how to keep ducks out of your swimming pool

[chickenchick200]

Soon to be duck owner her and doing lots of research in prep for duckling arrival! This may be a silly question, but here goes: we have a 3/4 acre fenced lot that we plan to free range the ducks in during the day. We have an in ground swimming pool and next to it is a pond that is more shallow than, but larger than the swimming pool. DH is understandably not excited about having duck poo in the swimming pool, and there is no easy way to fence the pool in.

My question is, how do we encourage the ducks to swim in the pond when they are old enough to free range, and discourage pool swimming? is it even possible? the pond is lovely and has lots of fish and a even a nice dock...but in my nightmares, I see the ducks insisting on using our pool lol. Thoughts?

 

[TLWR]

Is your pool open all the time? If so, you are going to have issues keeping them out.
Can you post of a pic of the area - we might be able to give you an idea on how to fence off the pool to keep them out.

 

[KaylorFarms]

ducks are scared of inflatable pool toys like alligators, snakes, or sharks.

 

[Krazyquilts]

How nice of you to provide TWO swimming areas for your ducks! Because ducks own everything they can get to, and they are surprisingly creative. Mine even figured out how to get under our deck through the trellising, something even our naughty Yorkies hadn't done.

 

[chickenchick200]

Yes, unfortunately this might be the deal breaker. DH doesn't want to fence in the pool and for sanitary reasons, we need to keep the pool for human use only, so I'm afraid we may need to put our plans on hold for now. We were only planning on adding a pair, and have a really lovely pond in addition to the pool, but even 2 ducks can wreck a pool for human consumption .

We will likely have to stick to our chickens for now.

 

[Krazyquilts]

Would it be possible to fence in the pond instead of trying to keep the ducks out of the pool? That way the ducks would have their pond.

Also, I'd recommend getting three ducks instead of two. That way if something happens to one, the other two still have each other.

 

[KaylorFarms]

If you fence the pool, can't they just fly over the fence of the pool?

 

[Ducks4us]

If you fence the pool, can't they just fly over the fence of the pool?

most domestic ducks cant fly.. only mallards, and muscovys can fly.

 

[chickenchick200]

The pond is a bit big to fence in. Honestly I was considering a small landscape boarder type fence...just tall enough to discourage them from hopping over and still allowing us easy access without putting up a full fence. The ducklings I am thinking of are Rouens, so they would likely not be flyers.

 

[Krazyquilts]

How high a fence are you thinking? We are going to put up some 3' high chicken wire around around our garden beds after I plant them. My husband wanted to use 2' high but since at least one of the ducks can jump-fly up onto the taller planters, I'm going with 3' high instead.

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