How do I keep ducks in their pond and out of my pool?

[Miss Lydia]

That is the funniest and cutest picture. I love it!

 

[quackiemama]

I love it here. Not even any building codes.

That is one thing I do miss about Texas. Way less regulations and the government tends to mind it's own business about our personal matters. Maryland is regulation and code and so on and so on and so on!!

 

[quackiemama]

I have five ducks and an inground pool. I thought I could train them to stay out of it. They had their own little pools which I changed daily (btw your little dug pool idea will be all poop in just a few days). I only let them free range when I was with them and yelled and chased them when they went on the pool patio. They quickly learned to wait until I was distracted and then jump in. They would even peek in the window, if I went in the house for a minute, to see if I was looking before jumping in. If I came yelling and waving my arms, they got back out of the pool. I then put shiny, glitter filled beach balls in the pool. They were afraid of the balls for several weeks and stayed out. Unfortunately, then they got over their fear. I tried a few other things too -eventually they failed as well. Ducks love clean water and a big beautiful pool is too hard to resist. Mine now live in the garden which has a three foot fence around it. I love my ducks, but I would think twice about it in your situation.
This is them in the winter on the floating cover. Note the look out!View attachment 1900804
Peeking in the window:
View attachment 1900812
Where they stay now:
View attachment 1900821

That is hilarious and so stinking cute!

 

[katiebrock]

Same in Georgia and every other state I've lived in! Maybe you aren't in the USA?

Is that with just in ground pools? I ask because I have neighbors on either side with above ground pools but they don't have a fence.

 

[Viking84]

I have five ducks and an inground pool. I thought I could train them to stay out of it. They had their own little pools which I changed daily (btw your little dug pool idea will be all poop in just a few days). I only let them free range when I was with them and yelled and chased them when they went on the pool patio. They quickly learned to wait until I was distracted and then jump in. They would even peek in the window, if I went in the house for a minute, to see if I was looking before jumping in. If I came yelling and waving my arms, they got back out of the pool. I then put shiny, glitter filled beach balls in the pool. They were afraid of the balls for several weeks and stayed out. Unfortunately, then they got over their fear. I tried a few other things too -eventually they failed as well. Ducks love clean water and a big beautiful pool is too hard to resist. Mine now live in the garden which has a three foot fence around it. I love my ducks, but I would think twice about it in your situation.
This is them in the winter on the floating cover. Note the look out!View attachment 1900804
Peeking in the window:
View attachment 1900812
Where they stay now:
View attachment 1900821

Thanks for the advice. I may have to look at other options. My back fence is up against a 60 acre lake with wild ducks, geese and various water fowl. So I would be concerned about them getting over that fence into the lake and be gone forever. BTW, how bad did the five ducks mess up your pool when they used it? My Wife thinks the filter will clean out the poop and the chlorine will keep the water clean

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Magnolia Ducks ?

 

[PirateGirl]

Thanks for the advice. I may have to look at other options. My back fence is up against a 60 acre lake with wild ducks, geese and various water fowl. So I would be concerned about them getting over that fence into the lake and be gone forever. BTW, how bad did the five ducks mess up your pool when they used it? My Wife thinks the filter will clean out the poop and the chlorine will keep the water clean

How tall is the fence and what kind of ducks will you have? A lot of ducks aren't exactly great at hopping fences.

 

[Viking84]

How tall is the fence and what kind of ducks will you have? A lot of ducks aren't exactly great at hopping fences.

The fence is a standard 4 foot chain link fence. Wife is wanting Jumbo Pekin and hybrid Layer ducks

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Thanks for the advice. I may have to look at other options. My back fence is up against a 60 acre lake with wild ducks, geese and various water fowl. So I would be concerned about them getting over that fence into the lake and be gone forever. BTW, how bad did the five ducks mess up your pool when they used it? My Wife thinks the filter will clean out the poop and the chlorine will keep the water clean

The filter did take care of it but seeing their muddy poop in the pool doesn’t make you want to take a swim. Mine were never in for very long (15 minutes maybe). They knew they weren’t suppose to be in there. They also leave feathers.
If you get heavy breeds like Pekins you shouldn’t have to worry about them going over a fence. My male Khaki (light breed) has gotten over a three foot fence though.
You said in your original post that you have chickens. Are they penned? I originally was undecided whether to get chickens or ducks then my neighbor had two chickens drown in her pool. At least with ducks you don’t have to worry about that.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Is that with just in ground pools? I ask because I have neighbors on either side with above ground pools but they don't have a fence.

I don’t see how they would get in an above ground pool unless they were mallards or call ducks and flew in.