Ducks nesting by the pond..
Discussion
I have a small garden with a small pond at the end of it.
The last few days I've noticed a pair of ducks around the street and this morning they're in the back garden in/around the pond and the female appears to be "digging in" under a tree by the base of the pond.
Now, the pond is tiny so I'm quite surprised by this. So given we're in a residential area with cats around, and it's garden with a lawn to mow, a washing line etc. I don't know if it's such a good thing them being there?
Personally I don't mind them being there, but I don't want to come down one day to find dead duck thanks to the local cats.
As an aside we did find a bunch of dead fish after the winter and more recently a bunch of dead frogs, but put the fish down to the harsh winter and the frogs to being a common occurrence according to the RSPCA website.
Does anyone know anything about this kind of thing please?
The last few days I've noticed a pair of ducks around the street and this morning they're in the back garden in/around the pond and the female appears to be "digging in" under a tree by the base of the pond.
Now, the pond is tiny so I'm quite surprised by this. So given we're in a residential area with cats around, and it's garden with a lawn to mow, a washing line etc. I don't know if it's such a good thing them being there?
Personally I don't mind them being there, but I don't want to come down one day to find dead duck thanks to the local cats.
As an aside we did find a bunch of dead fish after the winter and more recently a bunch of dead frogs, but put the fish down to the harsh winter and the frogs to being a common occurrence according to the RSPCA website.
Does anyone know anything about this kind of thing please?
If your pond has frogs, then they'll have laid by now, and those ducks will eat every single bit of frogspawn, and all your tadpoles. They will also make a bit of a muddy mess around the pond.
Cats are pretty wary of ducks, but will get bolder, and if the ducks lay, then the ducklings will get eaten.
We had two ducks visit our pond last year, but we also have three cats, so the missus spent a week or so trying to frighten the ducks off. She didn't know that I spent a week or so feeding them because I liked them.
The female then died (stress, according to my vet mate), and the male pined for another week before he buggered off.
These were ours. The ducklings are plastic, and live there all year round...
Cats are pretty wary of ducks, but will get bolder, and if the ducks lay, then the ducklings will get eaten.
We had two ducks visit our pond last year, but we also have three cats, so the missus spent a week or so trying to frighten the ducks off. She didn't know that I spent a week or so feeding them because I liked them.
The female then died (stress, according to my vet mate), and the male pined for another week before he buggered off.
These were ours. The ducklings are plastic, and live there all year round...
Doofus said:
If your pond has frogs, then they'll have laid by now, and those ducks will eat every single bit of frogspawn, and all your tadpoles. They will also make a bit of a muddy mess around the pond.
Cats are pretty wary of ducks, but will get bolder, and if the ducks lay, then the ducklings will get eaten.
We had two ducks visit our pond last year, but we also have three cats, so the missus spent a week or so trying to frighten the ducks off. She didn't know that I spent a week or so feeding them because I liked them.
Tbh we've never noticed frogs before, so either they've been quietly getting on with blending in, or they're new to the pond - the only time we've noticed them has been fishing some rather horrible bloated corpses out of the pond, given it's a small pond I'm not overly fussed about the frogs, more concerned about the feline threat but I'd assume Ducks have some nous and will leave if they feel sufficiently threatened.Cats are pretty wary of ducks, but will get bolder, and if the ducks lay, then the ducklings will get eaten.
We had two ducks visit our pond last year, but we also have three cats, so the missus spent a week or so trying to frighten the ducks off. She didn't know that I spent a week or so feeding them because I liked them.
OK so the duck is back and is definitely nesting/incubating/settled on the nest.
She's right by the pond so presumably food and water are not anything we need to be concerned with?
I'm more concerned/confused about how on earth the duck is intending to get her chicks out of our garden if the eggs make it, as it's entirely surrounded by the house or the garden fence.
Any info would be great, obviously there are a few resources online and if necessary we can call the RSPB but I'd hate to see the local moggies having a feast (though magpies are probably a bigger concern).
She's right by the pond so presumably food and water are not anything we need to be concerned with?
I'm more concerned/confused about how on earth the duck is intending to get her chicks out of our garden if the eggs make it, as it's entirely surrounded by the house or the garden fence.
Any info would be great, obviously there are a few resources online and if necessary we can call the RSPB but I'd hate to see the local moggies having a feast (though magpies are probably a bigger concern).
I'm sure the RSPB will be happy to take the call.
At the last place I worked we had a pair of ducks that would come back every year to breed. It meant I had to run into the yard and stop all of the truck movements while the mother duck waddled her brood down to the stream.
The ducks will face problems from cats wherever they lay, and they always lose some ducklings. The one bonus is that the cats (if they aren't yours) will most likely take the dead ones away and present them to their owners.
At the last place I worked we had a pair of ducks that would come back every year to breed. It meant I had to run into the yard and stop all of the truck movements while the mother duck waddled her brood down to the stream.
The ducks will face problems from cats wherever they lay, and they always lose some ducklings. The one bonus is that the cats (if they aren't yours) will most likely take the dead ones away and present them to their owners.
davepoth said:
I'm sure the RSPB will be happy to take the call.
At the last place I worked we had a pair of ducks that would come back every year to breed. It meant I had to run into the yard and stop all of the truck movements while the mother duck waddled her brood down to the stream.
The ducks will face problems from cats wherever they lay, and they always lose some ducklings. The one bonus is that the cats (if they aren't yours) will most likely take the dead ones away and present them to their owners.
Not our cats. We have several larger patches of water around here, and some are wild and some are right in the middle of town, so I have no idea how used to people the ducks are - it's quite odd how the pair of them waddle out in front of cars without a care in the world!At the last place I worked we had a pair of ducks that would come back every year to breed. It meant I had to run into the yard and stop all of the truck movements while the mother duck waddled her brood down to the stream.
The ducks will face problems from cats wherever they lay, and they always lose some ducklings. The one bonus is that the cats (if they aren't yours) will most likely take the dead ones away and present them to their owners.
I guess what I'm totally unsure of is, assuming they do hatch, "what happens next" as in will they use our pond, which is only about 8 foot by 3 foot so tiny, or immediately try and leave - like I said, the garden is fenced , the street is surrounded by some busy roads on both sides, so whilst I'm thinking "Surely nature just sorts itself out", I'm not quite sure how.
Also I'm unsure just how much to tip toe around in my own garden. Common sense says don't stick your nose in her space, but it's a bit much to not be able to go in your own garden because she'll freak out if someone's 20 foot away.
mrmaggit said:
Just act normally, but don't go poking about near her. By near, I mean within 10-12 feet. Don't make it look like you know she's there, she''l soon get used to you.
She'll hiss at you if you've gone too close.
Thanks. Done a bit of digging and it seems to be a case of leave her to it. Seems our small pond might suffice, be interesting to see how the hell they cram into the garden until they can fly though, assuming some of them make it to hatching and then survive.She'll hiss at you if you've gone too close.
I live next to a large pond and at this time of year we can get up to around 30 ducks,20 Canadian geese and normally a couple of swans on.It's quite funny sometimes watching cats sneak up on the wildfowl with a view to attacking them because they are soon warned off-the birds charge at them with their wings up hissing and the geese in particular can be quite nasty,the ducks have no problem defending themselves as well.Most cats have a go then leave well alone.Our kitten will be able to go out soon and I expect he will be paying them a visit but don't fancy his chances if other cats previous attempts are anything to go by.
paddyhasneeds said:
I feel slightly stupid asking this as ducks have sat on nests long before people had gardens but... should I be feeding it?
It's nesting literally 1 foot away from the pond and is in a "proper" garden, it's not as if it's chosen a hanging basket or bit of concrete.
No, you don't need to feed it, but if you do (wait till she leaves the nest, don't leave stuff lying around or you'll attract magpies and rats), she'll appreciate the easy feed, and you'll get to see more of the ducklings.It's nesting literally 1 foot away from the pond and is in a "proper" garden, it's not as if it's chosen a hanging basket or bit of concrete.
mrmaggit said:
No, you don't need to feed it, but if you do (wait till she leaves the nest, don't leave stuff lying around or you'll attract magpies and rats), she'll appreciate the easy feed, and you'll get to see more of the ducklings.
Great thanks, that pretty much ties in with my concerns about doing (attract things you don't want to).Just been out to do some work by the pond and she really doesn't seem fussed us being about, which I think is good seeing as it's our garden and as much as I want the duck to do well I really don't want to feel I can't go in my own garden.
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