Nasty Ducks Making Nasty Water

[MarissaC]

Ok, so I have a really disgusting problem.
We have two small ponds in our barnyard area. Our chickens share their space with about 15 ducks (it's a really big space, so they exist well). Problem is..the ducks are always in the ponds.
And the pond water has turned black. I mean BLACK! If it splashes on something, it looks like black ink.
Why?
Because they have pooped so much in the ponds.

Honestly, if not for my husband, I probably would've gotten rid of the ducks a while ago, haha. But I absolutely cannot stand the black water. It's disgusting. We've been setting out a lot of fresh water in pans now. We've tried just scooping the poopie out of the ponds, but the water wont go back to looking normal!

Any suggestions or should I just bury these ponds and find an alternative swimming source for the ducks? Also, could anyone tell me some health risks that could occur from the chickens drinking the black water? I know it's gross and it doesn't seem like it can be healthy, but I need a little help convincing my husband that we REALLY need to do something about this water.



Plus it stinks.

 

[CorinneP]

there are lots of sites on the webs that talk about cleaning ponds from Filter systems, adding certain fish Lilly pads etc.. Some cheap some expensive .. Id be sad too .. Luckily I have a creek .. running water instead of a pond . As I Love my ducks

 

[gryeyes]

How small are the two small ponds? You're going to have to drain them and refill them. Dirty duck pond water is great for gardens, by the way.)

 

[MarissaC]

How small are the two small ponds? You're going to have to drain them and refill them. Dirty duck pond water is great for gardens, by the way.)

They're pretty small. I hand dug them (felt pretty muscular afterwards) and so...yea, they didn't get very big!
Maybe a little bit bigger than a plastic kiddy pool.

 

[speedy2020]

I would keep the pond and get rid the ducks. If you are raising duck for meat, just buy it. As you know, duck very messy.