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Joined: Feb 2006
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A couple of weeks ago I posted on creating a food chain for larger LMB. In that post, I said that I had not seen a large minnow population in my 4 acre pond. I started noticing that 50-75 wild ducks hang out on my 4 acre pond. Does anybody know whether they can destroy a minnow population? I can't figure out where all the minnows are. I plan to restock the pond with minnows. By the way, I live near Columbus, Texas. Thanks. Trevor
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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Trevor, For the most part, ducks will eat vegetation. Any bird with a long bill will be a carnivore.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Puddle ducks probably do not eat very many if any minnows, and I'm pretty sure they eat mostly bugs, organic muck items, weed seeds, aquatic vegetation and plant tubors. My dad and I raised ducks and geese on our pond in its early years. However I am suspect of most diving ducks. I have watched through binoculars Mergansers eat small 4"-5" yellow perch in my Ohio pond.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Puddle ducks will seldom eat minnows. They are mainly vegetarians. Diving ducks (with a few exceptions ) can and do eat fish, amphibians, insects and even sometimes small reptiles. Unless the pond is a major roost for migrated ducks, I seriously doubt the ducks are the reason you are not seeing minnows. Ducks by nature tend to jump from body of water to body of water feeding a little in each. I would suspect the reason for not seeing minnows is possibly water temps, or weather conditions.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Lunker
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Lunker
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I have lots of ducks on my place and have seen any of them take a fish. Do you know what kinds of ducks you have? I have lots of pintails, redheads, and mallards. Just make sure you don't have the dreaded cormorant (water-turkey). I have to scare them off, or to death, to keep them away they will do way more damage than any flock of ducks.
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Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
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Nutria
by J. E. Craig - 12/03/24 04:10 PM
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Koi
by PAfarmPondPGH69, October 22
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