I use bricks to but my duck use the fall on their butt method We have a wide set up of brick steps going into the pool and a couple for them to use to get out. Sometimes they use them and sometimes they don't. We are planning on putting the pool into the ground so that they won't be able to fall out like they like to do.
Quote:How will you drain your pond for cleaning? I've thought about that same idea (sinking the pond). Right now I use a kiddie pool. I step on one side of it to drop that side down and let enough water flow out that I can then pick up on one side and drain the rest of the water out. Yeah, it's a PITB. I'm really thinking about trying to save enough $$$ to buy one of the rubber stock tanks with a drain plug in it, or put a drain plug in this one. It has a small plastic drain plug in it near the steps (a VERY inconvenient place, can't get to it, and would still make a mess in their pond area). I've seen posts on here showing how to tap a drain plug through and seal it so the pond doesn't leak and a water hose can be connected to the drain to direct the fouled water wherever you want (garden, ditch, etc.). For their steps, I put down an old pallet and laid roofing shingles in a double layer over the pallet. There are a couple of concrete blocks inside the pool for them to step on, but they usually just swim over to the edge and try to scramble out that way. Sometimes they make it on the first try and land on their feet. Usually they don't, they'll scramble until they get up on the top edge, then fall off, get up, shake their tails, and go off squawking as if to say, "wow! that was ROUGH!!" goobers....
We plan on putting a drain plug attached to a hose that we can open and close so i can direct all of the lovely fertilized water to the flowers that are oh so pretty but are always bitten off for some odd reason My fatties will eat anything not bolted down and are always dirty from falling out of the pool. I know what I want to do but DH has an idea so we will try his way first then do it right when he finally listens to me I'll let you know how it works out
My kiddie pool is buried into the ground. We use a pump to empty it and attach a hose to put it where I want it to go. My ducks haven't actually been swimming in it, but I hope they will like it better than the rubbermaid bin they have been using.
Quote:I really like this idea. I was going to attach a drain and hose, but the garden is currently slightly uphill from the ducks so I don't think this would work. Can I just use any pump- like for instance a pool pump from craigslist. I've found some on there for pretty cheap (less than $50), but I know nothing about them so I don't know if an inexpensive one would work.
I have two of the preformed pools that are in the ground. I bought a 1/3 hp sump pump to pump the water out, then I just use a shop vac to clean out the rest of the muck. I think I paid around $40 for it at Lowes. It works great.
