HunterFarmer Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Ways to attract alot of ducks to a pond that I have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Id suggest making areas they'd feel safe in, so if not already maybe get some reeds etc growing. And as said barley on the edges for easy grub... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterFarmer Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Thanks plenty of reeds and scrub around it but they seem to prefer the river for some reason! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewh100 Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 I'm surprised your not over run with them pest Canada geese all our ponds are soon be time to get rid of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TONY R Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Used to feed a pond a few years ago, running barley etc in the margins had a good few rats showing up, got sick of them being around when shooting, so left it that year. It was not that deep you could wade it in thigh waders with caution. So we decided to make a floating island in the middle and made it from a pair of three mtr pallets and plastic drums filled with polystyrene beans anchored it with two fence posts each side. covered the pallet in fertiliser bags then a little soil and hessian sacking over the top. Soon had grass and spriting corn on it looked like a real island , waded across with a bag of barley now and again in the off season, was a great addition to sport got to knock off pigeons crows etc that came to feed off it in the off season and truthfully never saw a rat down there after we put that up. It needed a Bic in the winter to feed it as it flooded too deep to wade but the island still floated on its mooring ropes and we had good sport down there. I would do similar again if i had a pond like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Thanks plenty of reeds and scrub around it but they seem to prefer the river for some reason! River will be more sheltered id imagine, possibly easier to feed in too. The island is a good idea if you dont have one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterFarmer Posted May 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Used to feed a pond a few years ago, running barley etc in the margins had a good few rats showing up, got sick of them being around when shooting, so left it that year. It was not that deep you could wade it in thigh waders with caution. So we decided to make a floating island in the middle and made it from a pair of three mtr pallets and plastic drums filled with polystyrene beans anchored it with two fence posts each side. covered the pallet in fertiliser bags then a little soil and hessian sacking over the top. Soon had grass and spriting corn on it looked like a real island , waded across with a bag of barley now and again in the off season, was a great addition to sport got to knock off pigeons crows etc that came to feed off it in the off season and truthfully never saw a rat down there after we put that up. It needed a Bic in the winter to feed it as it flooded too deep to wade but the island still floated on its mooring ropes and we had good sport down there. I would do similar again if i had a pond like that. Thanks but I have a permanent island and it's too deep to wade in!I'm surprised your not over run with them pest Canada geese all our ponds are soon be time to get rid of them I live in Ireland some how we don't get much geese! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Feed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Thanks but I have a permanent island and it's too deep to wade in!! Get a little boat :-) then feed island too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 What are you attracting them for? You want them to breed or to shoot? At the moment they are busy breeding....wouldn't start feeding until the end of summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterFarmer Posted May 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Wouldn't mind them getting used to the pond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 (edited) Rushes and other things that give food naturally via thier roots or the fact they harbour insects Sloping edges so duck can walk out Range of depths so teal and smaller duck have some shallows and larger duck have a tad more water under them Islands to keep them safer from preditors And duck tunnels for nesting ( likely next year as if the duck ain't used to them you have a barren year) Feed it and don't shoot it for the first season. Then only shoot it very lightly Duck won't find the food unless they land so especially if there are other more attractive areas about that they are used to your pond can be just a water feature A couple of pet white duck can also encourage use Edited May 5, 2016 by kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovercoupe Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Some decoys, i put one in my parents pond and they had a pair make it there home, the pond was only 1m by 4m and the ducks crapped all over there nice patio, i was not there favourite for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 I disagree. I have fed several ponds and drains. The ducks never take too long to find grain. Why not shoot them in the first year? Rushes and other things that give food naturally via thier roots or the fact they harbour insectsSloping edges so duck can walk outRange of depths so teal and smaller duck have some shallows and larger duck have a tad more water under themIslands to keep them safer from preditorsAnd duck tunnels for nesting ( likely next year as if the duck ain't used to them you have a barren year)Feed it and don't shoot it for the first season. Then only shoot it very lightlyDuck won't find the food unless they land so especially if there are other more attractive areas about that they are used to your pond can be just a water featureA couple of pet white duck can also encourage use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterFarmer Posted May 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Thanks for the help! Plenty of weeds and there are some islands and it's fairly wild Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted May 6, 2016 Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 Pushchairs and white bread? and watch out for the Parkie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 6, 2016 Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 I disagree. I have fed several ponds and drains. The ducks never take too long to find grain. Why not shoot them in the first year? I think you and I are very different. Especially if you don't get why not in the first year. Think a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 6, 2016 Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 Thanks for the help! Plenty of weeds and there are some islands and it's fairly wild Sounds good, are there a lot of ducks flying round about the area? Is there far better close by? How deep is it at most and how deep in the margins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted May 6, 2016 Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 Enlighten me. I think you and I are very different. Especially if you don't get why not in the first year. Think a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted May 6, 2016 Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 Bread seems to be a major attractant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted May 6, 2016 Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 We have a new 1 acre pond on one of our rough shoots and were feeding corn. On my local lake the birds get loaves of bread and the local wildlife people are pushing alternatives. We turned up with a bag of frozen peas and they turned them down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterFarmer Posted May 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 Thanks for the tips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 Enlighten me. That task is beyond me I am afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterFarmer Posted May 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/HunterFarmer/media/Mobile%20Uploads/Snapchat-4448050163031547622_zpsumvtivb1.jpg.html?filters[user]=145092396&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0That's a photo of most of the pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dob Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 Soak barley in a barrel and add banana essence, I know you lot are going to take the p,,s but it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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