. That means that while the smaller pool can easily be lifted and tipped over to empty it in about 3 seconds, the larger pool will buckle if you try to empty it the same way. This will form creases that will eventually make cracks/holes. This means either you need to set up a drain system, or you need to pump the pool at least partially. Either way, it will take longer than 3 seconds. Winner for strong and fast: 3'
7. Days the pool can support being filled to capacity with ducks before it NEEDS to be cleaned
: 1 vs 1. If you put 5 ducks in either pool all day, it will be nasty tomorrow. Depending on how my ducks actually use the pools, some pools are cleaned after 1 day, some after 2 days. The stock tank gets cleaned about every 3 days, but that is not part of this comparison
This was the same with the larger pools. With the smaller pools, they are mostly poop with a little dirt. The larger pools had more dirt in them (remember #3?). This one is again a tie, but it took less effort with the small pool.
8. Price: $10 vs $20. This really doesn't matter since you are talking about one of the smallest expenses you will have supporting your ducks. But say for example, you had a choice of buying 2 - 3' pools vs 1 - 6' pool. With two 3' pools, you could position them so that one would be in the shadows while another was in the sun. Also if you have ducks that don't like each other so much, they can both be in separate pools with their own friends. If you have some young ducks/old ducklings and a crazy randy drake (I have some experience here) you can keep them separated while still allowing them all access to a pool. Winner for economical and flexible: 3'.
So what I am saying I guess is that for a short term swimming solution, I would recommend a 3' pool over a 6' pool. This would not have been my first instinct (which is why I wrote this) and, in fact I started with several 6' pools. I bought two 3' pools because I lost my pumping capability temporarily I now have that capability back, and don't need it (except for the stock tank) because I bought 2 more 3' pools. The ducks seem just as happy and it takes less than 1/8 the time to drain/fill the pools.
If you are limited for space and are looking for a longer term solution, I wouldn't use a kiddie pool in the first place. If I was going to cut out a spot in a wood deck or have some plumbing for a drain or do anything more complicated than tossing the pool in the yard and filling it - even if you are looking for a small pool, I would move up to a stock tank since they are much more durable and would make a better solution for a "project".
Like most duck owners, I am sure, the grand design of the universe is to someday have a wonderful huge duck pond that is either large enough to not worry about (small lake), or at least able to have a bio-filter system so that maintenance is minimal. For some someday is "It was here when be bought the property and is why we decided we needed to buy ducks to fill it". For others it is "When I close my eyes and go to sleep there is a magical land where I have a big duck pond on my small lot and the ducks talk to me and pitch in on the chores". I would like to think I fall somewhere in between.
I am going to compare the merits of 3 ft. vs 6 ft. kiddie pools and the results may surprise you. Here are my qualifications:
1. I used both 3 ft. and 6 ft. kiddie pools this summer.
2. I have 13 ducks (read: "too many for 1 kiddie pool of either size on a hot summer day.")
3. I have a computer with a fully working keyboard and mouse. And I am not afraid to use it.
With both sizes, I have had at least 3 pools available for the ducks. Both pools were made by SwimFun, so should be about the same quality. So I will go through some comparisons I have noted, the results, and a comment for each.
1. Diameter: 3ft vs. 6ft This is obvious, but a thing to keep in mind is that most cars will fit a 3' pool somewhere. A 6' pool is cumbersome in anything but an open pickup. A full-sized van/mini van/covered truck will hold them but not easily. In an open pickup, the pool needs to be secured fairly well if you plan on driving highway speeds. Also in either case, 4 pools is only slightly larger than 1 pool since they nest well. Winner for transportability: 3'
2. Height: 6" vs 12". Some of my ducks need a step or a ramp to get into the 12" high pool (I know they could just fly in, but they don't
3. Number of ducks that can stand around the circumference throwing dirt in the pool: 9 vs 19. This assumes each duck takes a linear foot around the edge of the pool. This actually is relevant as you will see in #7. Winner for less of your yard in the pool: 3'
4. Maximum capacity of ducks: 5 vs 5. Really... I know some of you probably have gotten more in a single 6' pool, but when I had 3-6' pools out, the most ducks I ever had in one pool was 5 (not always the same ones so it isn't a clique thing). With 3-3' pools, I often see 5 ducks in a pool - just closer together.
5. Water capacity: 26 gal vs 211 gal. This is calculated based on the pool being a perfect cylinder. I didn't subtract or add the fish shapes or take into account the taper. The point is this is the amount of water (and time) you will have to use to fill and drain your pool. Also at 8 lbs per gallon, the smaller pool weighs around 211 lbs full vs the larger pool at 1692 lbs. Granted both will be about half full as soon as your ducks have a freak out moment in them, but the larger one will still be 8X heavier. If your goal is holding water, then the 6' pool wins by bunches but it doesn't really make the ducks any happier.
6. Structural integrity: pass vs fail. Both pools are made of the same plastic. If there's a difference in thickness, it's not much. That means that while the smaller pool can easily be lifted and tipped over to empty it in about 3 seconds, the larger pool will buckle if you try to empty it the same way. This will form creases that will eventually make cracks/holes. This means either you need to set up a drain system, or you need to pump the pool at least partially. Either way, it will take longer than 3 seconds. Winner for strong and fast: 3'
7. Days the pool can support being filled to capacity with ducks before it NEEDS to be cleaned
8. Price: $10 vs $20. This really doesn't matter since you are talking about one of the smallest expenses you will have supporting your ducks. But say for example, you had a choice of buying 2 - 3' pools vs 1 - 6' pool. With two 3' pools, you could position them so that one would be in the shadows while another was in the sun. Also if you have ducks that don't like each other so much, they can both be in separate pools with their own friends. If you have some young ducks/old ducklings and a crazy randy drake (I have some experience here) you can keep them separated while still allowing them all access to a pool. Winner for economical and flexible: 3'.
So what I am saying I guess is that for a short term swimming solution, I would recommend a 3' pool over a 6' pool. This would not have been my first instinct (which is why I wrote this) and, in fact I started with several 6' pools. I bought two 3' pools because I lost my pumping capability temporarily I now have that capability back, and don't need it (except for the stock tank) because I bought 2 more 3' pools. The ducks seem just as happy and it takes less than 1/8 the time to drain/fill the pools.
If you are limited for space and are looking for a longer term solution, I wouldn't use a kiddie pool in the first place. If I was going to cut out a spot in a wood deck or have some plumbing for a drain or do anything more complicated than tossing the pool in the yard and filling it - even if you are looking for a small pool, I would move up to a stock tank since they are much more durable and would make a better solution for a "project".
