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[thegamwellsmythes]

Hi,

 

We are in the very early stages of looking at getting ducks. We already have 3 chickens.

 

We would have plenty of space to provide an actual pond for the ducks.

 

My question is what size does a pond need to be in order for it to not need regular emptying to get rid of duck poo etc.?

 

Obviously wild ducks don't have their ponds in fields emptied when they get a bit stinky so how big would a garden pond need to be to cope with say 3 ducks?

 

We would obviously use oxygenating plants as well assuming the ducks didn't devour them.

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

Paul and Jane

[miller30]

Hi I wouldn't bother with plants ducks will strip anything green I had a pond but I have 8 ducks it needed pumping out at least once a week it was terrible ducks poo so much and it stunk if I left it any longer. It was about 10ftx7ft if I have my measurements correct after a few years I just got fed up I filled it in just before Christmas and have gone back to the good old sand pits that get tipped up and in the summer it goes green in no time my white runners looked like swamp creatures when they got out so if you still want one the bigger the better I would say leanne

[Chortle Chook]

Yes, as Leanne says, if you want a natural duck pond it needs to be BIG or it will quickly get stinky and unsanitary and then, because ducks sift their food with the water through their bills, you'll get sick ducks It is for this reason that commercial duck farms have their pens across running water.

 

Like Leanne I highly recommend the Chad Valley paddling pool / sand pits which can just be tipped up. If you get the clam shell ones and put them one inside the other (i.e. base inside the lid) then that makes them more able to cope with the weight when you want to tip them up, otherwise you may find it splits.

 

Here are two of my ducks in their sand pit pond from Argos.

[thegamwellsmythes]

Thanks for the replies.

 

If and when we go ahead with ducks it looks like the paddling pool option on lots of gravel then.

 

Although the idea of hiring a digger does appeal. Purely for driving a digger.

 

Thanks again.

[Chortle Chook]

Well you could hire a digger and be really fancy and create a pond with a flowing stream

[thegamwellsmythes]

That's possible I suppose.

 

More to think about.

 

Thanks for the advice.