Our 4-pack has been outside for two weeks (maybe more or less-I have lost all sense of time in duck-world). Originally they had a temporary house because we were in the process of building '4-Pack Manor'. Their estate is now done (pics soon). Over a week ago I decided they needed a temporary 'pond' since it will be a couple weeks before the '4-Pack Bathing Quarters' are completed. So we bought a kiddie pool. I think the pond construction will be simpler.
I put the kiddie pool in the area of the future raised pond since it is already muddy where I have been leveling the ground. The 4-pack was pretty interested in the filling of the pool. Once filled, they lost interest. I needed to add access and DH decided he had the answer (which of course he did)......
DH: They need a way to get in
Me: Yes, I know. I will add some shallow steps or a ramp
DH: We have all those bags of potting soil, you could build a ramp using those
Me: What? You want me to add mud? I just dug up and hauled out TONS of mud. I will build them something.
DH: YOU are going to build something???
Me: Yep, I can do it
DH: Whatever you think is best
I then spent half a day building a wide shallow set of stairs and put them in. No duck interest.
I tried bribing them step by step with peas. Nope.
I put a cinder block inside the pool where the stairs were. I put peas on the cinder block. The 4-pack walked around the stairs and stretched to get the peas. Now they figured the pool was a giant drinking fountain. Don't get me wrong, it was still a distant 2nd to the small shallow water pan used for dunking their favorite worm/stick.
I finally gave in and had DH bring in the bags of dirt. I made a giant ramp. I put peas on the dirt ramp. Within minutes I had ducks in a kiddie pool.......
It took them 3 days to figure out they could use the cinder block to get out of the pool. For those 3 days they were pitching themselves out like a pack of drunkards.
They all like a nap in the sun after their swim (although I think Niles uses this time to do pilates)...
***To all of you using a kiddie pool on a permanent basis all I can say is BRAVO! You clearly are more dedicated than I. I cannot wait for the pond to be built because the emptying and rinsing of this pool is sure to cause my demise!
I put the kiddie pool in the area of the future raised pond since it is already muddy where I have been leveling the ground. The 4-pack was pretty interested in the filling of the pool. Once filled, they lost interest. I needed to add access and DH decided he had the answer (which of course he did)......
DH: They need a way to get in
Me: Yes, I know. I will add some shallow steps or a ramp
DH: We have all those bags of potting soil, you could build a ramp using those
Me: What? You want me to add mud? I just dug up and hauled out TONS of mud. I will build them something.
DH: YOU are going to build something???
Me: Yep, I can do it
DH: Whatever you think is best
I then spent half a day building a wide shallow set of stairs and put them in. No duck interest.
I tried bribing them step by step with peas. Nope.
I put a cinder block inside the pool where the stairs were. I put peas on the cinder block. The 4-pack walked around the stairs and stretched to get the peas. Now they figured the pool was a giant drinking fountain. Don't get me wrong, it was still a distant 2nd to the small shallow water pan used for dunking their favorite worm/stick.
I finally gave in and had DH bring in the bags of dirt. I made a giant ramp. I put peas on the dirt ramp. Within minutes I had ducks in a kiddie pool.......
It took them 3 days to figure out they could use the cinder block to get out of the pool. For those 3 days they were pitching themselves out like a pack of drunkards.
They all like a nap in the sun after their swim (although I think Niles uses this time to do pilates)...
***To all of you using a kiddie pool on a permanent basis all I can say is BRAVO! You clearly are more dedicated than I. I cannot wait for the pond to be built because the emptying and rinsing of this pool is sure to cause my demise!
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