Everything You Need to Know for a DIY Duck Pond

A duck pond…. I’ve wanted one since last year. I finally did it.

Last year was good for very few things, but it was a good time to try new hobbies. Like a lot of other people, we ended up with some backyard birds. Now, a year later, the birds are grown and we’re getting 4-5 dozen eggs a week. Here’s the difference: 2 of our beauties are not chickens… they’re ducks.

I could get into how the duck eggs are bigger and richer than anything I’ve ever seen with my own eyes, how the ducks used to act more like the chickens when they were small, or how we have to search around the yard daily to make sure our ducks haven’t laid eggs in a random bush or in a little nook. But I won’t.

Instead, let’s talk about their water.

Ducks love water! My youngest daughter loved putting the ducks in a shallow pool and “teaching” them to swim as ducklings. But as they grew so did their needs. We upgraded the kiddie pool to a larger size to try to accommodate them. We even dug a hole in the ground so the pool could sit down inside it to be easier for the ducks to get in and out of. But anyone who has ducks will tell you that the water gets immensely dirty in just one day. And it’s such a pain to try to drain!

All of those beautiful Pinterest photos showing a pool as a duck pond with pristine, clear water?? Lies!

Last year I told my husband I wanted a pond. One with a pump and a filter and all the things to help keep it clean. I’m sure he thought I was a little crazy. That’s normal. But in true Jessie fashion, in the midst of multiple other projects earlier this year, I grabbed a shovel and started digging.

So here’s what you need to know.

Things to think about before you start digging your duck pond.

Make sure there are no water or electrical lines running through the spot where you want to dig your pond. You don’t want to cost yourself more money in the long run by not looking. It’s also a good idea to think about tree roots that could trip you up. I did come across some tree roots but luckily they were very deep so I was able to leave them as an added dimension (almost like steps) to the bottom of the pond.

Check your area for building codes or permits needed to build your pond. We live out in the country so I didn’t need anything special for mine. But it’s good to check, especially if you live in the city limits.

Equipment

Think about how you’ll get power to your pump and filter. Some people go with solar options. I’ve seen some people run an extension cord for their power. I didn’t want a cord running across the yard to my duck pond. I was afraid of people tripping over it and the idea of having to move it around every time we had to mow the grass made me cringe. It’s really just not a great long-term solution. So, I opted to run an electrical line and install an outdoor outlet beside the pond for easy access. And by “I” I mean Russell. Thank God for husbands!

And if you decide to run an electrical line for your duck pond, keep in mind where you’ll be digging the trench to bury your line. You’ll want to make sure there are no other electrical or water lines in the way. I was very careful to run ours according to code, digging the trench to the recommended depth and putting the “Danger: electrical line” tape about 6 inches from the surface. Also, make sure you’re using the correct underground burial wire and conduit for a long-lasting (and safer) result.

A lot depends on the size of your duck pond.

Decide on the size of your duck pond. I used spray paint to outline what I thought I wanted my pond to look like. Ultimately I decided to make it bigger. I knew if left it smaller and didn’t love it I would end up doing a lot more work to take it apart to expand it. Save yourself the trouble. If you’re not sure that you love it go bigger! The size will affect your price though. You’ll want to calculate the price of the liner you’ll need and the pump/filter you’ll need for your size

Decide what kind of pump and filter you want. There are 2-in-1 devices and ones that come separately. It’s all going to depend on the size of your pond. You want to make sure it’s going to do it’s job and keep the pond clean. Make sure your pump and filter are compatible and can use the same size hoses. I accidentally bought the wrong pump and didn’t realize until the hose wouldn’t fit. Go figure. However, it was an easy swap at Lowe’s and I still had it installed that same day.

The Digging

You’re going to want a ledge around the inside of your duck pond. Ducks need either a slope or a ledge to be able to get out of the pond easily. The ledge should be 8-12 inches below ground level, with the rest of your duck pond measuring at least 18 inches deep. You want it to be deep enough that they can actually swim around and maybe do a little diving. I love watching my ducks do all the things they do in their pond.

How do you plan to dig? I decided to dig with a shovel. You could definitely dig with a tractor or a backhoe but I don’t have one of those and I try to be very cost-efficient (read that as cheap). It would save on time though. I spent the better part of 2 weeks digging my pond to get it exactly how I wanted it. But I took my time, didn’t overwork myself, and got a great (and free) result. I dug very methodically, first digging up all the grass inside the outline I had made then digging everything to about a 12-inch depth (for the ledge). After that, I started digging out the middle to at least 18 inches leaving about 8 inches of ledge around the outside. It wasn’t complicated, just laborious. But totally worth it.

Putting your duck pond together.

Choose your pond liner. This isn’t a hard task but make sure you get one that’s big enough. Account for the extra distance of it going up the sides of your duck pond, not just the length and width. Some people choose to go with the hard plastic liner. Each is a very specific shape so digging a hole in the ground for it to fit into perfectly may be a challenge. But if you’re looking for an above-ground duck pool these seem like a great solution.

Make it pretty (but manageable).

What will you put around the outside of your pond? I had some nice flat landscaping stones that I used to surround mine. It’s easy for the ducks to get in and out of the pond with them and I got them for free. FREE! Always check places like VarageSale or Facebook Marketplace for things people want to get rid of before you pay full price. Luckily, my FIL found these and hauled them to my house. I’ve also seen people use large river rocks. Whatever you use make sure it will 1) cover the edges of the pond liner and 2) be something you won’t be fishing out of your pond every day.

I also continued the rocks inside the pond to the ledge. Now the black pond liner is hidden with gorgeous rocks coming up out of the water. I used pond insulation to fill cracks between the rocks and hold them in place. It isn’t hard to use. Just read the directions on the can and follow them exactly.

Do you want a water feature? You can be as simple or extravagant as you want with a fountain or a waterfall. There are no limits. If you’ve never done this before my advice is to watch a ton of YouTube videos. That’s what I did and I found it super helpful.

Adding some life…

Will you add fish to your duck pond? If so, you’ll probably want to make a little fish cave. You can do this with some big flat rocks and it’ll save you the expenses of buying one. A fish cave is essentially just a place your fish can hide to be protected from predators (like ducks). It’s easy but oh so important.

Plants…. Your ducks will eat your plants. Unless you have a lake the ducks will always eat all the plants. I’ve thought about getting some pond plants from a nearby pond but the thought of introducing some kind of wild bacteria into my pond’s ecosystem has terrified me enough to let that idea go.

Maintaining your new water feature takes a little work. We scoop out the leaves daily. I’ve already used sludge remover and pond clarifier to keep the water nice. And I added a little pond tint. It’s supposed to help shade the water from UV rays that can cause algae. It also helps hide the fish from predators. I also got some pods that kill mosquito larvae so my pond doesn’t become a nuisance. Of course, check product labels to be sure everything you put in your pond is safe for fish and wildlife. There are lots of options out there.

Relax.

Now that you have a beautiful pond sit down and relax. Enjoy your morning coffee there. Read your Bible there. Watch the sunset from there. Enjoy the quiet. You’ve earned it.

Click here to find one of my favorite DIYs to date.

Have a blessed week friends.

“So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”

Mark 6:32