Digging a duck pond

[crc310]

We recently adopted 2 drakes. We need some girls for them. We plan on having 6 ducks total. We have 2 acres and have a wet area with cattails and phragmites that our sump pump runs into (which is the real reason we r digging a pond). It’s approx 50’x10’ May be 18” deep in the middle when full but runs off along the drainage for the crops behind our property. We have a high water table here and the sump pump runs year round and frequently. We have a temporary stream running along the side of the yard when snow melts or it rains (just so u get an idea of how much water we get). I need to figure out how big of a pond I can have dug for 6 ducks. Any advise?

 

[blayt90]

We recently adopted 2 drakes. We need some girls for them. We plan on having 6 ducks total. We have 2 acres and have a wet area with cattails and phragmites that our sump pump runs into (which is the real reason we r digging a pond). It’s approx 50’x10’ May be 18” deep in the middle when full but runs off along the drainage for the crops behind our property. We have a high water table here and the sump pump runs year round and frequently. We have a temporary stream running along the side of the yard when snow melts or it rains (just so u get an idea of how much water we get). I need to figure out how big of a pond I can have dug for 6 ducks. Any advise?

I had four Rouen ducks in a 8’x10’ pond I dug with my tractor and it was great for them. With the amount of water runoff and pump usage you say you have you should have no problem or issues. Me personally I would also dig it as deep as I could and put a few fish in it to help with the detritus and for the ducks to eat the little ones.

 

[MillersFarm]

8x10 is a good size pond for your ducks, What my main concern is that you will want more hens for your drakes if you plan on keeping both, the best ratio for keeping multiple drakes is 8 hens per drake.. If you plan on having 6 only in total my advice to you is to get rid of one drake and buy 5 hens for your remaining drake.. 4 hens for 2 drakes is not enough, Your hens will easily get over-bred (which is not fun to deal with.. Especially during breeding season.

 

[crc310]

Thank you for your input! I was thinking 20’x30’ as a minimum. It’s likely we will have more ducks, those impulse purchase “Easter ducks” will outgrow their current homes and will need new ones in a few months. We have as much space as 30’x60’ but need to discuss it with the guy that will be digging it to decide how big to go.

 

[blayt90]

Thank you for your input! I was thinking 20’x30’ as a minimum. It’s likely we will have more ducks, those impulse purchase “Easter ducks” will outgrow their current homes and will need new ones in a few months. We have as much space as 30’x60’ but need to discuss it with the guy that will be digging it to decide how big to go.

A 20'x30' pond will be enough for a very large flock of ducks. Or are you saying a 20'x30' pen with a pond in it?

 

[crc310]

The pond

 

[blayt90]

The pond

That is 600 sq feet that is a lot of room for ducks to get wet, considering most people use kids pools for their flocks.