Can any one help with advice to stop my bantams from drowning

[josaphine32]

We hatched 3 runner ducklings a month ago and now they are big enough to go out, We have introduced them to our 6 bantams at the bottom of the garden, The land we have for them is large and fine for them and they all seem to get on well, I made a rod for my own back as from day 3 they were in the bath and they love water, I have been and bought some huge water drinkers for them all as any water left out in dishes is gone within me walking up the garden, So i went and bought these for them,

http://www.argos.co.u...earchtext%3EPOOLS.htm

I have not dug them into the ground as of yet, and they look abit deep, I was thinking about filling some of it with shingle but to clean them will be a nightmare, also will my bantams stay away from the pools if there is enough water in feeders, I would appreciate any advice as to how to deter them from the pond as i would hate anything to happen to them.

Thanks
Jo

[carmalee]

Hi Jo - can see your worry - if it helps I lived in Africa for a million years and one place we were in had two very big sand dams within the house complex. We had ducks, chickens and bantems and we never had a chook drown - they just don't take to water like ducks/geese. If it makes you feel any better why not give the chooks the normal water dispensers and place them away from - the 'deep pond' you've provided.

[josaphine32]

Thankyou for answering,
I will be putting the pools down one end of the garden and drinking feeders at the other end so they know where they are, but as all the bantams and ducks have the run of all of it, I am worried they wont see it and fall in, My mum has been scaring me as a friend of hers from work lost one of hers through falling in and drowning in there pond, When i do put them in the ground i will make sure i am organised and try to put a slope in so all can get out, but i am just so worried if anyone has any great links to slopes or running ladders that i can buy, or anything that could be useful, it would be great as i am a first time owner of ducks. but want my bantams to be safe

[wildwood]

Easily fixed Jo. (I hope you didn't get pink shells :-)

As Carmalee said, chickens are not that silly. But if you worry, here's a solution.

Beg, steal or borrow some fence wire or similar that can be bended into roughly the shape of the pond. Now you need to get some ½" wire netting and span that over the wire frame, bending the sides over the wire. Some bricks or whatever to hold the wire up to the right hight, and cleaning will be a cinch. Leave about 3" of water above the water so the ducklings can swim freely and increase as they get older (smaller bricks.

Make sure you have a small ladder (maybe of wirenetting too) so that the little critters can easily the conquer the slippery sides of the shell.

[josaphine32]

Thanks wildwood, ,We are giving it ago this weekend.