Ducks and swimming pools

[Maureen&chickens]

I'd like to get a few ducks but my husband has concerns about our pool (and the neighbors' pools for that matter). What are the chances of keeping ducks out of the pool? We'd give them a small pool of their own to swim in but would prefer they not swim in our 15/30 above ground pool

 

[Chosen Chickens]

how high is it? Is there any way to keep them off.... one thing for sure is that if they are able to get to it (if it is low enough) there is no way they wont take your pool over a kiddy pool.... you would have to get some kind of fence or if it is elevated high enough you might be alirght

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

If there is water, ducks will find it. Unless, maybe, if they're too fat to climb/ fly/ walk into other people's unprotected pools.

 

[Goat_Walker]

If you get a breed that isnt a muscovy or flying duck then you shouldnt have any problems with the pool but them dabbling around the edges and making holes around the whole bottom of the sides.

 

[shiloh04]

Just get a breed that cannot fly, like Runners.

 

[FrenchHen]

Fence their area off away from the pool and you should be fine, assuming they can't fly.

 

[CityChicker]

We have a swimming pool too (actually, the same size as yours even!) and I had wondered whether or not they would try to get into it too. So far, I have never even seen them paying any attention to it at all. Of course, our bantam ducks are the only ones that could probably fly high enough to get in it anyway and they are in covered runs 24/7. Our larger ducks have not shown any interest though. We are, however, talking about birds that don't even try to hop over 2' fence though, LOL.

 

[Amiga]

Many pools have some way to keep neighborhood kids, dogs and cats out. Is there some kind of fence? How deep (tall) is the pool? I agree that if you get ducks that don't fly, you are not likely to have a duck pool invasion problem. If you have steps up to decking, perhaps a simple gate is all you would need.

 

[Maureen&chickens]

Thanks for the replies. It is a 52" deep above ground with a fence around the top bringing the height from the ground to about 7 feet. Plus the yard is fenced on all sides by chain link or stockade fencing. They would have an enclosed area but would be let out to free range as well. Runners were mentioned in your answers; are they the only breed that doesn't fly or are there others?

 

[Duck_feeder]

A tall fence won't stop a duck if they can squeeze under it or between posts. Victor used to sneak under a fence made of netting until we used stakes to hold the netting firmly to the ground.

When it comes to intelligence, ducks have the silly tendency to only show it when they are doing things they shouldn't!