How to Build a Duck Pond

Building a Duck pond is a great way to use a space that may not be suitable for flowers, vegetable gardens or lawns. Duck ponds are lots of fun and great places to observe wildlife in any season. These low maintenance water features are a great addition to any property and great fun for children.

Instructions

1. Choose an area with a natural slope or indentation. If you don't have one, you'll have to dig the duck pond to the size you want. Keep the dimensions adequate to the space you're using. A duck pond doesn't have to be terribly deep because you'll feed your ducks yourself.

2. Plan the shape of your pond by laying out a string in the shape you desire.

3. Dig the bottom of the pond about 1 yard deep and level it at the bottom. Leave room around the outer edges for plantings. So, dig on the line you drew with your string planning for extra width for your bank design.

4. Lay a piece of vinyl pond liner in the area you've prepared. Trim the liner to fit and tuck the edges into a trench dug around the pond reserved for plantings.

5. Add fencing around the pond if you plan to keep ducks there year round or at least during the summer season. This will keep out unwanted predators. Use a simple chain link fence placed far enough from the edge of the pond to give the ducks adequate space to roam. You'll also need a simple gate to get in and out for feeding and cleaning.

6. Allow run off water from rain to drain into your pond to provide a source of fresh water regularly. Do this by digging a trench that slopes into the pond. Lay plastic flex pipe along the trench with the end going into the pond. Be sure the pipe has drainage holes near the top to allow water to run in. Replace soil on top of the pipe and reseed.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to provide some sort of shelter for your ducks if they are going to be a permanent addition to your pond and home. A house a few inches off the ground with a ramp to go in and out works great.

• Feed ducks a mixture of whole grain and cracked corn mixed with water in a heavy bowl that won't tip over.

• Think about adding a tree branch or log over your pond to give the ducks a perch.

• Naturalize the edges of your pond with large rocks, tall grasses and water plants.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish