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Ducks in Your Pond |
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| Ducks, particularly Mallard ducks, are yet another uninvited guest that may visit your pond. Again, they can be really cool to have around, just because you are bringing some wildlife into your own backyard. However, there are many drawbacks from ducks taking up residence in your pond. First, ducks make a mess. They poop. They poop a lot. All the that poop goes to the bottom of your pond feeds algae and fouls the water. I have a theory that every time a duck's butt hit's water, it poops. But they don't just poop IN the pond. They will poop up your yard, poop on your |
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boarder rocks, on your deck, and where ever else they feel the need. You will find yourself spending a great deal of time hosing things off to make your pond presentable.
Secondly, they eat small fish. This may not be a problem for you if you are overpopulated from a recent spawn, but I am telling you so you know that if you buy small fish, as I sometimes do, they can become a meal instead of an investment if ducks are in the picture.
Thirdly, they are wild animals and they have been in a number of different ponds, both residential and natural, picking up all sorts of new and interesting bacteria and virus' that your fish are not immune to. If you have expensive fish, and use a quarantine system prior to introducing new fish into your pond, all that will be for naught if you have wild ducks transporting everything in the area back to your pond. |
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Fourthly, they will eat your plants.
Yes, it is fun to see them swimming about playfully in your own private nature preserve, but be aware of the consequences.
If you must have ducks, I suggest you get small ones, like Call ducks or Mandarins, and clip their wings so they stay put. Better yet, get yourself one of these! |
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Write me at: pondgal@gridcom.net |
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