Buying ducks for public pond

[jetpac]

Was thinking of buying a pair of ducks for my inlaws. They have a huge pond at the bottom of v their garden but the pond is a public one and not owned by them. The pond has about 8 ducks who reside there.

Are they allowed to add their own ducks? Would bought ducks be ok in an established pond?

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Hiya and welcome.

Funny one this.... technically under the Wildlife and Countryside Act you cannot release an animal into the wild if it cannot fend for itself, and you could also be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act for this same reason if the ducks were seen to suffer.

However, there are public ponds with domestic ducks that reside in them, we have two/three around here, Coy Pond and Worth Matravers. In both instances the ducks have someone who is responsible for them who has the 'Duty Of Care' in legal terms.

In one instance there is a safe island where the ducks can sleep at night so they are safe from predation, as domestic ducks (exclusing call ducks) cannot fly, as such have no predator protection when on land or at night or when the pond freezes over in the winter. In the other instances the ducks 'belong' to someone who puts them to bed at night in a secure house and lets them out in the morning.

So as long as you can guarantee that they are cared for every day of the year and are safe at night and when the pond freezes over in the winter I would say you are ok. If you cannot meet some of these criteria I would advise against getting domestic ducks and perhaps encourage natural visitors such as mallards. Or you could get call ducks.

Another point, which is highlighted currently in the news (see link below) is that not everyone likes ducks or the mess they make. Some argue that people feed them and this attracts rats. People will also try and feed them bread which will degrade water quality and also the health of the ducks and the ducks will poo on the grass which some people may find offensive.

Also dont forget they may breed if you cannot collect the eggs and then you may have a population problem.

Good luck! I hope this covers all bases.

Zo

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Duck-plague-kills-dozen-birds-Devon-town/story-19080057-detail/story.html

 

[jetpac]

Thanks. The pond in question ha an island where the current ducks live at night. If we did put the new ducks in there who would know that they belonged to us? Would domestic ducks find food or do they need humans to feed them? Thank for the info interesting dilemma

 

[Marigold]

If there are wild ducks living there already, and the pond is public property, why would you want to introduce domesticated ones of a different species? Either they would be driven out by the resident mallards, or they would crossbreed and produce the funny-looking mongrel offspring we get on the river Test here in Whitchurch. Your relatives would have no control over them, they couldn't look after them separately from the wild ducks, or even catch them once released on to the pond. Have they got any experience with keeping ducks, and have you actually discussed this with them?
It's a generous idea, but I don't see the point, really, if they're interested in relating to the existing ducks, why not buy them a big bag of proper duck food, to feed over the winter, instead of the awful white bread I see people throwing to the ducks here?

 

[dorsetduckowner]

I would agree with Marigold The ducks already there will give your in laws just as much pleasure but with no responsibility.
Domestic ducks cannot fend for themselves, when food gets short in the winter months they cannot fly off to find food elsewhere as the wild ones do.
Zo

 

[Marigold]

Of course, if their garden is big enough, and they are getting really interested in ducks, you might discuss the idea of their getting a duck house and a secure run in their garden, with a small paddling pool, and then you could offer to buy them their first ducks when they are equipped. When you say you would like to buy a 'pair', do you mean one male and one female? This might not be a very good idea, as you need several females to one male, or he wears them out with too much loving attention. You could consider two of the same sex kept together.
Spring would be a better time to do this, though- the weather is going to turn miserable and poultry keeping through the winter isn't so much fun.
Plenty of help available on here - Dorsetduckowner is a real expert!