A pool for ducks serves many purposes. Though a duck’s paradise consists of a basic necessities; coop, water, and feeding station. The duck pool is ideal, though not necessary, for preening, minimizing mites and lice, and providing hours of enjoyment for your flock of waterfowl.
Constructing a duck’s paradise will consist of a few basic items:
- a coop
- feed bowls and waterer
- bucket for water
- a duck pool (optional)
Yes, you read that right. A duck pool is an optional item, not a necessity. However, ducks and geese do require access to water throughout the day.
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Waterfowl need water for two primary reasons. Ducks and geese must have access to water to rinse their nostril and wash their eyes multiple times throughout the day. Because ducks enjoy milling through the mud and dirt, much of it ends up in their nostrils. Having a bucket filled with water allows waterfowl to fully submerge their heads to clear the nostrils and clean their eyes.
Another reason to readily have water available is to prevent choking as they are eating. Ducks must never be fed without water nearby.
A Duck Pool
As previously mentioned, a pool is not a necessity but a simple enjoyment to both, the waterfowl and the poultry keeper. Keep in mind, a pool for ducks does serve a purpose.
A pool for ducks makes it easier for waterfowl to preen themselves. Water helps to move the oil from the uropygial gland to the feathers, allowing the bird to waterproof them. Waterproofed feathers keeps the birds afloat in the deep water.
Another reason a pool for ducks is necessary is for mating. Most breeds of ducks and geese do not require water for mating, however, there are a few breeds which do.
The final reason waterfowl would enjoy a pool is to cool off during warmer weather. A quick splash in the pool will instantly cool waterfowl down.
Constructing a Pool for Ducks
Luckily, when setting up a pool for ducks there are a few options. Some pool options are expensive, whereas, other options can be inexpensive.
- kiddie pool – the old fashioned heavy plastic kid’s pool
- large rubber waterers for smaller livestock
- extra-large plastic water trough used for larger livestock
- large galvanized containers
- plastic koi pond
Large koi fish ponds are often available on trade sites or Craigslist. Converting this type of pond into a duck pool is easy to do.
Why would you need to convert it into a duck pool? Because the water will need to be changed regularly. Exactly how often will depend on quantity of ducks utilizing the pool.
The Koi Pond Pool
We are asked quite often about the pool we use for our waterfowl.
In addition to this koi pond pool we have smaller rubber pools for the winter months, natural running creeks, and a large natural pond on the property.
This particular pool is used during the summer months. A garden pump is used to extract the water from the pond to water the garden. A drain pipe can be added for easier emptying as well.
Material
- 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch PVC pipe with threaded end and threaded cap
- 4-inch perforated pipe for the French drain, how long is based on where the drain field will be
- filter fabric to wrap perforated pipe
- pea gravel
- drain rock – enough to cover the pipe and to use as a drain field
- silicone caulk
Equipment
- electric drill with 1 1/2 hole saw
Instructions
- Dig a hole to sink the koi pond
- Add 3 to 4-inches of pea gravel to the hole
- Prior to setting koi pond into the hole, drill a hole near the bottom of the pond for the 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch PVC pipe
- Dig a trench where the french drain will begin, sloping downward away from the pond. Add drain rock at the end of the French drain to capture pond water
- Place koi pond into the pre-dug hole
- Install the PVC pipe with threaded end into the pond, caulking around the penetration
- Overlap the PVC pipe with the perforated pipe. Wrap the perforated pipe with the filter fabric. Next, cover the perforated pipe with pea gravel
- Back fill the trench with dirt
Setting up a Duck’s Paradise
Prior to setting up a pool for your waterfowl make sure to have the necessary information needed to raise ducks and geese successfully!
Additional tips on raising waterfowl can be found in the following articles:
- Raising Ducks for Eggs
- Raising Ducklings| How to set up a duck brooder
- 15 Tip to Raising Ducks and Geese
