.223 Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 Hi I have got quite allot of time off school coming up due to exam leave and am hoping to start improving my flight ponds. So was wondering if there were any plants/trees/bushes that I could plant to improve the look of the pond to attract more duck but I don’t want anything that will cost to much or grow to big say 8ft tall at the most as the ponds aren’t that big. I went down to them today to repair the duck blinds so I know there is nothing nesting on them at the moment so I wont be disturbing anything. There was just an old nest that looks as though it was abandoned about a month ago. Also I have heard off a number of people that if you put barley bales into the ponds it will help keep down the algae growth so before I roll a massive bale into them dose this really work. If there is anything else you can suggest that will improve them please say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everygoodnamewastaken Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 Study leave, Shouldnt you be studying? The way i see it........Leave study Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.223 Posted May 3, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 i'v got about 3 days between each exam so i should be ok then after my last exam i have 12 weeks off till i start college i should fit it all in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted May 4, 2003 Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 Ducks love wild rice. I have found it easier to eatablish this plant by buying startid plants and sinking them in around the edge. great roost plant and food plant, only I dont know if you have it over there. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.223 Posted May 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 i have never heard of it being used or grown over here but if any other members have i would be interested to here what they think of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 4, 2003 Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 Do you have islands, or anchored artificial islands, in your flight ponds ? Ducks prefer to nest out on the water, rather than along the banks, for security purposes. If you can raise a brood or two on your ponds and feed them, they will return and attract other ducks. Willow is a good bank cover and easy to plant, as are ordinary rushes. I would avoid any introduction of water lilies, water weeds or things similar. They have a nasty habit of getting out of control and needing lots of maintenace time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.223 Posted May 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 we do not have an island as of such but in the middle is a big patch of bull rushes as it started ou6t as a little damp pit full of them so we dug out a 5 metre moat around them the water is about 1 foot deep were they are with about 3 - 4ft all the waty round shallowing up as you get to the bank. we do have some nest boxs on it though as we reasised 4 call ducks on it last year so put the boxs in as extra shelter the poor things lasted about 6 months till the fox had cleared them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 4, 2003 Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 How did the fox get out to the nest boxes ? If it swam, thats the advantage of using anchored, wooden floating islands. When the fox ,or dog, tries to climb on them, they tilt and make getting a "paw hold", almost impossible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.223 Posted May 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 I have no idead how he got them but he had all 4 in the space of a week we found the remains in the field next to the pond . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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