duck-proof plants?

[cskotek]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/320654/duck-pond-pool-pictures/170#post_9232458

All about the bio filter and sump pump is there lol

 

[Nyowpotopop]

Been there. The complaint is that the water (and muck) moved through the pump and clogges it up.

 

[cskotek]

Not if you use the right kind. My dad used one for when he wa digging a hole for the foundation and whamp huge rainstorm and then a broken sewer pipe..... groseee. loll but he got a sump pump and sucked everything out with it. I would completely do this idea with the pump but my dads not letting me lmfao. But either way hope the best for ya

 

[Nyowpotopop]

Oh, I was just reading what other people were saying... Since ducks throw everything from mud to large rocks in a pond and it gums up the works. I have looked into sump pumps but am having trouble trying to find one to fit the needs of a small duck pond. Most of these things pump like 5000 gallons an hour!

 

[Wynette]

Oh, I was just reading what other people were saying... Since ducks throw everything from mud to large rocks in a pond and it gums up the works. I have looked into sump pumps but am having trouble trying to find one to fit the needs of a small duck pond. Most of these things pump like 5000 gallons an hour!

Ditto this. I have a temporary pond right now (a Little Tikes toddler pool) with a drain and hose attached. It takes almost 1.5 hrs. to just drain it. We bought a landscape pond for permanent use, which we'll install this summer, but DH wants to put in a much larger diameter drainhole so it doens't take so long to drain it....not sure how this will work, as the thicknes of the plastic of the pond isn't very thick, and everything we are finding is made for much thicker applications.

Question, though, back to the top of this thread - regarding ornamental grasses, I love them, but my cucks are penned (I work full time, and we have quadzillions of fox in our area). Their run is plenty large enough for them, and I've been wondering what type of (perennial) plant I could put in the runt aht would provide shade, and be a haven for bugs for the, to get to as well. I was hoping to find some sort of "duck proof" bush of sorts, with a woody-type stem that would provide some shade. Ornameltal grass would work, but not sure if they'd eat it down. Thoughts?

 

[Nyowpotopop]

Hostas seem to be a big suggestion.

And I was noting that 5K gallons an hour is too fast for me. I am looking at making a long-term system at around 1000 gallons.... To cycle my WHOLE POND 5 times an hour is just crazy... I want a much slower current for plant and fish raising but that requires looking into non-sump based pumps. If I just wanted to drain my pond I'd get a sump pump. But I want to CYCLE my pond slowly. I need like 1000 gallons an hour... Not 5000 and I can't seem to find such a.... Gentle sump pump.

 

[laurajdowling]

SO it turns out, most ducks won't damage too many plants... the exception to this is the Muscovy... they will eat everything in sight! They love all of my succulents, have stripped all my day littles. I've just planted some Hot Mint (HA! Take that duckies!). The only think they leave alone is my lavender and anything tough enough to stand up to a duck bight like frangipani trees and birds of paradise.