cement ponds???

[BlackBart]

When I was a kid (over 40 years ago) I built cement ponds for my ducks and geese. They were deep enough so the birds could swim and bathe. Not really big about 6 feet long and 4 feet wide, maybe a foot of more deep. The walls are about two inches thick.
To clean them out I drained the water, them used a rake to get most of the mud out, then used a stiff broom to get the rest out. It was never really clean.
I didn't use a rubber liner (they didn't exsist then) I never sealed them, they never leaked not even after the shockwaves of Mt Saint Helens. They still hold water and the wildlife like to use them for drinking water.

 

[pheasant24]

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did you have a drain in the middle? on did you just siphon it out?

 

[C&Rman]

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did you have a drain in the middle? on did you just siphon it out?

If you have a pump even a little one with a pump hose you could drain it so easily. I thought I was never gone be able to get all the water out but the pump with pumps almost all the water out!

 

[ranchhand]

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like a cement sealer?

Sorry, I didn't give enough info. Many years in construction.

Cement is only one of the ingredients in concrete- it's a very common mistake, since what we call cement mixers are actually concrete mixers. Usually, the mix is cement, sand and some gravel.

Seepage is the water migrating out through unsealed concrete - there was a thread recently about someone wondering why their "cement" pond kept evaporating overnight- it wasn't evaporation, it was seepage. Unless the concrete is sealed somehow, putting plastic underneath will simply lead to water between the plastic and concrete, possibly causing the concrete to crack.

Sealant is available in many forms from any builder's or paint store. Most are non-toxic if given the proper amount of time to cure. Anything from clear to all sorts of pretty paint colors!

If you go to a Home Depot or Lowe's, in the Garden area, they will likely have all the info you need, maybe even a seminar all about it. I found a local plant nursery once that had all sorts of print outs and half day classes- it was pretty cool.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

I made one years ago when we had ducks and geese. I found a spot right above a nice slope. I dug out the hole, only about 6'x6' and a couple of feet deep in the middle. I made one end with a nice easy access, like a shore, for them to easily get in. Hate watch them struggle to get in the kiddie pool. I put a 4" PVC pipe at the end where the land sloped and where it came out of the ground I used a cap. I'd just unscrew the cap and the water would drain out. I'd hose it out and fill it up again.

I laid down plastic, then some wire and then shoveled cement on it and sculpted the pond. Worked great!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
like a cement sealer?

Sorry, I didn't give enough info. Many years in construction.

Cement is only one of the ingredients in concrete- it's a very common mistake, since what we call cement mixers are actually concrete mixers. Usually, the mix is cement, sand and some gravel.

Seepage is the water migrating out through unsealed concrete - there was a thread recently about someone wondering why their "cement" pond kept evaporating overnight- it wasn't evaporation, it was seepage. Unless the concrete is sealed somehow, putting plastic underneath will simply lead to water between the plastic and concrete, possibly causing the concrete to crack.

Sealant is available in many forms from any builder's or paint store. Most are non-toxic if given the proper amount of time to cure. Anything from clear to all sorts of pretty paint colors!

If you go to a Home Depot or Lowe's, in the Garden area, they will likely have all the info you need, maybe even a seminar all about it. I found a local plant nursery once that had all sorts of print outs and half day classes- it was pretty cool.

I'm a tile man, so I know all about how water will go threw any masonry product, however it's not to that extreme, they will not go dry over night, unless it's so thin that you really cant call it a concrete pond to start with, none of mine ever did I had tons of them, literally 4 acres worth. Now to seal one would be the preferred way to go in a perfect world with not harsh toxic chemicals. But all the sealers I have ever seen and used smell like they'd strip paint off your truck and all have toxic warnings on them

On the other hand, were talking $100- $250 a pair bird here, there is now way in the world I'd put a possible toxic sealer into what they will be drinking and living on.
Home Depot and Lowes yes can tell you how to use them, but if asked if they are toxic to waterfowl, they are going to look at you like you are nuts, after all most of them just started yesterday. If I cant drink it, I wouldnt advise you use it on expensive ornamental waterfowl either

Make it about 3 inches thick, plastic under it if you'd like (I never bothered like I said I used the seepage to my advantage) and trust me they'll be fine.


They plus to the drain is you can wash all the mess down with it if you use a 4 inch line.

I did the ol sump pump thing too for years, problem with that is now YOU have to get in there and shovel all the liquefied bird poop out. If you dont mind, they are the easiest to built by far. Otherwise remember they can fill and small pond full of "duck mud" in a matter of a week or so.

 

[pheasant24]

haha! ok thanks yall! I will deffinatly start building this asap!

 

[punk-a-doodle]

We had cement ponds at the aviary for a few of the enclosures. They had a drain, but were always a pain. The ibises and flamingos were champ poopers, and their drains always, always became clogged. Cement is rough, so you have to constantly bleach and scrub the surface as just about everything grows in the little crannies. At least, that was my experience with ours. I'm sure they were *not* the best designed ponds though. If using cement, I personally would find something that will bond well to the cement (fiberglass resin might work, not sure how it does on cement) that would leave you with a smooth surface. Just check the grades (ie. safe for aquarium use, safe for potable water, etc.). Also, specifically look for a resin coating that will not leach. Basically, food safe is not the same as potable water safe, as most food safe products aren't meant to be constantly exposed to water. Heck, people give away ready-to-go fiberglass shells (hot tub, tub, etc) for free, and you just have to seal up any jet holes to have a nice little pond.

 

[BlackBart]

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Wow what a great idea, I wish i'd thought of a large drain pipe it would have been much easier.
I never sealed my ponds and they never leaked and still haven't.

Did you seal your pond?

 

[HighNDryFarm]

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Wow what a great idea, I wish i'd thought of a large drain pipe it would have been much easier.
I never sealed my ponds and they never leaked and still haven't.

Did you seal your pond?

Yes, drain pipe made it so easy to clean! And no, I didn't seal it.......I think the muck from the birds sealed it!