Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations DUCK DUCK POOP

OK, a quick question. I bought 6 baby mallards back in April. They are really fun to watch in my pond. They have recently discovered my pier. They like to relieve themselves all over that thing. Any ideas on how I could keep them off the pier or am I wishing for the imposible? Nothing is worse then when you want to go sit out on the pier and see nothing but poopies everywhere..............YUCKY

You are going to have to provide them with a better place to poop or get a longer hose!
Jim

Have you tried scaring the poop out of them?

Be glad that you don't have a goose problem...

Put up a fence and a gate or learn how to cook Peking Duck.

And then comes the question do you need a migratory bird license from the gov't for those wild mallards or similar fowl. Here in Canada you do or are subject to a heavy fine unless those ducks/geese are domestics like rouens, pekins, embdens, chinese, african etc. I guess the droppings are part of doing business and enjoying their company.....My flock has grown from 16 to 100 plus this year in my 19 acre tank. It is very hard to control if they can fly and get over your fencing etc. Alternative, most domestics can't fly because of their weight and size except muscovies and can be trained somewhat to reside in those established fenced in boundries you determine.

Rowly

You do not need a permit for wild mallards, as long as you keep less then fifty on site. We are talking about wild Mallards, not domestic breeds that look like Mallards?

As far as the pier problem, build them a loafing platform. It's very simple to build and they will stay on it instead of your dock.

Very good idea newbee!

Newbee, it must be nice to have 50 without a permit! Is that true for all the states? In Ontario just one migratory fowl requires a licence except as you said the domestic birds which I have many of now as they continue to reproduce.

Rowly

When you are speaking of migratory waterfowl like wood ducks or other wild fowl then a permit is required for each individual bird. All of these waterfowl are protected under the United States Migratory Bird Act, but the keeping of wild Mallards is specifically provided for and details the aforementioned fifty birds rule.

If any of you have any questions about this subject please fell free to ask away. I am a Federal Licensed Waterfowl Breeder and breed many of the North American Species.

Newbee, thanks for the info. Question...any suggestions on interesting fowl (ducks/geese)both domestic and migratory for us northern pond owners that will add a little color and characteristics to the group. Regards

Rowly

Well there are a varity of different waterfowl to choose from. One of my favorite is the Mandarin, which is a type of Wood Duck that is endemic to Asia. In my opinion the most beautiful bird in the world. There are also numerous birds that come from your area that would make quite a addition to your pond, such as the Pintail, canavasback, widgeon, etc. (to many to list). Of course the only way to keep these birds is to pinion them (restrict their flight).

The one thing that I try to get over to pond owners is to stay away from domestic breeds. The reasons are simple. Domestic breeds were originally breed for consumption and to that end have a very large digestive tract (years of being fatten up). The result is what started this thread, POOP and lots of it. Another reason is domestic breeds tend to have a large number of offspring, which grow up on your pond and the cycle continues. Before you know it,you have to many of the creatures and guess what, you couldn't get ride of them if you wanted to.

Wild waterfowl or Ornamentals are not very easy to breed and if they do, their offspring won't stay long when the winter gets nasty. I have also found that they don't make as big of a mess as the domestics, mainly because they don't congregate around docks and piers, preferring to stay away from your activities (but still visible).

I hope this helps. If you want to know anything else e-mail me and we can talk more. I know someone is going to throw a flag on this duck conversation.

So long as it's relative to ponds no-one is going to object.
Please don't do it by e-mail. Share it with all!
Newbee,
You should contact Bob Lusk. He's always looking for someone to write an article about something taht hasn't been covered before in Pond Boss . An article on the in's & out's of ducks & your pond would be desirable.

Thanks Neebee for your info and I agree with Ric. Many of us would truely enjoy your thoughts on this subject as it would make great talk while fishing and as we grow as pond owners with a variety of interests.....HA!HA!

Rowly

Well, waterfowl is my great passion (besides my pond) and sometimes I go overboard when speaking on the subject. I agree with you guys that there are others that would love to hear about waterfowl and their place in a pond environment.

The only thing that I have ever heard about waterfowl on this site, is how they cause poor water quality. I would agree, when we are talking about twenty Pekings or Muscovy ducks on 1/4 acre pond. The key, like everthing in life, is balance. If you have that everthing else will work itself out.

Neebee bingo.......right on. I am using my domestics in a northern pond for that fertilization program. However, I'm using only 5-6 geese or ducks per acre in my environment or approx 100-125 fowl when complete. Please consider an article for all of us waiting for you in pondboss. If anyone else agrees please let newbee know here on this detailed forum. Thanks and get your pen out!!!!!!!

Rowly