Creating a "Natural/Organic" Duck pond in the backyard.

[Rick RR GBirds]

Hi...Brand new to the forum and I've been raising ducks for about 8 years now. Lot's of trial and error with ponds and pens. I currently have a 15 by 15 duck pond with a pond liner and a drain. I usually drain about once a week in the summer and less often rest of the year.

I currently have 10 ducks. 2 Cinnamon Teal, 2 Wood Ducks, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Pintails and 2 Green Winged Teal.

I've been reading a lot about Natural pools that are very big in Europe. I was just wondering if anybody had tried to do that with a duck pond and would the plant filtration system keep the duck poo at bay? I do have room to make my pond a bit bigger and if I went natural I could even set up a stream and second pond, which would be easier w/out a pond liner.

I'm guessing the key would be to get the pond big enough where the natural filtration would keep the pond from stinking minus the # of ducks.

I must also mention this is an urban set up. I used to live out in the country but the city has moved around me and I am in the city now, so bad smells is not an option for me.

Go all natural is certainly appealing to me. Less maintenance, could make it a lot deeper, less water use, make the pond more pleasing to the eye w/out the liner.

So is this all a pipe dream or is it possible to create an all natural backyard pond with ducks??? Who here has experience?

Thanks for the taking the time to read and here' s a shot my pond from a couple years back.

 

[Amiga]

I think we have a few people who have had some success. The duckponics system may be something for you to look into.