Ducks are quite fragile animals, these birds can easily be attacked and eaten by predators if they are left to roam around without protection.
If you have ducks in your pond you’re likely worried about your duck’s safety. This article explores how to keep ducks on a pond safe.
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How to keep ducks safe on a pond:
There are a variety of ways to keep ducks on a pond safe, different solutions will work for different people and you may have to use different solutions at once to ensure that your birds are truly safe. Here are a few solutions to consider:
Fence the pond:
One of the most effective ways to duck-proof your pond is by constructing a fence that encloses the entire perimeter of the pond.
A fence constructed around your duck pond will serve two purposes. The first is to keep the ducks inside the pond and the second is to keep predators out.
A fence should be high enough that it will not allow a predator such as a raccoon or a coyote to jump over the fence, into the water, and grab your ducks. The recommended height to keep this from happening is 6 feet long.
The fence should also not have any openings where predators can squeeze through.
You can also use mesh or netting material on the fence to keep predators out. 1/2″ or 1/4″ wire mesh can be used as the fence material. Also, consider installing the mesh to the top of the fence so that predators, like hawks and owls, can’t fly in.
Install an access door so you can get in and out of this enclosure, and install a latch and hook lock on the door to keep animals out.
You can alternatively make an enclosure out of concrete, this will definitely keep predators out.
Train your dog/cat to attack predators:
Ducks are vulnerable to predators, and one of the best ways to protect your ducks is by training a guard animal to keep your waterfowl safe.
Dogs and cats can be trained to attack animals that come near your pond. These animals will keep ducks safe when they’re outdoors or in an enclosure.
When training your dog or cat to keep predators away, make sure that you also train them to not harm the ducks themselves.
If you’re training an animal that is new to water start slowly and take your time, this will allow the animal to get used to the water. Once comfortable with water, the animal can take on the role of protector of the ducks.
You’d need to be very careful when training your dog or cat to protect your ducks, dogs and cats can be predators of ducks just as easily as wild animals can.
If you’re not sure whether you’ll be able to successfully train your dog or cat, it would be best to contact a professional animal trainer who specializes in this type of work.
Train your birds to go to a shelter at night:
Training your ducks to go to a shelter at night will pretty much ensure their safety, shelters are a great way to protect ducks from predators.
You can create a shelter from scratch or use an unoccupied space, like a barn, a garage, or a shed, and create a shelter for the birds in it.
If the birds are trained to go to their shelter at night, they will get out of the water and go up into the shelter to stay dry and safe when it’s time.
Remember to turn off any lights near your pond and near your duck’s shed at night. If you keep the lights on then the lights may lure owls, other birds of prey, or land predators to your property, and these animals may try to attack your ducks.
This article explores how to train your ducks to go in at night. Train your ducks to go to their shelter at night until they do it without needing any encouragement.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other duck related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Duckling feet turned inward, Duck dragging leg, Duck foot swollen, How to splint a ducks leg,