Encouraging Ducks

[whiskyb]

Every year for about the last 4 we have had a hen and drake mallard visit us. We have a natural creek that runs by our pond where they eat and then sit around the edges of our pond or float in it. Usually by late june they are gone. They never seem to nest or have any young. Is their anything i can do to encourage them to stay longer and give us some wee ones to watch grow. I was thinking of a floating island in the pond with some grasses already onit to encourage nesting. Would that work?

[Johns]

i know you would enjoy watching the ducks swim around in your pond, or even a swan.  BUT, once ducks take up residence at a pond they multiply. And multiply again.  And again.  Then besides feeding on your fish and pulling up flowers, they poop.  They poop in your pond and on  your grass and on your paths.  A dozen ducks can foul a 20,000 gallon pond and literaly cover your garden with duck poop.  My vote would be to DISCOURAGE any ducks from taking up residence at your wonderful garden.

Of course, if you are determined, borrow some decoys....Just be careful what you wish for...

[PondJoy]

Unfortunately, I have to agree.....once there ALWAYS there....  but if you love 'em......well, it could be fun.

[whiskyb]

I guess the novelty is that we have only ever had the two. I am only a few hundred feet from the bay and as mentioned a small creek runs right alongside my pond. Never thought about all the poop and its pretty tough to find me wearing any kind of shoe so maybe you are right and I should just enjoy them for the few weeks they are here. As a side note I was out this morning and see that yes they did eat all the tops off my sprouting plants. Hopefully the plants will survive

[2vetts]

i've been chasing out a pair of mallards every day this week . worse yet , last week it was canada geese .

[Julles]

"its pretty tough to find me wearing any kind of shoe"

Kindred Spirits!   

The ducks are probably stopping at your pond on their way to migrate somewhere else, so they see your place as just temporary.

If you want ducks, why not buy some of your own?  Then you could get two of the same gender, and not have to worry about babies multiplying and then multiplying their poop. 

Also, if you want them to stick around, what about feeding them?

It's possible, though, that having some of your own who stay at your place, they would attract others.  That's how it works with mice.

[Kat]

Feeding them will encourage them to stay but like the others have said they make big poop messes.  They are nice to have (if you've got a natural pond that you don't expect to be crystal clear) & the babies sure are cute.

[dsep]

I feed them cracked corn they fly in and out almost everyday . I love them Hansel and Gretel.

[whiskyb]

Picked up some cracked corn this morning from the co-op. Thin layer of ice on most of the pond again, so they must be out on the bay

[marla]

they are fun to watch and the babies are so cute, but I try to discourage them cause I dont want to put up with the pooh and problems such as parisites they may carry in

[karen J]

I have had a pair visit my pond also- they stay for a couple weeks in spring and then they leave. I enjoy that, because I think the extra poop helps to jump start my filters. By the time they leave, everything is cycled.
I don't know if it's the same pair of mallards, but they've been visiting for probably 7 or 8 years going.

Now that I have feral cats living here, I doubt they'll visit.

[dsep]

My pair fly in when my lab and cat are out in the backyard. They forgot to tell my lab he is a duck dog! The ducks are his friends.
They brought friends the other day. I think the word is out free food! LOL