About Duck Ponds

A duck pond might already exist in your backyard, but you can also create one to enhance your yard and sustain your local wildlife. However, when you have a duck pond, you need to properly manage it and provide nutritious plants for the ducks. If you plan on hunting the ducks, this should be done no more than once a week so you don't scare the flock away.

  1. Geography

    • Ponds are usually more effective at attracting ducks when they are located near major rivers and certain crops such as peanuts, rice and corn. Also, when ponds are near these specific areas, the number of ducks recharges quicker even if they are hunted. Although ponds further away from human activity hold a larger amount of ducks, it's not always the case. Ducks can easily learn to tolerate humans, especially if the flock isn't hunted.

    Function

    • A duck pond can serve a few different purposes. If you're interested in enhancing your yard, a pond is a way you can do this. A backyard pond also supports local wildlife and plants, so by building a pond you will probably end up having a beautiful view from your window during the spring and summer. Lastly, the pond is a readily available water source. You might get a discount off of your homeowner's insurance if you have a pond, because water can be pumped out of it in case of a fire. Also, the pond can be a natural water source for farm animals if you raise them.

    Size

    • If you're planning on building a pond, it should be at least 1 yard deep. Also keep in mind that the larger the pond is the more ducks you will be able to attract. To attract dabbling ducks, you will want a portion of the pond to be shallower and about 3 feet deep. The shape of the pond can vary, and it's important to build a shape that is functional for your yard. The pond should be able to catch fresh rainwater runoff.

    Features

    • Submersed and emersed aquatic plants, floating water plants, flooded terrestrial plants and soil plants are essential if you want to sustain your flock of ducks. These plants will provide food and shelter for the waterfowl. Another important feature of a duck pond is a drawdown structure. This will enable you to adjust the water levels. During the early spring and summer, the water in the pond should be drained by 1 to 3 feet. Drawing out some of the water will help plants in shallower waters such as smartweeds, barnyard grass and sedges to grow. Later in the fall, this water can be put back in, because it will replace the shallow plants that have been eaten by the ducks.

    Considerations

    • In order to prevent cloudy and muddy waters, you will probably have to design your pond so that it pulls nutrients out. Another option is to invest in an aeration system. While introducing bottom-feeding fish might seem like a viable alternative, these fish will actually make the situation worse. Carp, catfish and bullheads actually stir up the sediment and promote algae growth.