Self Draining Duck Pond

[GringoJRF]

Currently my ducklings only get swimming water from the water from watering a tree. Unfortunately I cannot water that tree several times a day everyday. I am thinking about building a small concrete pond about the same size as the tree basin and putting a drip type or septic type drain field to several nearby trees. The goal is to make the water last long than 15 minutes (about what it lasts from watering the tree) and to spread the water drainage to more than one tree while avoiding wate waste. Has anyone tried this approach? Results? Ideas? Opinions?

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us I don't have a good answer for you but will follow along to see what's suggested.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Glad you're here!

Gonna tag @WVduckchick as she's the only duckie chickie I know!

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm not quite sure i understand. But I'll ask a few questions.
How many ducklings, and what breed?
Maybe if you explain the layout of your area, we can come up with some ideas?

 

[CntryBoy777]

There are a couple of things that will present ya a problem with running a drip line. The biggest problem will be sediment that will clog those drip lines and ya will spend way too much time cleaning them out with a toothpick. What ya could do is get a kiddie pool or concrete mixing tub....depending on the numbers of ducklings and change it out every couple days or so, and dump it by whatever tree ya wish to water.....move it while it is empty and refill in the next spot ya wish to water. This also will afford ya the opportunity to see and understand about the sediment that ya have to rinse out of the bottom ....but, it isn't just the sediment, but they wash themselves in the water and there are always feathers left in the water, especially during any molting period....then there is falling leaves, acorns, or twigs. If ya filter it, then ya remove the benefits of the heavily fertilized "Tea" water for your trees.....

 

[Mandarin]

We have a hand made pond from wooden railway sleepers and a plastic pond liner. The bottom of the pond is raised slightly so we can install a drain, a bit like a shower. We then have a flexible plastic pipe attached to the end. You could make this as long as you like so you can move it around the garden when you empty the pond. You also get the added benefit of duck poo manure for free! The part of the garden that gets most of our pond water is definitely a lot greener than the rest!

Let me know if you would like some photos of our set up.

 

[GringoJRF]

I was thinking about two approaches. One simply digging a hole like one would dig around trees to water them. Fill it and let the water soak into the ground daily. This gives them less than 30 minutes to play in the water. The other is a plastic pool with a 2" PVC drain and piping to several of the fruit trees (we have about 30 fruit trees). Drain every couple of days using a 90 degree valve.

 

[CntryBoy777]

I would go with the pool and ya may want to put a Y about halfway of the length of the pipe run, so ya can hose out any sediment that may accumilate in the pipe....but, being a drain pipe there won't be pressure on it, so ya relly won't need to glue it together and this would allow ya to take it apart and reconnect in a different location with a few different junctions to choose from.....

 

[GringoJRF]

Thanks. I tend to agree even though a simple hole in the dirt is easier and I am somewhat lazy. hahaha. But come summer when it is over 100 degrees they will need all day water not just 15 - 30 minutes that a hole in the ground would provide.