Want ducks in my pond
- Thread starter AlbertC
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Trillium Farm
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Only smaller turds ! :laughing:
PILOON
Super Star Member
LOL, what you need is a wooden duck since they wooden s--it.
Friend has a sizeable pond/small lake nearby and he likes to feed birds.
The wild ducks discovered the seed droppings at the feeders and he has some 5-6 families of wild ducks that visit daily.
His neighbors have even fabricated signs to warn motorists of ducks.
LOL, ever see a "Duck crossing Sign"?
Then along comes the city inspector warning him not to feed the wild life, his answer to said inspector was 'you give them a ticket as they are trespassing and steeling bird feed !'
Friend has a sizeable pond/small lake nearby and he likes to feed birds.
The wild ducks discovered the seed droppings at the feeders and he has some 5-6 families of wild ducks that visit daily.
His neighbors have even fabricated signs to warn motorists of ducks.
LOL, ever see a "Duck crossing Sign"?
Then along comes the city inspector warning him not to feed the wild life, his answer to said inspector was 'you give them a ticket as they are trespassing and steeling bird feed !'
oosik
Epic Contributor
OK Albert. You are concerned that geese and ducks will make a big mess. Then I guess you mean around the house. I'm certain that all the ducks and few geese that are on my lake - mess every bit as much as yours do - maybe more.
The difference being - they have an environment on my lake that keeps them on the lake. They never make the trip up to be around the house. There is absolutely nothing around the house that attracts them, in the least. As a matter of fact - since I recently got three new barn cats - there are some fairly strong incentives for them to say out there on the lake.
Plus the barn cats - there are hawks, owls & coyotes that keep close tabs on the ducks & geese. Should they venture too far off the lake - it could easily be their last trip.
Particularly in the summer, I can often see a coyote lying out in the dry portion of the cat tails on this end of the lake - he is just waiting. I've never seen nor heard him catch any of the ducks but hope springs eternal.
Oh - and I forgot. I got big bass in the lake. The mother ducks are very cautions about bringing their new chicks out of the cat tails until they are bigger. I HAVE seen a large bass take a baby duck - one BIG gulp. There are plenty of small potholes in and around the cat tails where the baby ducks will learn to swim, dive etc without the risks they would find out in the open water.
The difference being - they have an environment on my lake that keeps them on the lake. They never make the trip up to be around the house. There is absolutely nothing around the house that attracts them, in the least. As a matter of fact - since I recently got three new barn cats - there are some fairly strong incentives for them to say out there on the lake.
Plus the barn cats - there are hawks, owls & coyotes that keep close tabs on the ducks & geese. Should they venture too far off the lake - it could easily be their last trip.
Particularly in the summer, I can often see a coyote lying out in the dry portion of the cat tails on this end of the lake - he is just waiting. I've never seen nor heard him catch any of the ducks but hope springs eternal.
Oh - and I forgot. I got big bass in the lake. The mother ducks are very cautions about bringing their new chicks out of the cat tails until they are bigger. I HAVE seen a large bass take a baby duck - one BIG gulp. There are plenty of small potholes in and around the cat tails where the baby ducks will learn to swim, dive etc without the risks they would find out in the open water.
MossRoad
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When we were considering putting in a pond, the state wildlife biologist recommended putting in an island for waterfowl to nest on. That greatly reduces the chances of predation from coyotes, foxes, raccoons, etc...
oosik
Epic Contributor
Moss - I put a small floating structure in the center. Only had it there for two years. Had to take it out every fall - winter ice would make a mess of it. It was a PITA also - lake is 80 feet deep down the center. Don't think they liked it that much. When the wind blew, it bobbed around and probably scared them.
BoylermanCT
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Ditto this. I am trying to find a way to add an island to my pond!
MossRoad
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This was suggested pre-design of pond. Not sure how you'd add an island to an existing pond other than to dig out a channel around an existing chunk of shoreline.
oosik
Epic Contributor
BoylermanCT - the biggest problems I had with my little - 6' by 6' - floating island was water depth. I had only one anchor line and it really didn't hold the "pad" in place well, at all. It would have taken three anchors to triangulate and hold the "pad". I never got around to that. Besides, due to ice, the entire operation had to be remove each fall. I do have a 12' by 24' land anchored dock down at the far end. The one nesting pair of geese and the beaver family sure like it. They use it all summer to "haul out' and bask in the sun. I wish they would learn how to wash off the deck surface.
thepumpguysc
Elite Member
I was going to chime in & tell u that u better watch out what u wish for.. but after reading the FIRST 4 posts.. they just about said it all..
You DONT want ducks in your pond.. Lol
You DONT want ducks in your pond.. Lol
