Ducks without a pond?

[adobechicks]

I really would like to get some ducks. We don't have a pond or irrigation. We actually live in the adobe area. Is a small plastic swimming pool enough?

 

[Sapokanikan]

Many people use the plastic swimming pools with success. You can raise ducks without water, but they are much happier with water.

 

[adobechicks]

Is a pool the same as a pond or stream? Will they enjoy it the same?

 

[Mum]

Yes, they would enjoy it.

 

[adobechicks]

Great! Thanks!!! That seems easy enough.

 

[TLWR]

They don't care what the water is in. They will have fun in ANY water, puddles included.

We had a hard rain the other day and my ducks were playing in the river running down a small slope. One sat down and floated down the little slope for a few feet. Happy as a, well, duck in water LOL

 

[skunknchatter]

My runner won't go near my pond. He does, however, love the plastic kiddie pool I put out in the summer. in the winter I only have a heated dog bowl for water (he lives with chickens) so on sunny days I fill up a rubber "horse dish" with water so he can do his duck thing.

So I guess my answer is yes, they seem to do fine with a kiddie pool. Just try to get one of the bigger deeper ones and not the baby ones that are only 4" deep.

 

[Going Quackers]

A kiddy pool will absolutely do and will be easier to maintain, ponds can be wonderful BUT they need to be healthy ones and dangers of snappers and other predators sometimes make a pond less desirable.

 

[gryeyes]

Ducks can be quite happy with a water-filled dish pan, actually. Honest! However, they're ecstatic with kiddie pools. I have two, one of which is one of those turtle sand-boxes, without the lid.

But I also have a 300 gallon stock tank as a "pond" for them and my pair of geese. They can swim under water in it, bob down and go bottoms-up, and they are very happy in it. It belongs to the geese, but the ducks use it when the geese are off wandering elsewhere on the property.

 

[NovaAman]

Get a little tykes boat! My ducks are very happy with it! I have a ramp go up and step stones inside so they can get out. tits deep enough, very sturdy, and has a drain plug. I picked it up off the side of the road one day. Great find.