best pools for ducks?

[fatty and friends]

i have 5 ducks and want some pool ideas, right now they just have 3 kiddie pools, deep enough to float and play but not really too much room (no in the ground pool or pond ideas please, something we can bring when we move)

also some pics of my ducks because they are my babies lol

 

[Callender Girl]

Emptying kiddie pools gets old fast, doesn't it? I have two and am constantly frustrated by how much muck ducks will leave in the water and how quickly they will do it.

I have a small, oval livestock trough that isn't very wide but is deep enough for the ducks to get themselves completely submerged -- as long as they bathe one at a time , with a brick and concrete block to use as steps so they can safely get in. Of course, they ignore those most of the time and kind of flop in and out of the trough. It's rigid enough and still small enough that I can tip it over and rinse it out as needed.

I also have an old clawfoot bath tub that is STILL awaiting my grand plan to have someone help me drag it out of the back, set up a nice drainage system and reposition it in the ditch along the driveway. The plan is to have the top of the tub level with the driveway so there will be less construction needed for them to access it.

And, your babies are adorable!

 

[kwik-kwak]

This is a good question. I'm having ducks since a couple of weeks now and I'm afraid there is now perfect solution. At the moment I use a large plastic box and refresh the water every day. They can swim a little bit and wash themselves. But if they are fully grown I want to give them a larger pool but the problem is I don't want to spil that much water every day.

So I'm hoping that someone has the perfect pool idea...

Your ducks are really cute!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I have a trough as well. We added a spicket to it so that I can drain it easily. I drain it with a cheap laundry hose. It drains down to about 2 in" or so, then I can dump the rest. It's easy enough. Its easier than draining a kiddy pool. I have a larger kiddie pool out in the yard, that I just step on the side until the water drains down far enough for me to pick up the pool and drain the rest. I'm sure bending the sides to drain will eventually wear on it, but it works as well. The larger kiddie pool allows the ducks to swim and dive under. But, it will kill grass, so I drain it every 3 days or so and then move it to a different place in the yard. The trough stays in the run so I'm not as worried. If I had it in the yard, it's easy enough to drain and move if needed. I also have the trough sitting up on two pieces of wood to get it up off the ground so that the spicket doesn't hit the ground.

 

[RobinGel]

I also have an old clawfoot bath tub that is STILL awaiting my grand plan to have someone help me drag it out of the back, set up a nice drainage system and reposition it in the ditch along the driveway. The plan is to have the top of the tub level with the driveway so there will be less construction needed for them to access it.

Love this it's a wonderful idea!!

 

[RobinGel]

I use a pond/waterfall liner that I got at a yard sale. I have a small electric pump to empty the "duck pond" every few days. This was an awesome find for me! It's about 28" at the deepest point so they can easily swim a little. It has 2 built in steps about 12" from the rim so the ducks can get in and out easily. Once I get the stones set just under the rim it should be easier for me to keep myself clean while emptying

It just in the ground on a base of wash gravel for now as it's too wet from all the rain. Then plan is to set some flat stones around the edge of the liner. Then backfill & level the surroundings with the mahindra.

This was a couple weeks back ... they didn't wait for me to finish

Here's the rough in ...

Here's the before pic... it was a low spot in my back yard that turned to pond everytime it rained.

 

[Callender Girl]

They sure look happy in their unfinished pond! Very nice project!