Forums36
Topics41,065
Posts559,105
Members18,565
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22 |
I have a 1/3 acre pond. We started out with the surviving pair of mallard babies a few months ago. The population has now gone up to 20-29 mallards hanging around all day. They don't spend the night but show up at sunrise everyday for the free food.
I'm just wondering if that many ducks on the pond will have a significant effect on water quality and possibly create problems for the fish. The pond is not used for swimming.
We enjoy the company but I don't want to ruin the pond. The pond is stocked with CC, LMB and BG.
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,037 Likes: 300
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,037 Likes: 300 |
20-29 mallards is a lot on just 1/3 acre. They are adding a lot of "fertility" to the water, more than most of us would care for. I have no more than 3 mallards hanging around my ponds regularly (Huey, Dewey, and Louise) and am willing to put up with their contributions to water fertility. But 20, I would draw the line with.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365 |
Keep in mind that ducks are not like fish. They have an extremely high metabolic rate, and eat constantly. They dabble around the banks eating minnows, baby fish, insect nymphs, and mollusks, which are exactly what fish eat. Ducks are many times more efficient at gathering feed pellets than fish. Each duck probably consumes enough feed for 15 bluegill. That's why I try my best to evict mallards when they show up.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887 |
My neighbor has a 1/4 ac pond and he thought it would be cute to have a pair of white mallards on the pond. He rethought the idea when his banks showed signs of erosion where the ducks were digging in the bank, and his water was constantly turbulent. It's amazing how fast the water cleared up without the ducks (and that's having 100 CC in the pond as well!). There is still a line in the grass at the water's edge where the ducks dug all the way around the pond.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22 |
Thanks for the comments! We have quit feeding them and the population is shrinking rapidly. Down to around 7 now. Maybe migration will take care of the rest soon. It will be interesting to see what happens next spring.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,025 Likes: 1
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,025 Likes: 1 |
A bowl of gumbo as a side for Thanksgiving?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887 |
Thanks for the comments! We have quit feeding them and the population is shrinking rapidly. Down to around 7 now. Maybe migration will take care of the rest soon. It will be interesting to see what happens next spring. They could be thinned out in a couple of days - duck season is open now.......
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135 |
I wonder if an aquamax fed duck would taste fishy.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
I know mergansers and other fish eating ducks taste fishy...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135 |
That's why I was wondering, a friend of mine wouldn't waste ammo on Merganser's cause he said they taste terrible.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,025 Likes: 1
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,025 Likes: 1 |
AAquamax has some fish oil, but not like a daily diet of fish. Even fish on aquamax dont taste too fishy. I had rather try a mallard on fish feed than one on pond scum. Accidently drop a little corn around the edges.
Last edited by burgermeister; 11/12/09 02:08 AM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135 |
My fish taste like chicken.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|