Duck Pond/pool pictures

[Small Farm]

Hey everyone! I'm new to the forum and just wanted to share my duck pond experience so far.
This is my Lowes 125 gal pond with a diy biofilter. I am using an above ground pool pump that I had in the shed to circulate the water. The plants I believe are taro that I pulled from the creek behind my house. I have two ducks and have yet to dump the water, only top off every other day and it's still perfectly clear! It's been running now for about a month and the ducks love it, especially since it's in their 10ftX12ft pin.

That's a little out of my price range, but I love the bio-filter!!!!

 

[anmog]

I have two ponds in front of our house that are a couple of acres big. The have a large pipe drain that connects them. My hope is to get my ducks big enough to swim in one of them and be able to call them to me to be put up for the night like other ducks I've had in three past who would always come when called.Any thoughts?

 

[anmog]

None of my pics will load

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think that it's definitely possible! However, I,wouldn't recommend just putting them out there from the start. I'd get some babies and raise them and then when they move outside keep them locked out a couple weeks so they know where home is and then you could probably start letting them out. Also I would start calling them and giving them treats when they listen, something really tasty, and it should work and if you'd rather start with adults I'd still recommend the same same thing. I'd actually recommend it even more so they know this is their new home and don't try to run off. Speaking of which, don't get mallards or something light enough to migrate and fly off. But any duck should work as long as you keep them locked up at least a week or two, I'd recommend longer, and really work with them to teach them to associate you with food

 

[anmog]

That's kind of how I had done it with my other Pekins who were too big to fly. I now have three that I think are khaki campbells and two Pekins. They are ducklings and I only take them into their yard which is enclosed with chicken wire and hard cloth wire nailed and stapled into 2x4 wood frame with the chicks and a bunny for a few hours with someone it there watching them when it's nice daily. Today it's rainy and they might get cold so they are locked up where it's warm.

I worry about turtles and I am not sure if we might get an occasional small gator. I will try to upload a pic. There's a small young female wood duck that sends to enjoy the ponds we have so she's been ok so far. She had siblings and parents and once we saw an owl swoop down and grab one of the ducklings. It was horrible because our children saw it happen right :/ front of them. My baby screamed and cried.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sounds like you're doing well so far then! I'd say keep that up and they should be fine! Especially since Pekins are pretty friendly and especially food oriented and not likely to want to wander far.

And wow, that's awful about the wild duck sorry

 

[anmog]

The pond in my front yard on the left.

 

[anmog]

This pond is on the front right of my house. There is a big drainage pipe that connects these two. Sometimes a beaver will come and put sticks in the pipe keeping the water flow to a trickle lol. The pond on the right it's deeper maybe 30 feet deep in the middle. The one on the left it's about 13 ft. We have some perch and a few bass and used yo have cat fish but haven't seen any lately when fishing. I'm thinking of putting a floating house with a tether so I can pull it in if I need to.

 

[anmog]

 

[ShrekDawg]

Oh wow it looks awesome!! Those sound like great ideas! I bet they'll love it