Feasibility of owning ducks at our pond

[Miss Lydia]

That's fine if you want to put food and water inside. I'd rather not, But I could see how it may work. But I have seen a few members on here who lost their whole flocks because they couldn't get them off the pond to put the up. Of course always up to OPs on what they decide.

 

[Newfowler1]

What about a floating duck house? I’ve seen a number over the years here and there. I’ve no idea how well they work, particularly in the winter with ice and predators?

I absolutely love my ducks. I’m new to the situation & have learned so much but much more to learn frankly. I lost my Golden Layer last week to some kind of predator. First one I’ve lost since last summer. Sadly I’m no stranger to death and loss, but animals are hard for me. I wasn’t close with this gal but I swear it really broke up my squishy wannabe tough guy heart.

I must say you are right about being able to leave town and vacation. I can’t go anywhere right now beyond a two day trip. I feel guilty leaving my babies penned up for more than 24hrs. It is a serious consideration for ducks.
I’m trying to find local people nearby who I may be able to pay to watch over my flock. Biggest thing is now I need a full-time enclosure for long-term safety & poor weather days. The damn predators come out on foggy overcast days.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

I know there are members that use auto doors just not sure how ducks on a pond would use them. @Tevyes Dad has an auto door let’s see if he weighs in on how well his ducks use one but his aren’t on a pond.

My ducks would go in 9 times out of 10 with my auto door which had a last call feature: the door closed then 5 minutes later it would open for one minute then close again. They would mull around until the door closed, then go in when it opened again. This means that they would be in on time 0% of the time without the last call feature and if I depended on them going in, they would have been open for predators 2-3 times per month. Fortunately, I was always there in case they failed. I no longer use my auto door as I built a predator proof kennel directly off of their house. They can free choose to go in the house or not from there, but they get locked in the kennel manually every night. It is big enough that they can stay in all day if things don't work out for us letting them in or out. They are VERY good about showing up for the kennel although sometimes in the summer when they have their 12' swimming pool, they pretend not to notice it is time to go in.... I wouldn't trust them in a body of water that I couldn't hit the midpoint with a skimmer. And +1 on @WannaBeHillBilly's comment, our ducks have to go up a 3' ramp to get into the pool and the pool area is tarped off so that they can't dabble directly in water slopped from the pool. Still the pool area manages to have holes drilled around the tarp line where they can occasionally get water either from major pool splashes or rain. They will destroy your pond and shoreline. If you are OK with that for happy ducks, go for it, but it will look more like swampland when they are done with it.

 

[Miss Lydia]