Is there a way to prevent ducks from laying in the pond?

[PaulX]

So..., my ducks have learned they can jump in and out of the pond by themselves.

That was not a problem a week ago, but now a week later, they've also taken to staying in the pond overnight.

I'm concerned that they might start laying in the pond, especially the new layers (2 of 4 ducks haven't laid yet). Will they know to come up to lay on land? What do I do if they end up laying in the water? Should I have someone chase them out at night?

Before you ask, I'm not in the new world like you guys. There's no predator here so they roam the property all day and night.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

 

[LilyLoo]

There is always a predator. Some more dominant in different seasons or time of year. Sometimes masked as a neighbors dog or ever kids.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ducks in the wild don't lay their eggs in the water, they make nests on dry land. I'd assume your ducks have this instinct as well, but I don't know for sure, so I'm hoping some of the experts chime in. @WVduckchick what do you think?

 

[PaulX]

There is always a predator. Some more dominant in different seasons or time of year. Sometimes masked as a neighbors dog or ever kids.

No dog can possibly get in. All properties are walled off around here to prevent burglars.
Humans can probably climb the gate if they want to, but no one in the right mind would do that, especially not kids.
There are stray cats but the mature ducks are too big for them to prey on.

Ducks in the wild don't lay their eggs in the water, they make nests on dry land. I'd assume your ducks have this instinct as well, but I don't know for sure, so I'm hoping some of the experts chime in. @WVduckchick what do you think?

I was reading this thread where someone found 100 eggs in a drained pond.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/did-you-know-ducks-lay-eggs-in-water.537267/#post-6865031

 

[chickens really]

Don't allow full access to the pond till they lay eggs in the morning..

 

[BReeder!]

Don't allow full access to the pond till they lay eggs in the morning..

I second this approach. I have a "duck door" in our coop for the ducks area. It opens to heir outdoor run with a pond. Once they stay laying, I intend to keep them inside until 9 or 10 AM, as they should lay eggs by then.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ow wow! I'm always learning something here, thanks!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Last year, when my Runners started to lay, i bought a couple of wooden fake eggs, made some nests in the straw myself and placed an egg in them. It took only a few days for them to understand the concept of "nest" and laying eggs in there. Now they are all adepts in building towering nests in the straw:

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sometimes when ducks first start to lay they just drop them where ever they may be at the time. Be it the pool beside the drinking bucket or feed bowl or anywhere on their property. But if you'll get some of those fake eggs I used ceramic but wooden would work too, and place them inside their house on some nice soft bedding they just may take the hint. But they have to be inside for this to happen and most ducks lay in the early morning so put them up at night. And let them out around 8am. Once they all begin to lay inside they will seek out that place inside their house if it's quiet and out of the way. And when you do find an egg outside place it inside their house so they see it.