Ducks...bad?

[joesandy1822]

Hi everybody. It's been a LONG winter, but I'm happy to say the ice FINALLY melted on the pond as of a couple days ago, and my 23 fish survived the worst winter I can remember in Michigan. Yipee!! I'm anxiously awaiting my pond plants to wake up. Except for the lilies, the plants were all planted in the rock ledge barefoot. We shall see how they fared.

Anyhow, a pair of wild mallard ducks, which unfortunately I love and have fed for many years (before we built the pond last summer), have returned for the Spring. And, of course, they would rather swim in the pond than the kiddie pool. They look so cute, and like I said, I love ducks. But I'm assuming that is a big "no-no"? I did do some reading, and I already realize they are poop machines. But besides the waste they add to the pond, is it a huge concern with them bringing in parasites and diseases to my fish from lakes, etc.? I don't want to harm my fish. I just wonder if any of you out there have actually SEEN a problem from letting them in your pond (actual experience). AND, will they eat the fish IF they have other things to eat? I read somewhere they will only eat fish if they are really hungry.

Thanks for any advice!

Sandy

 

[morewater]

My mallard pair (Tony and Carmella) show up every Spring and hang around for a couple of weeks. I've never had any problems as a result of them coming around. They're welcome here. Beats herons and raccoons.

As far as them eating fish.....mallards don't eat good-sized fish. They'll eat fish eggs, frog eggs, small snails, the odd fry, etc., but your average pond-size fish doesn't have any worries.

Now, if you had a couple of loons move in........

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Not much I can say, but back when I had my mini-pond (30g) we had a pair of Mallards in it and they tore up my waterlilies. So now my fear is that more will show up in my bigger pond and rip up all my plants.

 

[Mmathis]

There is a parasite called a trematode [AKA, "yellow grub," though it's not really a grub], and part of its life-cycle is water birds. I recently had 3 Rosy Reds and one goldfish with this!

Life Cycle of The Yellow Grub
(Clinostomum marginatum)
The life cycle begins as fertile eggs (2) produced by adult flukes (1) which live in the mouth of the heron (7). The eggs are shed to open water as the heron feeds. The first stage larvae, called miracidia (3), emerge from the eggs and penetrate a suitable snail host (4). Within the snail, miracidia undergo numerous cycles of asexual reproduction in various developmental phases after which second stage larvae, called cercariae (5), emerge from the snail and swim about in search of a suitable fish host, such as the yellow perch (6). Cercariae penetrate the fish and encyst to assume the third larval stage - metacercariae (6), also known as grubs. When the infested fish is consumed by the heron, the metacercariae excyst (come out of the cyst) and become adult flukes (1) in the mouth of the heron, thus completing the cycle.

Life Cycle figure adapted from: Hunter III, G.W., and Wanda S. Hunter. 1935. Further Studies On Fish and Bird Parasites. Suppl. 23rd Annual Report, NY State Conservation Department, Biological Survey. Mohawk-Hudson Watershed, 1934: 267-283, 3 pl.

 

[adavisus]

You may want to check out medical sources for 'swimmers itch'

Yup, ducks primary diet is pond plants. An ornamental pond would be a delish salad bar

About as popular as a goat in a rose garden

I like duck. In plum sauce.

Regards, andy
http://swglist.wordpress.com/
http://www.pinterest.com/adavisus/pondering/

 

[VanDiesil]

M
As far as them eating fish.....mallards don't eat good-sized fish. They'll eat fish eggs, frog eggs, small snails, the odd fry, etc., but your average pond-size fish doesn't have any worries.

Until last summer, I would have agreed with you, but after witnessing Mallards gang up on a shoal of 8" Roach and kill one of them before eating it right in front of me, my mind has changed drastically about ducks!!!

As you can see, even the Moorhen got a piece of the fish in the end! These are young ducks and the pool had 24 of the things on it last year, which may be had something to do with not enough natural food for all of the birds and they resorted to the fish. The Roach was certainly not dead or in any danger until the the birds started corralling them up and taking "pot shots" with their beaks.

 

[keikoasmom]

We love our ducks too! Unfortunately, made the mistake 3 years ago of feeding them in the fall. They brought
their friends, and I counted 4 species and 64 total ducks in our yard during a bad snowstorm. We fed them during the winter, and
tapered off in the spring. Now this one pair comes, but the new dog isn't amused.
BTW, we had a big sludge problem the Year of the Ducks, but I think one pair is ok.
The other day I let the dog out after the ducks had their happy hour, and a big hawk flew away, too!