Need DIY duck pond ideas!

[Amykins]

dang! time to move.

Ugh...I'll be paying off the loan for quite some time yet. I guess I learned my lesson as a first-time homeowner: Don't buy a property with an HOA!

Oh! Getting back on topic also, are there any miniature species of pond plants that ducks love to eat?

 

[Deleted member 94844]

There are lots of great ideas and solutions for raised water gardens... check Sunset, they always have awesome features. You are already on the right track with the image above. If you find a nice "high end" solution that improves the landscape and blends with the architecture of your home without looking junky, they will be much less inclined to take issue.

 

[TLWR]

The raised planter pond shouldn't be too bad to build. Get some 2x6s and stain them. Build your planter with 2x6 bottom and whatever you want to use as legs if you want it raised.
Buy a pond liner and lay it into the pond. Fold the corners and add some water. Cut it a little big, fold under and staple along the top edge. Finish filling. Add plants and duck.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Oh! Getting back on topic also, are there any miniature species of pond plants that ducks love to eat?

Be careful here... a lot (most) of the traditional fish pond, water garden, and bog plants are toxic to ducks. Cannas are safe, but get large and invasive. Be sure and check everything. Even stuff that seems benign -- like rushes -- are poisonous. I had a hell of a time landscaping our pond as there is no good resource. A UK guide to keeping waterfowl I read even lists Rhodedendron as a good plant for duck enclosures... horribly toxic! Make sure you confirm toxicity with at least two sources. I poisoned one of my ducks by letting her forage under a beautiful and evil tree... and have to live with that. Ripped it out with my bare hands.

 

[Amykins]

Be careful here... a lot (most) of the traditional fish pond, water garden, and bog plants are toxic to ducks. Cannas are safe, but get large and invasive. Be sure and check everything. Even stuff that seems benign -- like rushes -- are poisonous. I had a hell of a time landscaping our pond as there is no good resource. A UK guide to keeping waterfowl I read even lists Rhodedendron as a good plant for duck enclosures... horribly toxic! Make sure you confirm toxicity with at least two sources. I poisoned one of my ducks by letting her forage under a beautiful and evil tree... and have to live with that. Ripped it out with my bare hands.

Oh, no...I'm so sorry, Quak. :/ Rhododendron is toxic to EVERYthing, what was that author thinking?! I wonder..is duckweed toxic? Kind of a darkly ironic name if it is...

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Oh, no...I'm so sorry, Quak. :/ Rhododendron is toxic to EVERYthing, what was that author thinking?! I wonder..is duckweed toxic? Kind of a darkly ironic name if it is...

I know... I read that guide and was like, ***? Maybe they are keeping wild ducks only in UK? Domestics are stupid and will eat ANYTHING.

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Actually, it looks like duckweed is toxic... so ironic. Some things are toxic without being lethal. Sweet potato vine, for one. Nemo ate some and went on a homicidal rampage. He killed one of the giant, six-inch goldfish in the pond and tried to eat it, pupils dilated to the size of marbles. ROTFL.

 

[Amykins]

LOL!!! Duck-trip! That is hilarious!

Hmmmm...I know lillies are bad for 'em, too. I don't think water clover is, though - it's not much different than regular clover other than its roots grow under water.And what about watercress? It wouldn't be edible for me if the water has duck poop in it, but if it's good for the duck that'd be awesome!

 

[Deleted member 94844]

I was totally panicking after he ate it... Then DH was like, no, it's just a hallucinogen... not lethal. We kept an eye on him and brought him inside to a safe place. Poor fish wasn't too happy, but the ducks were OK. Day lilies are safe but others not. Watercress is OK.

 

[Amykins]

I wonder what he saw? Hehe what WOULD a duck hallucinate about? XD