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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Duck/goose proof plants?

16 years ago

I've got a huge pond, with young trees and grass planted around it. I figure the waterfowl (domestic) will take to the grass, as well I will also feed them.

However- I'm wondering if anyone has found particular plants that were left alone by their birds?

I figure cattails and flags? Thanks.

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Comments (6)

isis_nebthet
16 years ago
I found that my room mates pekin duck still stomped on everything...

Scirpus californicus stood up to that well because it is tough (physically I imagine Egyptian papyrus might hold up well too). S. olneyii did pretty good because it's a very fast grower and with the pot full it was hard for the duck to really damage it.

The yellow flags did poorly they didn't grow back fast enough from being bent over. The duck also uprooted and ate a lot of a waterlily that was at least 3 yrs old. All my parrots feather was lost.

Since I have a plant only pond out back (with most mentioned above growing) the straw that broke the camels back was it eating all of my pink fatheads.

I'm in the desert though so maybe the grass will keep then off the ornamentals? They seem to think so in this link.

Here is a link that might be useful: ducks in koi ponds
dirtslinger2
Original Author
16 years ago
Scirpus- good idea, very course. There is a couple patches of equisetum, but a mindless goose would snap it off walking through (at least I know that will come back)
I would be so mad at the pekin owner, I hope you got to help eat the bird after?
I do hope the grazing areas will be more attractive than anything else. Funny- I built the pond initially for my birds and to raise fish to eat, but being the plant nerd I'm finding it difficult to find the farm/ornamental balance!!
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I hate to say this, but your problem is normal. Ducks and geese will want to spend much of their time on land, eating tender grass shoots, insects, garden plants, etc. Most places that have populations of these birds live to regret it. At least in those locations where the bird and human environment are in close proximity. People that build those large water features as an amenity and don't understand how ducks and geese will use it are creating a real problem for the property owners. As you well know. Adding another pond will likely add to the problem rather than mitigate it. Well, there are a number of spray on repellents that you should try. They will work for awhile. You should also use scare tactics such as imitation reptiles (large), in combination with the repellents. I think that motion activated sprinklers would help, too. The noise and water would startle them. In my city, there is a small lake built within the campus of one of the universities. Ducks and geese pretty much took over the location, creating a health hazard and ruining the landscaping and grass. Repellents worked for a while, as did a remote operated car used to chase them all over the place (hilarious). But the thing that has really helped is the installation of three large alligator decoys that float all year long in the lake. They are secured to the bottom with weights and chains. The population of birds on that lake has been greatly reduced! (Not eliminated, but reduced.) Type in 'goose repellent' into google and do some reading. I think that with a combination of simple things, you can keep the ducks and geese away.
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isis_nebthet
16 years ago
No, we didn't eat her. She's a pet. My boyfriend's dad actually found her as a stray crossing a road just starting to get her adult feathers (wings still shrunken and tiny). My room mates had ducks before we moved in with them but the neighbor dogs killed them. He gave the duck to them because he knew they missed having them.

She was in an indoor pen because the coop had been left since the other ducks were killed and my boyfriend offhandedly reminded my room mate there was a pond when she was complaining about it not having enough exercise. He didn't know the damage it would cause. The coop was redone soon after me going over how much damage the duck cost my pond.

Another thought for you though...raised plant pond and put anything in it you want. Then put the divisions out in the duck pond and you're not really out any plants.
quercus1
16 years ago
You didn't mention how big your pond is and how many birds you have.

Ducks and geese can do a lot of damage unless the plant materials are well established. Ducks will eat many things, geese pretty much stay with vegetation. Both will uproot plants as they add grit to digest their food. They dip their heads and will shovel up earth materials from the bottom. Any plant material not firmly rooted will be pulled up in the process. Geese are terrible about not going around obstacles. They go over and can trample even hardy grasses into nothing. The best advise is to balance the pond and vegetation with the number of water fowl. To many birds will turn it into a mud hole. You may also want to place some course sand in some of the shallows. Birds may be more apt to root around there instead of your plantings. Do you provide commercial feed for the birds? If so, locate an area away from the water to feed them at. That way they are less likely to congregate in large groups by the plant material. At one time I had a couple hundred assorted adult water fowl.
dirtslinger2
Original Author
16 years ago
Very good idea with feed placement. They always like feed more than the healthy green stuff.
Pond is about 1/3 acre, and I have 2 pairs of Chinese geese (relatively small bred), and 6-8 muscovey ducks. I have no problem shrinking the bird population if need be, I don't want water pollution. I am regretting getting those last two geese.
championmi
16 years ago
A small garden center in my town sells juggs of these pellete. Geese-No or something like that. They are the size of a nickle and you spread them around the edge of the pond and geese wont root or dig. The company has a website, its in with the pond plants. PondMegastore.com , its $15 or $25 depending on the size jug. Hope that helps.

Here is a link that might be useful: pond megastore aquatic plants

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