Raising Wood Ducks Indoors and I have Questions?

[KansasKid]

Thats awesome.

 

[rainplace]

How do you keep the pond clean?

Oh and by the way... thank you for sharing the pictures... it's amazing!

 

[Buff Hooligans]

That truly is amazing. My mouth is hanging open!

 

[jgell]

Quote:
Thanks. It is a about a 200 gallon pond and I am filtering it will a tetra 1000 gallon filter with a pondmaster 1200gph pump. The filter goes about 2-3 weeks before it needs to be cleaned. It may last longer now that the ducks have destroyed all the hyacinth and I have no more in the outside pond to replenish it. I also built up one end to make a bog area. Water enters from the bottom a perks up through 6 inches of pea gravel. I shop vac that out like every six months. The biggest problem has been growing grass. I can't get it to take hold. I've tried seed and sod but no luck. The hibiscus in the back are watered by a small pump so I don't have to walk around in there too much, that causes too much of a panic.

 

[KansasKid]

If you could only take the ducks out for a little while to let the grass take then put them back it might last longer, just a question how bad does it smell when it gets dirty?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

verynice, especially for an indoor set up. I do see one thing you are missing though, a wood duck nest box, LOL
They need them for their nesting.

Yes I agree with Destin, light duration effects every aspect of waterfowl, plumage, breeding, etc, and do be sure those light emit a vitamin D , they usually get that from sun light so they have to have it to be healthy. I'm sure they do though, I used to have reef tanks all over my house, and used VHO's and metal Halides for the corals in them.

Get ya a nest box in there now those, so the hen acn be getting use to it being in there for her.

 

[jgell]

Last week was first time I noticed the smell since the ducks arrived in October. They like to hang out just below the camera on the white rocks just infront of the door to the outlet. I removed a 5 gallon bucket full of rocks from that area and cleaned up the poop and cleaned the rocks and the smell is gone. I am look for a nice looking branch to put in that over hangs the pond. Hopefully they will take to perching on that and do most of their business into the pond so the filter can take of it. The pond itself has never had any kind of odor problems.

 

[jgell]

Quote:
Thanks for the advice. I chose these lights to provide the proper light for vitamin D for the turtles so I assume it will work for the ducks too. I will start shortening my daylight time this week. As far as the nest box goes there should be 1x12 piece of cypress waiting under the tree for me tomorrow morning. Merry Christmas.

 

[destinduck]

Very Nice setup. Merry Christmas!

 

[PortugalBreeder]

Quote:
WOW impressive!