Wild ducks | How to lure ducks to your pond

Wild ducks, it is a water bird often found in parks and all kinds of types of ponds. Many people find the duck an aquatic animal with a high petting factor. Because of this, pond owners are often eager to turn their pond into a duck palace, but how do you go about this? Read on and learn more about this topic.

All about the mallard duck

• What kind of animals are ducks?
• What should you pay attention to when building a duck pond?
• Plants suitable for a duck pond
• What to do if you just do NOT want ducks in the pond

What kind of animals are ducks?

Duck is a general name for bird species from the "duck-like" family. Ducks are waterfowl that are at home in many places. They have a distinctive bill, buoyancy and are excellent swimmers and flyers. The main difference between male and female ducks is that males are brightly colored, while females are inconspicuously tan. Males also have a curly tail, while females have a normal tail. Ducks play an important role in the food chain and have both ecological and cultural significance in many parts of the world.

What should you pay attention to when building a duck pond?

Building a duck pond can be a fun and interesting experience, but there are some important factors to consider to ensure the pond is suitable for ducks. Here are some things to consider when constructing a duck pond:

1. Size: Ducks need plenty of room to swim and move around, so the pond should be large enough. Consider having at least 20 square feet of pond area per duck.
2. Depth: The pond should be at least 60 cm deep to allow the ducks to dive and hide. In colder climates, it is important to ensure that the pond does not freeze completely, so keep this in mind when determining depth as well.
3. Pond Plants: Ducks need aquatic plants to hide and nest. It is important to have plants in the pond that ducks can use to protect themselves and find food.
4. Oxygen: Like all aquatic animals a pond fish, ducks need oxygen-rich water to survive. Make sure the pond contains enough oxygen by adding adequate plantings.
5. Maintenance: A duck pond must be kept clean of excess algae, prevent algae formation by keeping your pond properly landscaping and adding plenty of aquatic plants. Pond pumps and pond filters are then NOT necessary.

By taking these factors into account when constructing a duck pond, you can ensure that the pond provides a suitable and attractive environment for ducks to swim, nest and thrive.

Aquatic plants suited to the duck's needs

Aquatic plants are essential if you want ducks in your pond, because the duck wants to be able to hide and nest in the aquatic plants. A pond with lots of floating and floating plants is ideal for the duck. - Simon

Plants suitable for a duck pond

When building a duck pond, it is important to also pay attention to the plants in and around the pond. Here are some plants that are suitable for a duck pond:

1. Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus): Ideal for creating shade and shelter for ducks, this plant has large, striking yellow flowers.
2. Water mint (Mentha aquatica): This plant has a pleasant fragrance and attracts bees and butterflies. In addition, it can also help improve water quality by removing nitrates from the water.
3. Water Lily (Nymphaea): Water lilies not only provide beautiful decoration, but also provide shade for ducks and other aquatic animals.
4. Crabber (Stratiotes aloides): This is a good plant for oxygen production in the pond and provides hiding places for small fish and amphibians.

It is important to remember that some plants can be toxic to ducks and other animals, so it is always advisable to check that the plants you put in the pond are safe. It is also important to maintain the plants regularly to prevent them from overgrowing the pond and adversely affecting the water quality.

Aquatic plants especially for the duck pond

What to do if you just do NOT want ducks in the pond

Sometimes it is necessary to chase mallards out of a pond, for example if they pollute the pond with their droppings or if they damage plants. Also, too many ducks can cause insufficient food to be left for other animals in the pond.

Natural methods to scare away ducks include placing scare wire around the pond to discourage the ducks, using ultrasonic sounds that are only audible to animals, and hanging reflective objects such as CDs or aluminum foil to deter the ducks. Another option is to have a dog near the pond, as ducks are naturally afraid of dogs. It is important to remember that these methods do not guarantee that the ducks will not return. Thus, it is advisable to make the pond less attractive to ducks by, for example, not providing food and covering the water surface with a net to prevent wild ducks from swimming in it.

Frequently asked questions about ducks